NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Bluefield Area Transit at 3208 John Nash Boulevard, Post Office Box 1838, Bluefield, West Virginia 24701, is applying for a grant under 49 U.S.C. Section 5311 (formerly Section 18 of the Federal Transit Act, as amended). Bluefield Area Transit provides public transportation to shopping centers, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and colleges in the cities of Bluefield, Princeton, Athens, Lashmeet/Matoaka, Montcalm, Welch and areas in between Mercer and McDowell Counties. The estimated cost is: Federal: $549,600.00 Local: $448,160.00. No persons, families or businesses will be displaced by this project and this proposed project will not have a significant environmental impact on the service area. Bluefield Area Transit will take into consideration the special needs of the elderly and physically handicapped person. Schedules in Braille, large print, and audio are available upon request. All buses are lift equipped for disabled individuals. Bluefield Area Transit will make pickups and drop-offs at locations within three fourths of a mile of the regular route. To receive this service you must make reservations no later than the end of the business day prior to the day you wish to travel. All reservations for this service must be made at the Bluefield Area Transit office by calling (304) 327-8418 “Voice of TDD”. Those using this special service will be charged a fare equal to twice the regular fare less any discounts that may apply. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, no person shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under its program of transit service delivery and related benefits. If translation services of any type, written or oral, are needed, please contact the Bluefield Area Transit. Should any 49 U.S.C. Section 5311 capital funds become available, purchased equipment may include, but not be limited to: buses, vans, or other para transit vehicles, radios, communication equipment, passenger shelters, wheelchair lifts and restraints, computer hardware/software, spare parts of components, and other durable goods. Persons interested in holding a public hearing regarding the possible procurement of capital equipment must submit a written request within 15 days from the date of this notice. The purpose of this notice is to afford affected citizens, private transportation providers, and other interested agencies an early opportunity to examine the proposal and offer comments and/or recommendations on the overall scope of the proposed project. The grant proposal will be available for public inspection and comment for 15 days from the date of this notice February 12, 2015, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the office of the Bluefield Area Transit. For further information and/or submission of comments, please contact: Patrick McKinney, Manager, Bluefield Area Transit, 3208 John Nash Blvd., Bluefield, West Virginia 24701. Additionally, copies of comments may be submitted to the following: Director, West Virginia Division of Public Transit, Building 5, Room 906, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0432.