ETCOG Receives $45K in Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding
October 5, 2021
GOBUS
GoBus Partners to Provide Transport of Vaccination Supplies and Health Care Workers
We are pleased to announce that our Public Safety
division successfully submitted a grant application through the Governor's Office for Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding. The approved grant will reimburse ETCOG $45,021.48 for COVID-19 expenses incurred through a vaccination clinic support partnership.
In May 2021, ETCOG's public transit system, GoBus, began transporting vaccination supplies and staff members to five counties in our region. GoBus partnered with the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) to transport COVID-19 vaccines and trained nursing staff to rural areas of East Texas to reach communities affected by the coronavirus. The staff offered transport six days each week to Van Zandt, Anderson, Henderson, Rains, and Wood counties from the NET Health headquarters in Tyler and returned staff each evening. By doing this, NET Health nursing staff provided vital information, protective gear, and vaccinations to the vulnerable populations of these rural communities.
ETCOG is proud to partner with NET Health and aid in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in East Texas.
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The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) has received a $175,000 grant from the Texas Veterans Commission to continue transportation services for veterans through its rural transit district, GoBus. The funding is part of more than $3.3 million in Texas Veterans Commission grants awarded this month to 13 veteran-service organizations across East Texas. Statewide, the commission awarded $40.8 million to organizations helping veterans and their families access critical services. For many veterans in rural East Texas, reliable transportation can be a barrier to medical appointments, employment, education, grocery stores, social service programs, and other essential destinations. The grant will help GoBus continue providing transportation options that support veterans’ independence and connection to the services they need. “We are grateful to the Texas Veterans Commission for investing in transportation access for veterans in our region,” said ETCOG’s Transportation Director, Vince Huerta. “Through GoBus, we can help reduce the transportation barriers that too often stand between veterans and essential health care, employment opportunities and community resources. With this grant, we are proud to offer free trips for veterans and active service members, their spouses and dependents.” GoBus provides public transportation across East Texas, helping residents in rural communities travel safely and affordably where transportation options may otherwise be limited. Every single vehicle in our fleet is ADA compliant and ready to serve passengers with mobility challenges, disabilities, or special needs. The Texas Veterans Commission’s Fund for Veterans’ Assistance supports organizations that provide direct assistance to veterans, their families and surviving spouses. Grant funding helps address service gaps in areas such as transportation, housing, financial assistance, legal services, and other supportive programs. Veterans who need transportation assistance are encouraged to contact GoBus to learn about available services, eligibility requirements, and how to schedule a trip. For more information about GoBus, visit www.gobustransit.com or call 903-215-8870.
ETCOG has completed a major fleet replacement for its GoBus rural transit system, with approximately $1.5 million in funding used to purchase and receive multiple new vehicles now ready to serve communities across East Texas. The funding was part of a broader initiative led by TxDOT in late 2024 to secure federal support for rural transit agencies across Texas. That effort brought in more than $26 million in federal funding statewide to address critical fleet replacement needs and help rural systems replace aging vehicles more quickly than would normally be possible. Under typical annual funding levels, most rural transit agencies are only able to replace one to two vehicles per year. This investment gave ETCOG the opportunity to replace several GoBus vehicles that had significantly exceeded their useful life, strengthening the system’s ability to provide safe, dependable transportation for the people who rely on it every day. The new vehicles will help improve safety, reliability, and service continuity for rural residents who depend on GoBus for essential trips such as medical appointments, work, shopping, and other daily needs. With the buses now received, ETCOG is better positioned to maintain consistent service and reduce the risk of disruptions caused by aging equipment. “This funding allows us to continue delivering on our mission of providing safe, reliable, and friendly transportation to the communities we serve,” said Vince Huerta, Director of Transportation. “It ensures we can maintain the level of service our riders depend on every day.” This fleet replacement reflects a meaningful investment in rural public transportation and in the East Texans who count on GoBus to stay connected to essential services and opportunities.
Improving mobility is an ongoing objective for persons living, working, or visiting the East Texas region. As the lead agency for our region, the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is working with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and a consultant team to prepare an update of the Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan for Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. The 2026 Plan seeks to identify practical strategies for improving the day-to-day mobility of all residents of the region, but especially older adults, persons with disabilities, low-income individuals, zero-car households, area youth, persons with limited English proficiency, veterans, clients of workforce agencies, and employment/job seekers. It will include a variety of public participation opportunities including a bilingual (Spanish/English) project webpage, community survey, and focus groups with members of the target populations listed above. We will also conduct surveys of stakeholders and transportation providers to gain additional insight into the transportation needs and resources available to the region. While public transportation plays a significant role in regional mobility, it is far from the only transportation provider. As such, we will be reaching out to many organizations that provide transportation services or support for transportation to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mobility resources available within East Texas communities. All residents are encouraged to take the community survey by clicking here . If you are interested in participating in a focus group, you’ll have the opportunity to let us know at the end of the survey. If you are an organization that serves any of the target populations listed above, have not received a stakeholder survey, and would like to complete a stakeholder survey and/or receive materials to distribute to those you serve, click here to send us your request . Make sure you include your email address so we can respond.
