In May the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the allocation of nearly $100 million to assist small urban and rural transit agencies such as BRITE Bus offset the revenue losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is part of the federal transportation funding that was apportioned to the Commonwealth under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The BRITE Bus system was allocated nearly $3M in CARES Act funding and is using these funds for operating expenses, hazard pay for bus drivers and front-line workers, the purchase of personal protection equipment including masks for drivers and riders, and to offer fare-free trips for riders. The CSPDC is also using CARES Act funding to cover all transit partner match contributions for FY21.
BRITE Bus is a public transit service managed by the CSPDC that provides fixed route and ADA compliant paratransit service in the Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro areas. Now more than ever, transit is critical to our communities and the residents who rely on BRITE to get them to employment, medical services and essential shopping.