Senator Collins Announces More Than $5 Million for Maine DOT and City of Bangor

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $5,091,370 to the Maine Department of Transportation (Maine DOT) and the City of Bangor.  This funding was awarded through the DOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and will be used to purchase new buses and equipment that will serve residents in rural areas of Maine and the City of Bangor.

“Maine faces unique challenges that make rural transit services both necessary and difficult to maintain, including an older and rural population, a high number of road miles per capita, and high rates of poverty,” said Senator Collins.  “The funding for Maine DOT will ensure that some of our most vulnerable populations have transportation to access health care, employment, education, and other vital resources services.”

“The Community Connector Public Transit System has been serving Bangor and the surrounding area for more than four decades,” Senator Collins continued.  “This funding will allow Bangor to make important updates to its system in order to maintain safe and reliable transportation services for local residents.”

Of the total funding, Maine DOT will receive $2,201,370 to purchase 33 replacement buses that serve residents in rural areas across Maine.  The City of Bangor will receive $2,890,000 to make upgrades to its Community Connector Public Transit System by purchasing new vehicles, making technological advancements, and constructing a new facility to replace an outdated bus depot.

Last month, Senators Collins and Angus King wrote to the FTA in support of both the Maine DOT and the City of Bangor’s grant application.

This funding was allocated through the FTA’s Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program, which makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities.