May 15, 2002
The Honorable Harold Rogers
Chairman
Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies
House Committee on Appropriations
2358 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-6027
Dear Chairman Rogers:
On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and
its 1,400 public and private member organizations, I write to express our views as the Committee works to develop the Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
APTA urges the Committee to fund the federal transit program at the
full $8.2 billion level authorized in TEA 21, and no less than the $7.2 billion level included in the Bush Administration FY 2003 budget proposal.
Thanks in part to Congress' investment in the federal transit program,
public transportation is experiencing a renaissance. Americans used public transportation a record 9.5 billion times in 2001, and transit ridership has grown about 23% since 1995. This represents the highest level in more than 40 years. However, this ridership growth means that additional investment is needed in transit infrastructure to meet increased demand for service. According to the U.S. DOT, more than $17 billion is required to maintain and improve current transit conditions – and this estimate is based on projected ridership growth well below actual levels. When actual ridership levels are
applied to the DOT data, public transportation needs exceed $25 billion in annual capital investments. Indeed, a recent APTA study and update of existing needs analysis demonstrates annual needs of $42 billion for public transportation.
Investment in the surface transportation system, including transit,
helps facilitate a healthy, growing economy. Transit helps ensure the efficient movement of goods, services, and people that businesses depend on. A recent study by Cambridge Systematics, Inc. finds that investment in public transportation produces 31,000 to 57,000 jobs for each $1 billion spent and businesses sales gains of $3 billion for every $1 billion invested in transit capital and overall there is up to a $6 return for every $1 of public money invested.
The Administration’s FY 2003 budget request includes a New
Freedoms Initiative, designed to help Americans with disabilities by increasing access to employment and daily community life. While APTA supports the Administration’s New Freedoms Initiative, we recommend that it be financed with TEA 21 FY 2003 funds authorized to be appropriated over the guaranteed amounts.
We appreciate your consideration of our views. If you have any
questions, please have your staff contact Rob Healy of the APTA staff at (202) 496-4811 or rhealy@apta.com.
Sincerely yours,
William W. Millar
President
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