Continue to operate lrpt transit system. Cover operating costs for FY 25.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $908,974 to Lee Russell Council of Governments (doing business as Area Agency on Aging) under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) on August 26, 2025, to support the continued operation of Lee Russell Public Transportation (LRPT) system during fiscal year 2025. This formula grant funds operating costs necessary for LRPT to maintain fixed-route and demand-response transit services serving the Auburn-Opelika metropolitan area in Alabama through March 30, 2031.

LRPT's services under this award provide critical public transportation access to the general public, with particular emphasis on older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income residents. Beneficiaries utilize the transit system to access essential services including employment, healthcare appointments, senior centers, grocery shopping, and community social programs. The award supports driver salaries, fuel, maintenance, and administrative expenses required to sustain regular, shared-ride transportation operations that connect passengers to medical services, human services providers, businesses, and community resources throughout the service area. No subrecipient activities are associated with this award.

Activities

This funding will permit lrpt to continue to provide operations to serve passengers in our service area in FY25.

Expected outcomes

This funding will permit lrpt to provide operations for public transit to serve passengers in our service area

Intended beneficiaries

Lrpt and the passengers that rely on its service will benefit from continued transportation permitting individuals to get to their jobs people to get to essential services such as the doctor pharmacy kidney dialysis cancer treatments specialists senior centers grocery stores the bank appointments and for needed socialization opportunities in their communities. Our passengers are the general public of all ages including older adults and people with disabilities. Additional beneficiaries include the communities we serve -- the medical services human services businesses employers etc. Who all benefit from having public transit available