Murray Applauds Major Federal Investment in C-TRAN

$38 million grant will support project to reduce congestion, lower operation costs, and bring better transit options to region

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, applauded a major federal grant to support Vancouver’s first Bus Rapid Transit Line, known as The Vine. The $38.7 million Federal Transit Administration grant will help C-TRAN develop high frequency service between residential and job centers along the Fourth Plain corridor as well as connections to downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver Mall, and Portland. During the 2015 budget negotiations, Sen. Murray successfully championed the Capital Investment Grant program, which provided funding for the C-TRAN grant announced today.

“C-TRAN’s innovative approach to combating congestion, improving reliability, and bringing down costs is to be commended,” Senator Murray said. “I’m proud to fight for investments that provide better transit options to our communities and enhance the livability of Washington state.”

“C-TRAN is very pleased that after more than four years in the making, all of the project funding is now in place and construction on this region’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT ) Project, the Vine, is about to begin,”  said Jeff Hamm, C-TRAN Executive Director/CEO. “Senator Murray was instrumental in securing the initial planning grant back in 2010, and her, as well as our Congressional delegation’s continued support is a key reason federal funding will cover a full 80% of the construction cost.”

The Vine is expected to open in late 2016.

Read more about C-TRAN’s project here.