State hands out money for new buses

The board handed out $38.2 million in federal funds Thursday to 13 transit systems statewide fir 103 replacement buses and vans and to finance capital projects.

Capital Area Transit received $3.5 million for 13 buses and $2.8 million to to buy land and design an administration building.

Durham Area Transit Authority received $3 million for 11 buses, while Chapel Hill Transit received $2.3 million for eight diesel and hybrid buses.

Triangle Transit received $2.9 million for nine buses and $400,000 to expand the parking lot at its maintenance yard. Fayetteville Area System of Transit received $1.2 million for 21 expansion and two replacement vans, $900,000 to design a multimodal transportation facility and $296,000 to renovate its administration building.

Separately, the Board of Transportation awarded contracts to replace area bridges.

C.C. Mangum Co. will replace a bridge on Burlington Mills Road over Smith Creek in Wake County for $2.5 million. Work will begin May 27 and is scheduled to finish in May 2009.

United Contractors Inc. will replace a bridge on Pecan Road over Caraway Creek in Wayne County for $1.1 million. Work will begin May 27 and is scheduled to finish by the end of the year.

Dellinger Inc. will replace a bridge over Sandy Creek near N.C. Highway 902 in Chatham County for $1.2 million. Work will begin in August or September and is scheduled to finish by the end of 2009.