Seneca County Agency Transportation will purchase three new vehicles with federal grant money awarded Monday.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, announced a $124,500 competitive grant was received from the U.S. Department of Transportation's State of Good Repair Program.
"Ohioans who live, work and do business in Seneca County deserve a reliable and affordable public transportation system," Brown stated in a release. "These improvements are an investment in the future of Seneca County and will enhance the services provided by Seneca County Agency Transportation."
SCAT Executive Director Linda Good said she applied for the grant so she could expand upon SCAT's 26-vehicle fleet.
Good said she was surprised to receive the grant money so soon.
"I plan to use the money to purchase one 14-passenger and two 10-passenger buses," she said. "Each bus will have two wheelchair positions."
In the first six months of 2012, Seneca County Agency Transportation vehicles made 42,971 trips and traveled 283,878 miles, compared to making 82,861 trips and travelling 486,725 miles all of last year, she said.
Good said SCAT has been growing at 12.4 percent annually, which has caused plenty of wear and tear on buses.
"We have to schedule oil changes for buses every three weeks," she said.
Last month, Brown sent a letter of support to Federal Transit Administration Administrator Peter Rogoff, requesting that he consider the Ohio Department of Transportation's application for funding.
"We're thankful for what Sherrod Brown is doing to keep us going," Good said. "We are enhancing the value of life through Seneca County and metro Fostoria through quality transportation."
