SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Centro said it will use an additional $5.5 million in federal funding for operating and capital expenses, “which are necessary to maintain service during the COVID-19 public health emergency.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Monday announced the funding. The money is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The FTA awarded the funding to the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro)
The $5.5 million grant award is in addition to the $28 million CARES Act funding Centro previously received in May.
In addition to the CARES Act funding, FTA issued a safety advisory that prompts transit agencies to develop and implement policies and procedures regarding face coverings and personal protective equipment (PPE); cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces; physical separation; and hand hygiene consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance.
CARES Act funding can be used to cover 100 percent of these costs, the FTA said.
Centro’s service area encompasses Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego, and Cayuga counties, including the cities of Syracuse, Utica, Rome, Oswego, Fulton, and Auburn.