RALEIGH — Choanoke Public Transportation Authority (CPTA) is in line to benefit from federal stimulus funding.

Last week, Gov. Bev Perdue announced that 140 transit projects across the state will receive more than $103 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

These funds will enhance or expand transit options in both urban and rural communities.

Choanoke Public Transportation Authority, operating in Bertie,

Halifax, Hertford and Northampton counties, will receive $441,095 in funding.

“We certainly appreciate this package coming from the federal government,” said CPTA Director Pamela Perry.

According to Perry, upon approval by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Government, the funding will enable them to purchase three 25-foot lift-equipped light transit vehicles and one 22-ft. lift-equipped light transit vehicle to replace similar vehicles that have met useful service life.

Perry said because of the high mileage rate the vehicles see, CPTA typically purchases vehicles annually. The funds will also allow for the purchasing spare vehicle parts, 10 mobile radio units, shop equipment and scheduling software upgrades.

CPTA, based in Rich Square, will also see a boost in their security with building security/surveillance equipment and safety improvements as well as an electric entrance gate.

“I think overall it (the funding) will give us better vehicles (as well as help us to better) schedule passengers,” she said. “Anytime you’re looking at overall enhancing security it’s good.”

Paving/resurfacing the facility’s parking lot, facility signage and repairs for the transit facility will also be done with the funding.

“These JobsNOW recovery projects will help create and sustain jobs and provide needed economic development and mobility in counties throughout North Carolina,” said Perdue. “Not only will they put people to work, they will take people to work.”

Twenty-one urban transit systems will receive more than $70 million for 77 projects. The largest allocation, at $20.8 million, goes to Charlotte Area Transit System’s North Davidson Street bus facility. In addition, two metropolitan planning organizations (Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO and Capital Area MPO) elected to designate $5.1 million for transit projects instead of highway and bridge projects.

Projects in rural areas across the state totaled more than $33 million. Three projects benefit transit efforts statewide, and 63 are designated for rural transit systems/areas of the state. These projects are expected to create or retain more than 3,200 jobs.

“Transit projects are a critical part of our transportation infrastructure,” said Transportation Secretary Gene Conti. “Enhancing, expanding and maintaining our existing transit options expand our ability to serve the people of the state.”

NCDOT received a total of $838 million through the ARRA, including $735 million for highway and bridge projects. To date, NCDOT has allocated more than 90 percent of the highway and bridge money received to projects across the state.

For more information about recovery funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina visit, www.ncdot.gov.