Transportation for America: Progress in the fight for transit relief

A message from Transportation for America: 

Your efforts have paid off with some good news for public transportation! In the midst of a nationwide transit funding crisis brought on by this recession, the Senate just introduced new legislation providing emergency funding relief for local transit systems.

The new bill – the Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010 – was introduced today in the Senate. It contains $2 billion in grants for transit agencies across the US for preserving vital service – and it couldn’t come at a better time.

Write your senators today: tell them to pass this emergency funding package as soon as possible.

We can’t stand by while transit systems crash and burn. Last year, Americans took more than 10.7 billion trips on transit, the highest level in over 50 years. Public transportation use has increased at nearly triple the growth rate of the US population.

At the same time that public transit agencies are working so hard to serve growing ridership, they face shortfalls in state and local revenues. Transit agencies nationwide are being forced to cut service, raise fares, and lay off workers. Jobs and services are being eliminated for those in greatest need.

Congress has been paying attention to our calls for help. The hard work and dedication of our partners and supporters – like you – led to the introduction of this bill. This bill will go a long way toward relieving the pain, but it’s up to us to make sure it gets passed.

Tell your senators to support emergency funding for transit systems.

Our lawmakers need to take a stand and say enough is enough: we can’t let our transit systems falter.

Thank you for your support for clean, reliable, safe public transportation.

Sincerely,

Stephen Lee Davis

Online Coordinator

Transportation for America