West Virginia transit leaders ask committee to raise state match to draw down $53 million in federal funds

Paula Smith, president of the West Virginia Public Transit Association and executive director of Bridal River Transit, and Tim Thomas, general manager of Mountain Transit Authority, told the Legislature—s Workforce Committee that boosting the state—s transit match would allow West Virginia systems to draw down millions in federal transit dollars and expand routes and hours in rural counties.

Smith said the state currently provides about $2.2 million in matching funds and that, "we currently are leaving, like, dollars 53,000,000 of federal dollars on the table because we don't have the match money." She told the committee that if the state—s contribution were raised to a total of $5,000,000, systems could access substantially more Federal Transit Administration funding for both operating and capital needs.

Why it matters: Transit leaders said additional state matching money would expand service frequency and hours in counties that now have only limited runs, allowing more residents to reach jobs, training, medical appointments and other basic services. Committee members pressed presenters for…