The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and CEO Paul Skoutelas issued a statement in support of U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) and U.S. Sen. Doug Jones’ (D-AL) amendment to the (H.R. 3055) transportation appropriations bill.
Skoutelas said: “[APTA] is thrilled that Sen. Martha McSally and Sen. Doug Jones have stepped forward to offer this critical bipartisan amendment to H.R. 3055 to permanently block an impending $1.2 billion cut to public transportation investment with implementation of the Rostenkowski Test.
Without legislative action, every public transit agency in the nation will suffer a 12 percent across-the-board cut to transit formula funds this year (FY 2020). These cuts would lead to losses in all states, including more than $7 million in Alabama and Kentucky, $10 million in Utah, $15 million in Arizona, $48 million in Florida and $57 million in Texas.
Each day across the country, public transit systems provide service to millions of Americans. The industry faces a more than $90 billion backlog of state-of-good-repair needs, and this 12 percent cut would impact millions of Americans in an adverse way, cutting them off from jobs, local businesses and medical services.
If the automatic cut takes place, it will negatively impact each state and affect private sector manufacturers and suppliers. Reduced funding impacts: maintaining and replacing buses; providing transportation for low-income individuals to and from their jobs; transporting senior citizens and persons with disabilities; supporting capital and planning for transit in rural communities; providing workforce development programs; constructing public transit facilities for communities; and other vital transportation initiatives.
APTA emphatically supports this bipartisan amendment and looks forward to working together with senators on both sides of the aisle to make public transit available to more Americans and provide a greater level of service in communities coast to coast.”
