Beaumont to Spend $100,000+ on Public Transit Improvements

Caltrans awarded this week approximately $350 million in grant money to help improve public transit systems across the state, it was announced Thursday.

Among the recipients for this money was the city of Beaumont, which will be given a $106,361 chunk of the pie.

According to the city's spokeswoman Darci Mulvihill, the city plans on using the money to upgrade and provide amenities like bus shelters.  

The request sent to the state read: 

“Passenger amenities such as shelters will increase ridership by providing a safety improvement to the designated bus stops. The bus shelters are intended to provide the riders with a safe place to await the bus and make the transit system more attractive to use. We plan to purchase shelters, trash cans, schedule holders, lighted signs and other amenities."

Nearby, other Caltrans grants awarded included: 

• $475,000 – Vehicle replacement project for the City of Riverside.
• $534,079 – CNG bus replacement for Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency. 
• $9,022,707 – Purchase of replacement buses (70) for Riverside Transit Agency.
• $6,176,448 – Construction of Administrative Building for Sunline Transit Agency. 
• $144,915 – Shelters, amenities, and solar lighting for Victor Valley Transit Authority.

The grant money comes from proposition 1B, a 2006 voter-approved transportation bond providing $3.6 billion over a 10-year period to improve public transit in California, according to Caltrans.