LeeTran Schedules 2nd Annual Food Drive

LeeTran will hold its 2nd annual food drive to benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at all Publix stores in Lee County.

Volunteers will be on hand to load shoppers' donations into the LeeTran vehicle. All 33 vehicles will caravan to the food bank at 4 p.m. to unload the day's contributions.

Last year's food drive netted 25 tons of food at a time when the food bank's warehouse was nearly empty. About 22,000 people each week rely on the food bank to help feed their families. Demand has increased 63% in the past three years.

LeeTran is conducting the food drive as a public service, and it is sponsored in part by The News-Press Media Group and the Beasley Broadcasting. Group.

Federal Economic Stimulus Grant

The Federal Transit Administration has made available $7,529,681 to LeeTran under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Of this total, $6.206,681 was calculated based on population and other factors under United States Code, section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Grants.

The remaining $1,323,000 was issued under section 5311 Non-Urganized Area Formula Grants.

LeeTran will expend $3,325,185 of the 5307 grant funds as follows:

• Purchase seven (7) 35-foot buses

• Purchase 7 ADA paratransit vehicles (received)

• Purchase two vans with wheelchair lifts for use by paratransit supervisors (received)

• Purchase and install security cameras in five trolleys and 44 ADA paratransit vehicles (security cameras were installed in the rest of the fleet in 2008).(received)

• Purchase one van for its Commuter Assistance Program. (received)

Plans for expending the remaining $2,881,496 in 5307 funds are pending.

LeeTran proposes to spend the Non-Urbanized Area Formula Funds as follows:

• $175,000 to purchase and install bus shelters along Route 110 serving Lehigh Acres

• $200,000 to purchase one 31-foot hybrid bus for use on Route 60 serving San Carlos Park and FGCU

• $148,000 to purchase a cutaway bus for use on Route 160 serving Pine Island

• $800,000 to purchase four medium-duty buses for use on rural routes

The American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requires grant recipients make available information regarding use of these grants funds.  Updates regarding these expenditures will be made available on this web site.   Additional information is available by contacting Carmen Monroy, Grants Analyst, at 239-533-0332.