Congressman Gerry Connolly said the Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will receive large more than $4 million in federal grants to maintain safe and reliable bus fleets under the Federal Transit Administrations State of Good Repair Program.

The FTA, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, awarded $2.6 million to the PRTC and $1.5 million to WMATA in a competitive process that included transit agencies across the nation.  Both transit agencies must file completed grant applications with the agency before funds will be awarded.

The PRTC grant will help Prince William County-based transit agency overhaul vehicles in its fleet in order to extend their useful lives and insure they remain safe to transport commuters from Prince William County and other area jurisdictions.  The grant can also be used to purchase new buses for the PRTC fleet.

The WMATA grant will help the regional transit agency develop an integrated asset management system in order to track the condition of the agency’s fleet, facilities, and equipment.  Bus purchases are also allowed under this grant.

“Our regional bus systems are an integral part of our region’s transportation mix and these federal grants will help insure their buses are safe for the thousands of Northern Virginia residents who use them each day,” Congressman Connolly said.  “At a time when many local and regional agencies are forced to make hard budget decisions, this funding will help insure reliable and safe for our daily riders.”