Texas Transportation Commission Gives Funding to Midland/Odessa For Transit Services

The cities of Midland and Odessa will be receiving funding for transit from the state.

According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, the Texas Transportation Commission has approved $89 million in funding for transit agencies statewide.

That is the largest amount of funding for the Texas Transportation Commission.

The city of Midland will get almost $348,000 in state funds while the city of Odessa will get about $364,000 in state funds and $40,000 in federal funds.

Those funds are part of the $1.15 million in state funds and $2.4 million in federal funds to the West Texas area for opportunities in the Permian Basin.

“This funding supports equitable, reliable transit services that are an essential part of life for many people across Texas,” said the Texas Transportation Committee in a press release.

The funding supports rural and urban transit in over 96% of the land area of the state which serves 41% of the population of Texas.

The funds are part of the American Rescue Plan Act to help transportation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Texas has maintained safe and reliable transit services since the beginning of the pandemic.

Transit rides topped 20 million in 2020 during the pandemic and TxDOT funding helped those rides to stay safe and reliable.

These funds will help EZ Rider in Midland/Odessa to get funding to help keep the buses in good working order and to aid in hiring bus drivers and other employees.

This will help maintain transportation for those who depend on EZ Rider in the Permian Basin.