Tag Archives: CMRTA

CMRTA's plan for spending $5.3 million in stimulus money

By adam beam | Published: April 20, 2009
CMRTA’s board of directors approved a plan today to spend $5,346,374 in stimulus money for the bus system. Here are the details: Buses $3,940,463 10 new buses. The board did not specify what type of buses, but many board members say they want fuel efficient buses. Refurbish 10 existing buses (the 40-foot long buses that do not need to [...]
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Cell phones and car taxes

By adam beam | Published: March 17, 2009
Two things worth noting in the paper today about local government: Columbia Police Officers lost their cell phones last week because of budget cuts. But less than 24 hours later, they got them back. The State’s Dawn Hinshaw reports today that the Richland County Council is scheduled to vote on a proposal that would require residents to [...]
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Columbia's stimulus explained: transit

By adam beam | Published: March 16, 2009
Columbia has received $5,346,374 in stimulus money for a Transit Capital Assistance Grant. “Capital assistance” means the money can only be used to buy equipment. The CMRTA can’t use it to pay salaries or other operational costs, which means the stimulus money won’t help the CMRTA’s funding crisis (see here and here for more information) Specifically, [...]
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Columbia council working on RTA deal

By adam beam | Published: February 24, 2009
Columbia City Council’s special called meeting tomorrow is mainly about how the city will fulfill its $2 million obligation to the CMRTA. If you remember, the bus system will run out of money in October. The city and Richland County worked out a deal to keep that from happening. The city’s part of that deal is to [...]
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Council approves plan to borrow $2 million for bus system

By adam beam | Published: February 5, 2009
Columbia City Council members approved a plan Wednesday to borrow up to $2 million to help pay for the bus system over the next two years. Mayor Bob Coble made the motion, which passed 5-2. Kirkman Finlay and Daniel Rickenmann voted no. Here’s the motion that was approved: City agrees to use as the source of [...]
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