Saddled with an aging fleet of buses and infrequent schedules, the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency has secured federal funds to replace most of its fleet and build a new transit center.
Kevin Courtney reports that the NCTPA is taking the federal grants and running with them:
"Over the past two and a half years, the agency has received $11 million - including a $2.4 million federal grant this month - to buy 38 new vehicles, the last of which will arrive in another year or two, said Tom Roberts, NCTPA's manager of public transit."
"More than $9 million of $11 million in acquisition funds has come in the form of state and federal grants, with the remainder funded by Napa County's share of the gas tax dedicated to transit, Roberts said."
The new transit center is scheduled to open next summer, and the new buses will start taking riders in 2013.
FULL STORY: Public transit in the Napa Valley undergoing fleet makeover

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

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A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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