LOCAL

                  “Flex fuel” vehicle added to YCTA fleet

The Yancey County Transportation Authority (YCTA) recently took delivery of a new van funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) or what has become known as federal stimulus funds.  The van, the first green “flex fuel” vehicle in the YCTA fleet, is a Ford E 350 14 passenger van that is handicapped accessible.  “We are excited to have this new van to better serve the needs of the people of Yancey County”, Yancey County Transportation Authority Director Lynn Austin stated. 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation, which oversees the fund distribution and use of the funds, has awarded more than $33 million in grants to local transportation authorities from the ARRA funds.  The goal of the ARRA is to preserve and create jobs, promote economic recovery, and invest in transportation infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.  Yancey County has received more than $150,000 of these transportation funds to further fund the needs of the YCTA.  “This investment of stimulus funds will help the county in our fiscal recovery. Our county staff continues to seek and make application to the various agencies responsible for distributing grants to local agencies,” stated Commissioner Jerri Storie.

The Yancey County Transportation Authority provides many valuable services to the county, including transportation of the elderly and disabled, transportation for children, medical transportation, as well as transportation for the general public, and special trips to Asheville and surrounding areas. In addition YCTA provides transportation to many people going to and from work each day.