FTA Tribal Transit Program Awards $830,000 to Three Northern New Mexico Native Tribes

By NCRTD

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded three northern New Mexico native tribes $830,000 in grant money for projects that support transit services for American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages in rural areas.

The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) submitted grant requests on behalf of the Jicarilla Apache Nation which will receive a total of $565,580, and Taos Pueblo which was awarded $200,000. Additionally, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo will receive $64,323 for their request to secure funding to replace a vehicle that exceeded its useful life.

Jicarilla Apache Nation will receive $415,580 in funding to replace vehicles that have exceeded their useful life. This project will address state of good repair needs and ensure safe and reliable transit service for its tribal residents. In addition, Jicarilla Apache Nation will receive $150,000 in funding to upgrade bus stops to Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The bus stops are served and maintained by NCRTD. This project addresses state of good repair needs and will maintain safe and reliable transit service for its Jicarilla Apache Nation tribal residents.

Taos Pueblo will receive $200,000 in funding to upgrade several bus stops to American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, which will include shelters, benches, and other amenities. This project addresses state of good repair needs and will help the NCRTD and Taos Pueblo to continue to provide safe and reliable transit service to help tribal residents access employment, education, and healthcare. These bus stops are served and maintained by NCRTD.

The FTA Tribal Transit Program awarded at total of $10.3 million in grant awards to 36 Tribal governments.

NCRTD 170 Jicarilla route provides service from Chama through Dulce, where the Nation is headquartered. On Tuesday and Thursday, the route extends to Bloomfield and Farmington. The 340 Taos Chile Line Red route provides service from Taos Pueblo to points within the Town of Taos where it offers transit connections to Santa Fe, Española and throughout Taos County.