The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) on June 4 awarded UCSC $66,000 in State Regional Surface Transportation Program funds for the purchase of two replacement 12-passenger vanpool vehicles.
Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) expects the funds to be available July 1. TAPS would like to purchase the vans from a local dealership as a way of keeping dollars in the community, said Larry Pageler, TAPS director.
TAPS staff members Teresa Buika and Cathy Crowe shepherded the application through the process, said Pageler, adding, "While it's a relatively small amount, this whittles away two of the six vanpool vehicles slated for replacement in 2009."
The SCCRTC also awarded TAPS with $125,000 in federal stimulus funds in April for three replacement disability vans. The department is in the final stages of processing the agreement and then can move forward with the purchase of the vehicles, according to Buika.
