A national press conference was held Monday to announce $776 million in federal grants to help transit systems around the county pay for the upkeep of their buses, trains and facilities. A reporter asked U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administration chief Peter Rogoff how the $19.7 million MARTA was being awarded to rehab an aging bus garage would be perceived by taxpayers who are worried about how their money was being spent. Here is what the federal transportation officials said: Click here to listen to the audio file.