The Schuylkill County Commissioners turned their attention to transportation needs, big and small.

During a meeting Wednesday, the board authorized submission of the county’s $745,810 consolidated capital grant application. The submission, made to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is for the Schuylkill County Transportation Authority. The source of the money would be approximately $563,048 in federal funds, $118,618 in state funds and $64,144 in a match from the county.

Planned capital improvement projects include $283,810 for shared ride vehicles, $420,000 for the county communication system, $15,000 for copier replacement, $12,000 for computer software upgrades and $15,000 for Ecolane tablet replacement. Ecolane tablets have mobile data tablet software, which provides transit agencies with fast data communications and vehicle location technology.

The commissioners also approved purchasing a 2020 Ford utility police interceptor for the District Attorney’s office at a cost of $40,874, through the COSTARS purchase program. The agreement is a five-year lease purchase, and the vehicle will come from Kovatch Ford Inc., Nesquehoning.

“Most of our vehicles are very old and have a lot of miles on them,” said District Attorney Mike O’Pake. “We have been picking up more than 100 people a month on bench warrants.”