Transit Cuts, Fare Hikes Hurt America's Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2009
CONTACT:
Cheryl Cort, 202-244-4408 x112 or 202-251-7516
New Report Documents Devastating Transit Service Cuts and Fare Increases on America’s Communities
Coalition for Smarter Growth urges Virginia, Maryland and D.C. Congressional Delegations to Support Federal Fix To Transit Funding
A new report released by Transportation for America and the Transportation Equity Network shows that the budget crises among the Washington, D.C. region’s transit operators is part of a national epidemic, making it harder for families as well as some our most vulnerable residents to get to work and access essential services.
The reports ranks the Washington, D.C. region’s Metro system as having the 6th highest projected deficit of operating budgets in the nation for 2009. While the agency averted most service cuts last year, next year’s anticipated operating budget deficit is likely to be a greater challenge. The report also shows that outdated federal regulations and red tape are putting strains on local transit agencies around the country forcing drastic cuts to service, layoffs and fare increases at a time when Americans need jobs and affordable transportation options most.
“Virginia’s investment of stimulus dollars in passenger and freight rail will help, but the state still needs to do more to support local transit service, including long-term funding for Metro,” commented Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “Given Metro’s ongoing deficits and deferred maintenance, all levels of government need to step up to ensure that we can deliver the safe, reliable transit service people need. Our region’s economic future depends on it,” he said.
Maintaining existing transit lines and keeping fare increases to a minimum is essential for both rural and urban communities to sustain a viable workforce and encourage new development and commerce. However, transit-dependent riders, who cannot afford any other form of transportation, tend to disproportionately include members of racial minority groups and the elderly. For these populations, which make up nearly 48% of those households without a vehicle, cutting services on routes that provide their only access to schools, social services and jobs, can have disastrous consequences. Additionally, residents of small towns and rural communities in particular are increasingly stuck without transportation options as budget shortfalls force small local transit agencies to cut back on service in rural America.
“The success of our region depends on maintaining and increasing quality transit for workers and residents,” said Roger Diedrich with Sierra Club’s Virginia Chapter. “Ensuring the economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability of our region and all of Virginia requires increased investment in transit especially by the Commonwealth and federal government. Local governments can’t do it alone.”
“With the majority of transit systems across the country facing drastic service cuts and fare increases, in addition to the passage of another infusion into the broke Highway Trust Fund, it is clear that the current funding mechanisms will not meet future needs,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. “Congress needs to support legislation to allow for greater flexibility in transportation spending for operating assistance, in addition to a serious overhaul of our current funding mechanism and a renewed vision for our transportation system.”
The upcoming transportation authorization is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create the safe, clean and smart transportation system necessary to move America forward. Congress is considering legislation that cuts the red tape preventing local transit agencies from spending already existing public transportation funds on maintaining service and keeping fares affordable. Americans simply cannot afford to wait any longer for changes to our national transportation system that will save and create jobs and help us tackle long term economic, energy, climate and health challenges.
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ABOUT THE COALITION FOR SMARTER GROWTH
CSG is the leading organization addressing where and how the Washington region grows, partnering with communities in planning for the future, and offering solutions to the interconnected challenges of housing, transportation, energy and the environment.
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION EQUITY NETWORK
The Transportation Equity Network (TEN) is a national coalition reforming unjust and unwise transportation and land use policies. For the past eight years, TEN has:
- Won millions for transportation and job training programs,
- Helped create new funding programs to benefit disadvantaged people,
- Successfully advocated for equitable transportation policy reform, and
- Fostered stronger local, regional and state transportation equity groups and initiatives.
http://www.transportationequity.org
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICA (T4AMERICA)
Transportation for America is a broad coalition of housing, environmental, equal opportunity, public health, urban planning, transportation and other organizations focused on creating a 21st century national transportation program. The coalition’s goal is to build a modernized infrastructure and healthy communities where people can live, work and play by aligning national, state and local transportation policies with an array of issues like economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development. www.t4america.org
