Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Yankton Sioux Tribe will receive a total of $1,035,539 from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund transportation projects on the reservations. Today’s funding to South Dakota tribes is part of the DOT’s announcement of $32 million for improving public transportation in Indian Country.

"I am pleased to see that this funding is going towards improving public transportation on our reservations,” Johnson said. “Public transportation is a vital service to many South Dakotans, especially in the winter months, and this funding will help ensure that these reservations have the proper infrastructure in place to provide these services.”

The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe will receive $318,168 for transportation operations and the Yankton Sioux Tribe will receive $117,371 to expand services, including purchasing new paratransit vehicles, from general transportation funds.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe will receive $250,000 in operation funding and an additional $350,000 from the DOT’s portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to construct passenger shelters.

The stimulus package signed by President Obama is focused on tax cuts for the middle class, infrastructure investments and job creation. This funding is a prime example of the kind of resources the legislation provides to help improve communities while advancing South Dakota’s economy.

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