City bus funding clears hurdle in U.S. House
By KEN BLACK, TIMES-REPUBLICANA total of $315,000 to help pay for a new bus for the city of Marshalltown has been placed in an appropriations bill and passed a House subcommittee, it was announced Wednesday.
The federal funds will go toward the replacement of a 17-year-old bus in the city's public transit fleet, said Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa.
"A strong public transit system is one of the most important services a community can have," Latham said. "I'm proud to help Marshalltown keep its public transportation fleet up-to-date and providing quality service."
The news was not unexpected. The city had received word the funding authorization should be going through.
"We were very hopeful. We knew the congressman had been working on it," said City Administrator Dick Hierstein.
Latham included the funding in a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that has received the approval of a House Appropriations subcommittee. Latham is the senior Republican on the subcommittee that oversees yearly federal transportation and housing funding legislation.
The funding is not guaranteed but has cleared a significant hurdle along the way, according to Fred Love, a spokesperson for the congressman.
"I wouldn't say it's a formality because anything can happen around here," he said. "However, it is in the bill and is moving forward to the House Appropriations Committee and then the full House."
Marshalltown Transit Administrator Richard Stone said in a letter addressed to Congressman Latham that the city's bus fleet is aging and wearing down.
"This funding will provide a much-needed step in the overall improvement of reliable bus service to the residents of Marshalltown," Stone wrote.
Latham's decision to seek the funding came after significant research on the project and the demonstration of strong support within the community. The bill is scheduled for a vote by the full House Appropriations Committee this Friday before it can be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives.
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
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happygolucky
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07-19-09 8:45 AM
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Puppetmaster..Go ahead and take that 20k and but more dugs. You sound like you are already on drugs. Do you have a probpem with Marshalltown tryhing to improve their transit? Evidentley you do not use the buses, but many do. They (the riders)should expect safe buses to ride in. How often do you trade in your vehicle for a newer one? Do you throw 20K dollars in your old junk you drive? We need NEW buses for saftey reasons. Take a few bucks and ride those old buses.You just might learn something new.
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Puppetmaster
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07-18-09 11:07 AM
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I think Im going to go buy a bag of weed and start saying yes to drugs, So I can try and get the same sense of euphoria that the politicians are feeling. Corporate politicians are drunk with power and addicted to our money. They are destroying our future and seem oblivious to the suffering they are causing. I honestly think RFK didnt eliminate the mob, he empowered it. It is as if he took the Mafia out of the rich house and put them in the White House! We should change our National slogan from "In god we trust" to "Entitlement is Enlightenment". It is amazing how a minority of people are bankrupting our country, yet we are expected to pay for it. Washington D.C. ideology is like a agressive cancer that is killing this country, D.C. will only stop when the country is dead! Give me $20K and a well equipped machine shop and I will make that 17 year old bus last another 17 years!!
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happygolucky
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07-18-09 8:38 AM
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Congratulations Mr. Stone. This city DOES need good buses. I was praying for two buses. There are many people who cannot drive, or afford a vehicle. The buses ARE purchased and maintained by the city. I see they city can buy police cars, but no one complains about that. There is a charge for riding the buses. The money can be replaced by riders fees.
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bertmers
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07-17-09 11:37 AM
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That silly woman from California had better step up the pie baking to help save the tranit system in this town!!???
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MtownGuy
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07-17-09 9:53 AM
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A perfect example of why the country is in debt. Why should the taxpayers of America purchase a bus for the city of Marshalltown? Or any other city? When you add this $315,000 to hundreds of thousands of other "needs" in the 50 states (and many foreign countries), you have spending that is out of control. Congress just can't say "no".
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