Secretary LaHood recognized for creating jobs in transit industry

Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, was recognized by more than 1,400 participants at the American Public Transportation Association’s Annual Meeting for his work creating and supporting more than 250,000 jobs with investments in public transportation due to the success of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. He was also recognized by Lynx, the local transit agency employees and was joined by Federal Transit Administrator Peter M. Rogoff, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) and Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.).

The Secretary was honored for his efforts in exceeding the goal of obligating 50 percent of ARRA funds to the public transit industry by obligating over 90 percent of the funds by the September 1, 2009 deadline. Officials of APTA noted that every $1 billion in federal investment creates and supports 30,000 jobs. The $8.4-billion invested in public transit through the ARRA funds will support and create 252,000 jobs, according to APTA.

"For all the oil we didn’t have to import and all the carbon we didn’t put in the atmosphere, thank you," said William Millar, president of APTA.  "For all the green jobs and green transit projects, we want to thank you for what the federal government can do in partnership with local communities."