Triangle gets transit stimulus millions

Local and regional transit agencies across the Triangle will buy buses and make other improvements with some of North Carolina’s share of federal stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, federal officials said this week.

Ray LaHood, the U.S. transportation secretary, announced $52.5 million for transit improvements in North Carolina, including:

$7.6 million to Raleigh to buy 23 acres for a new bus operation and maintenance center and park-and-ride lot.

$4.3 million to Durham for bus maintenance and painting, 24 paratransit vans, 20 bus shelters, and GPS satellite technology that will give riders real-time information about bus arrival times.

$2.7 million to Chapel Hill for two 40-foot hybrid-electric buses, eight lift-equipped vans, a maintenance truck, bus shelters and benches, and hardware and software for a fleet inventory system.

$2.8 million to the Triangle Transit Authority for five 40-foot buses, three paratransit vans, a real-time bus arrival system, passenger amenities at bus stops, and paving.