MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $6.4 million to West Virginia University for renovations to the PRT stations and guideway.
The funding was secured through a Congressionally Directed Spending request by U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito during the current fiscal year that ends this month.
“Since I came to the Senate, I have heard from university leaders and students about the need to make improvements to the PRT. I was proud to use my position on the Appropriations Committee to advocate for and secure this award to support the critical role that the PRT plays when it comes to transporting students across WVU’s campus,” Senator Capito said in a news release.
“These improvements will help ensure that this iconic and unique transportation system can remain in place to help students get across campus for years to come.
The project includes refurbishing the Beechurst, Walnut, Health Sciences Center, Engineering, Towers PRT stations, and guideway.
An estimated 83 million people have ridden the PRT since it went into service in 1975 and transports about 15,000 riders daily. The PRT Passenger Station and Guideway Modernization Project is aimed at bringing the system up to current Federal Transit Administration Requirements.