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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Raymond A. Beck, City Manager - (573) 874-6338

City receives $842,945 in federal transit funds

COLUMBIA, MO (November 30, 2004) -- Congressman Kenny Hulshof has
announced that the city of Columbia will receive $842,945 in federal
funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The funds are
earmarked in Congress' Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2005
and the award is one of the highest that Congressman Hulshof secured
this year. The grant involves 80 percent from the FTA and a 20 percent
match paid by the city.

Columbia Transit operates 20 transit vehicles, which includes buses and
para-transit vans. Columbia Transit's fixed routes provide broad access
around the city including areas adjacent to the University of Missouri -
Columbia campus. Para-transit vans provide a much-needed service for
riders with special needs, including the elderly and citizens with
disabilities that make it difficult to ride on fixed routes. Funds will
be used to replace the two para-transit vehicles that were requested but
not funded last year (four were requested and two have been purchased),
add two new buses to our fleet and additional bus shelters.

"On behalf of the city of Columbia, let me express our deepest
appreciation for the efforts of Congressman Kenny Hulshof in securing
this sizeable earmark for our public transit system," said Raymond A.
Beck, city manager. "Columbia's public transit system is a vital part of
the total transportation system serving our citizens. These dollars will
be of great benefit in purchasing new buses and making other
improvements to the transit system."

Earlier this year, Columbia Transit was named "2003 Transit Agency of
the Year" for Region VII of the FTA, which includes Missouri, Iowa,
Kansas and Nebraska. Ridership was up 12 percent over the previous
year.

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