WASHINGTON - The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that 47 projects in national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges across the United States will share in $27 million from its Paul S. Sarbanes Transit In Parks program to improve public and alternative transportation within the grounds.

"This investment in our federal lands will give visitors, including persons with disabilities, more options for getting around while inside the parks," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "While making federal lands more accessible, it will also conserve energy and natural resources."

The U.S. National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management and local partner communities will receive funds for 47 projects ranging from a comprehensive transportation planning study to the purchases of hybrid and alt-fuel vehicles.

Congress established the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program to enhance the protection of national parks and federal lands and increase the enjoyment of those visiting them. The grants being announced today will come primarily from Fiscal Year 2010 funds that had remained unallocated.

Administered by the FTA in partnership with the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service, the program funds capital and planning expenses for alternative transportation systems, such as shuttle buses and bicycle trails, in national parks and public lands. The goals of the program are to conserve natural, historical, and cultural resources, and reduce congestion and pollution.

A complete list of projects and their descriptions can be found here.