The chairman of the congressional Committee on Finance visited CyRide’s transit site Friday where he heard requests for funding improvements to Ames’ city bus system.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is considering CyRide’s request for $2.5 million from the federal government to add a storage area for buses on the south side of the facility, said Bob Bourne, transit director for CyRide. CyRide’s administrators are also requesting money to replace old buses.

Bourne said the bus system’s administrators invited Grassley to visit because his support for Ames’ bus transportation system could be beneficial.

Grassley toured the CyRide facility and met board members, bus drivers and mechanics. After the tour, Bourne voiced his concerns about CyRide’s financial needs.

“We’re now the largest bus company in the state in terms of passengers,” Bourne said. “We have needs, so that’s what I want to show [Grassley].”

Bourne said CyRide carried 4 million people last year, or about 30,000 passengers a day. The bus system has 124 employees and 54 buses, according to CyRide’s Web site at www.cyride.com.

CyRide is currently funded by state year-long appropriations from gas tax revenues and student fees for transportation.

However, Bourne said these funds do not allow CyRide to purchase as many new buses as are needed each year.

It is important to keep the transit system well-maintained, he said.

“We have to keep our ground transportation system maintained because that’s what makes our economy good,” he said.

Grassley said he does not usually take a large interest in transportation.

“I would limit [my interest in transportation] geographically to Iowa,” he said. “I don’t get involved except in the tax issues.”

Grassley said it is too early for him to speculate if there will be excess funds available to put into transportation and CyRide.

“I think right now there isn’t a lot of support for a gas tax increase,” he said.

Grassley said by this summer or fall, many national leaders could feel a push to support funding transportation across the nation, including in Iowa.