WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is sending the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) $ 2,535,741 that U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) secured for new buses and security improvement in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 Omnibus Appropriation Bill. The Bill was signed into law on December 8, 2004. RIPTA will use the federal funds to purchase 12 new environmentally clean replacement buses for routes in urban areas and expand services in low density areas of Rhode Island which have limited transit service. The majority of these new buses will replace vehicles that have reached their useful life. These new buses will enable RIPTA to provide more flexible service throughout Rhode Island while maintaining a newer, dependable, environmentally friendly fleet, Reed stated. Reed has secured $42 million for new buses over the last 7 years to help RIPTA update its aging fleet. "These federal funds will help us strengthen our fleet by replacing aging equipment with new fixed-route buses. This funding will also allow us to expand our Flex Service, which is especially designed for underserved communities in our state's suburban and rural areas. We thank Senator Reed for his terrific assistance in securing federal funding for Rhode Island's public transportation network," said RIPTA General Manager Alfred J. Moscola.Reed secured $20.5 million in Rhode Island transportation funding in the FY 05 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. Reed also secured $75 million in project funding for the RIDOT as well as $6.9 million for station expansion RIPTA in the Transportation Reauthorization Bill which the President signed into law earlier this month.