Conn. to get $69M for buses, lots

Hartford (AP) - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says Connecticut will be getting nearly $69 million in federal stimulus aid to buy new transit system buses and upgrade commuter parking lots.

LaHood says the state's application for the funding has been approved and the money will be used to buy 136 new Connecticut Transit buses, including up to 106 hybrid buses.

The new buses will run in the Hartford, Stamford, New Haven, Waterbury and New Britain areas, and in the statewide commuter express fleet.

The rest of the money will be used to repair and re-pave nine park-and-ride lots across the state. LaHood says the parking lot projects will put people back to work, which will pump more money into the economy.

Connecticut is getting nearly $3 billion in federal stimulus aid.