ITD working to fill TRPTA gap

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are working to find new ways to serve rural people impacted by the closure of Targhee Regional Public Transportation Authority (TRPTA) a week ago.

ITD Public Transportation Manager Jeff Marker said his office is inviting cities, counties, or other nonprofits to apply for financial support. That emergency funding would allow them to contract with other transportation providers that could provide necessary transit services.
He said the program is focused on rural residents of Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties affected by the TRPTA shutdown.

ITD is the Governor’s only designated recipient for all FTA funding. It directly manages and oversees rural transit funds. Cities, counties, and nonprofits interested in the effort should apply directly to the Idaho Transportation Department. The application process opens Friday and closes on May 24.

Marker said ITD is also working with FTA, Idaho Falls and other “small urban” communities to identify other ways to help restore some of the transit service they lost as a result of the TRPTA shutdown.