The Flint Hills Regional Transit Administration will receive funding from the Federal Transit Administration which can be used to support transit services within the Manhattan Urbanized Area, or that start or end in that area.

Riley, Geary, and Pottawatomie Counties are in the Manhattan Urbanized Area.

Gary Stith, Flint Hills Regional Council Director, explained the funds can be used for transit services in the area. “It’s a little over $900,000 a year that’s the allocation for this region. We’ve been designated the director recipient of those funds by FTA, and we’re in the process of hiring a transit administrator and mobility manager. It’s a position that will have two functions.”

Once that person is hired a final grant application will be prepared and the funds would be received, probably early in 2015.

The Flint Hills Regional Council provides staff support for the Flint Hills Regional Transit Administration, and also acts as the fiscal agent for that administration.