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Fourth Plain Bus Rapid Transit project gets $6.7 million in C-TRAN funding [The Oregonian, Portland, Ore. :: ](Oregonian (Portland, OR) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 10--The C-TRAN Board of Directors has approved funding for the Fourth Plain Bus Rapid Transit Project. Tuesday's 6-3 vote commits $6.7 million of C-TRAN's uncommitted cash reserves and investments, fulfilling the required local match for federal funding. The board's resolution also authorizes C-TRAN's executive director to sign a grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration for $38.3 million in funding for the project. C-TRAN says the Fourth Plain Bus Rapid Transit Project will be a state-of-the-art transit service linking downtown Vancouver, the Fourth Plain community, Clark College, the Veterans' Administration complex and Westfield Vancouver Mall. BRT buses will operate in mixed traffic along the 6 mile route, serving 34 curbside stations, and will replace existing 4 and 44 routes. The project will retain most of the existing bus stops and plans for the stations to be within 1/3 mile of each other. During weekdays, BRT will operate with 10-minute frequencies during peak periods and 15-minute frequencies during much of the off-peak. Peak weekend times may also see more frequent service. In coming months, C-TRAN will work closely with the federal transit agency on the Small Starts Grant Agreement, which is scheduled for completion before the end of this year. C-TRAN will then begin procurements that will include bus acquisition, construction management services and a construction contractor. Construction is slated begin in the summer of 2015 and the Fourth Plain BRT is expected to begin service in the late summer of 2016. -- Susan Green ___ (c)2014 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at www.oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |