Yuma Sun

Transit improvemen­t bill targets Yuma’s bus system

If passed, Yuma would receive nearly $131k to improve public transporta­tion

- BY BENNITO L. KELTY SUN STAFF WRITER

An easier time getting around Yuma is the focus of a bipartisan bill that Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema has introduced with Republican Sen. Jerry Moran from Kansas.

“Investing in Yuma’s public transporta­tion system will create jobs and expand opportunit­ies for the city,” Sinema said in a press release. “I’ll keep partnering with Arizona communitie­s to support critical infrastruc­ture investment.” The bill, “We’re in bad need of called the funding,” said Shelly Kreger, Small Community the executive director of YCIPTA. “You need Transit Improvemen­t to keep improving public transporta­tion, and when Act, will increase you don’t have that, it’s a funding problem from the whole for Yuma’s community.” public transporta­tion The money will funnel infrastruc­ture by $130, 956, into general operations, which will bring the total Kreger said, but she said amount of money received that she would like to use to $392, 866. Funds from the money to replace the the bill will go to the Yuma aging buses. County Intergover­nmental Sinema introduced this Public Transporta­tion Authority. bill on Wednesday with bipartisan support. As with most bills, having an accurate expectatio­n of when the bill becomes law and when this money will get to Yuma is difficult.

Sinema’s press secretary Hannah Hurley said that the senator is optimistic the bill will pass, however, because it has bipartisan support.

The bill must pass through the banking committee, on which Sinema sits, before it hits the Senate floor for a vote.

The news of senators in Washington supporting legislatio­n that helps Yuma pleased Kreger because it tells her Yuma’s needs are heard.

“It’s nice to know elected officials are rooting for the funding we need,” she said. “It’s nice to have champions of what we need. We need more of them out there.”

 ?? BUY THIS PHOTO AT YUMASUN.COM PHOTO BY RANDY HOEFT/YUMA SUN ?? YUMA COUNTY AREA TRANSIT (YCAT) BUSES wait for passengers at the Hotel Del Sol stop in downtown Yuma.
BUY THIS PHOTO AT YUMASUN.COM PHOTO BY RANDY HOEFT/YUMA SUN YUMA COUNTY AREA TRANSIT (YCAT) BUSES wait for passengers at the Hotel Del Sol stop in downtown Yuma.
 ??  ?? KRYSTEN SINEMA
KRYSTEN SINEMA

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