Published: February 25, 2009 07:00 pm      

BATA requests stimulus funds for buses

The Bay Area Transportation Authority hopes to get a chunk of federal economic stimulus funding to replace a dozen aging buses.

The Michigan Department of Transportation expects to receive $18.7 million for non-urban bus systems, said Don Scharmen, BATA's interim executive director.

BATA could be eligible to replace 12 buses from its 60-vehicle fleet, Scharmen said. Buses cost between $70,000 to $100,000, depending on the size.

The public bus authority replaced four buses last time it received federal funding for new vehicles, Scharmen said. Some years, BATA doesn't receive any new buses.