Grant money approved for 2 area school bus companies
By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com
Bus companies currently serving two school districts in the region will receive state funding to purchase new buses.
Among the statewide recipients of more than 2.4 million in Driving PA Forward grants are Allegheny Transportation Services and Pennsylvania Coach Lines. Both bus companies serve districts in Environmental Justice areas, where at least 20% of residents have incomes below the federal poverty line and/or 30% identify as a non-white minority.
Allegheny Transportation Services will receive $174,375 to replace nine older diesel school buses with nine new cleaner diesel ones. Allegheny Transportation Services provides student transportation for Elizabeth Forward School District, East Allegheny School District, Woodland Hills School District, Pittsburgh Public Schools and Riverview School District.
Pennsylvania Coach Lines will get $215,250 to replace 10 older diesel school buses with 10 new cleaner diesel ones.
At the time of the application a year ago, Pennsylvania Coach Lines provided daily transportation for over 20,000 children in southwestern Pennsylvania, including in the South Allegheny School District and Clairton City School District. It no longer provides transportation in South Allegheny, though DEP spokeswoman Deborah Klenotic said the grant amount will not be affected as long as the company is still contracted to provide service to at least one public school district.
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