Cocopah receives FTA funding for Purple Route

The Cocopah Indian Tribe has been awarded a federal grant to fund continuation and expansion of its public transit service.

The tribe received notification Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration, Region 9, that the tribe has been awarded $242,860 for its Tribal Transit Program, announced Cheryl L. Bradstreet, tribal spokeswoman.

The funding will be used to operate the Purple Route that connects with the countywide public transit system.

In 2007, the Cocopah Indian Tribe was awarded a two-year FTA grant to start the Purple Route. Since starting the route, it has served three purposes.

First, the route ties into the current YCAT (Yuma County Area Transit) system of routes that serves the entire Yuma area.

Second, the Purple Route provided the North Reservation community members with transportation to and from the tribal administration offices on the West Reservation.

Third, the route serves the Cocopah Bend RV and Golf Resort visitors with transportation to and from the Cocopah Casino and other Yuma-area points of interest. That includes Yuma Palms Regional Center, downtown Yuma County and city of Yuma offices, Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University-Yuma.

The FTA will be publishing a formal notice of the award on its website.