Congress: Time to Support Transit Operations
We are living in a time of great crisis, but also great opportunity. It can be hard to wrap your head around the twin crises of the economy and the environment. Especially if your job is at stake, the bills are mounting, and it is just harder getting by. However, there is opportunity if we know how to respond.
In the next 4 to 18 months, Congress has a great opportunity to respond to the crisis. That opportunity is public transit. Transportation spending is second only to defense in the federal budget. By directing those dollars to public transit, we can make an economic recovery while we clean the environment and reduce our emissions. Recent research shows that investing in public transit creates 19% more jobs that investing in highway construction. It means jobs in operations, in vehicle and component manufacturing, as well as supporting industries and services. And trains, streetcars, and buses are cleaner and greener than even a whole rush hour traffic jam of electric cars.
Transit Riders for Public Transportation (TRPT) is a campaign to change the way we get around in this country. In order to make a realistic impact on the need for jobs, a clean environment, and a stable climate, we propose the following:
- Reduce highway funding – Expand public transit funding.
Transit is treated like an afterthought in America. 80% of our transportation spending is on highways. This has lead to increasing traffic, accidents, pollution, and global warming. Let’s flip the script: 80% for transit 20% to maintain roads. - Transit Operations Funding
For 13 years Congress has spent 0 dollars on transit operations. Meanwhile transit agencies like CTA have made massive fare increases, service cuts, and attacks on labor. Dedicated operating funds will allow for more bus and rail service on existing lines, dramatic fare reductions, free transfers, and 24/7 transit service. - Inclusive jobs Jobs and contracts from the Stimulus had extremely low minority and woman participation. Federally funded projects should feature targeted hiring of workers normally shut out, quality job training, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship training programs, Community Workforce Agreements, and woman and minority participation in contracting opportunities.
- Get Civil Rights back on the bus and train.
In 2001, the Supreme Court decided that you cannot sue transit agencies if there is a “disparate impact,” unless you can prove that it was intentional. Discrimination happens, but it is very hard to prove intent in this day and age. We support a new civil rights bill that would provide a remedy when people are left out of the transit system.
We salute this ATU Locals 241 and 308 for their courageous picket. We encourage you to contact your Congresspeople and tell them you support funding for transit operations.
To find out more about TRPT and view our full campaign demands, you can visit http://transitriders.net
Tags: Bus, Environmental Justice, LVEJO, Public Transit, Trains, transit, Transit Riders for Public Transportation
