Sentinel Staff
HOLLAND Local transit authorities in and around the greater-Holland area are offering free bus rides to COVID-19 vaccination appointments in an effort to broaden access to the vaccine.
The Macatawa Area Express (MAX) and Allegan County Transportation are offering free rides for residents to vaccination appointments. Health officials view the vaccines as one of the most important tools to mitigate COVID-19 and end the coronavirus pandemic.
MAX, which serves the city of Holland and surrounding areas, is offering same-day rides, but is encouraging riders to schedule their trip upon scheduling their vaccination appointment. To schedule a trip, call MAX at 616-355-1010.
Michigan gets $90.2 million from CDC for COVID-19 vaccine efforts
Michigan is getting a boost in federal dollars for its COVID-19 vaccine efforts.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday it ll award the state $90,239,771 to build partnerships with community-based organizations to increase vaccine uptake, especially among underserved populations hard-hit by the virus.
The goal is to use the money to ensure greater equity and access to vaccines in communities where people might not be able to get to vaccine sites or may be hesitant about vaccination.
The money comes from $3 billion in funding that the CDC is distributing from the American Rescue Plan and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.
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Credit Sarah Hulett / Michigan Radio
President Joe Biden s long-time reliance on Amtrak to get between his home and work in Washington, D.C is well-known.
And Pete Buttigieg, the man Biden has nominated for U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, says he hopes to carve out $1.5 billion for public transit across the U.S.
Federal help for public transit in Michigan from the incoming administration would be a much-needed boon, according to Matthew Carpenter, CEO of the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority. Carpenter is also Chair of the Board of the Michigan Public Transit Association. We re excited as an industry to see that kind of proposal coming from the Biden Administration, and it s an exciting time, says Carpenter. And when we look at climate change, and the need for equity in our society, and also frankly, competition from places like China which is doing great things with infrastructure, it s really welcome to see the federal government stepping into such a stron
By Zholdas Orisbayev
Federal funding helped Michigan transit agencies stay in good shape throughout the pandemic. It’s the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, 2021, that transportation authorities worry about.
“COVID-19 related expenses were unprecedented and statewide restrictions reduced farebox revenue to transit agencies, but that was made up by additional federal funding,” said Clark Harder, the executive director of the Michigan Public Transit Association, a nonprofit group that advocates for transit agencies on issues dealing with state and federal government.
Other concerns include a decline in fare revenues as potential riders fear contracting the virus and the loss of revenue from schools no longer contracting services because of the rise in virtual learning.