Newly announced state funding aims to help Clinton and Franklin counties as well as other municipalities enhance and modernize their public transportation services.

Of $14.2 million awarded to 13 counties, cities and regional authorities, Clinton County received $120,000 to replace and modernize bus passenger shelters while Franklin County was given $300,000 to procure new clean-fuel buses and related equipment.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the funding, intended “to modernize and enhance municipally-sponsored public transportation services,” on Tuesday, according to a press release.

“These strategic investments in public transportation systems will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance services in these communities, once again showing that New York is committed to building a bright, sustainable future,” Cuomo said in a statement.

The projects selected went through a competitive solicitation process which incorporated criteria developed as part of the Health Across All Policies initiative, a plan launched by the governor to integrate health considerations into policy-making, the press release said.

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Clean-fuel buses

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Franklin County Public Transportation Coordinator Thomas McLane said the number of buses or type of equipment his county will purchase with the funding has not yet been determined.

The county currently has at least five clean-fuel buses in its fleet, he added.

“They’re gasoline-fueled buses, but they’re listed as clean-fuel because of their emission controls.”

McLane assumes that the new buses will run on electricity, propane or natural gas.

“We’re excited to receive the grant and we’re happy that the governor thought of Franklin County to be able to help transport the disadvantaged and our seniors.

And we’re really in need of buses.”

McLane said the funding does not put the county ahead of its normal bus replacement schedule, because they are already behind.

“It seems like when we get an opportunity to get new buses that we have to take old buses off the road, so it doesn’t really put us ahead in that aspect.”

He hopes to see more funding opportunities like those announced this week.