APTA protests proposed FY12 cut to public transport

The American Public Transportation Association released a statement Friday by ATPA President William Millar, who said:

“The proposed 30% cut in public transportation for Fiscal Year 2012 approved by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing today runs completely counter to our country’s ability to create jobs and provide access to jobs necessary to move the economy forward.

“This budgetary action underscores the urgent need for Congress to pass the long-stalled surface transportation authorization legislation. The current SAFETEA-LU legislation expired on Sep. 30, 2009 and the extension expires on Sept. 30.

“Now is the time that our country should be increasing investment in transportation infrastructure, not significantly curtailing it. For every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 are generated in economic returns, and every $1 billion in public transportation investment supports and creates 36,000 jobs.”