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June 8, 2004
The Honorable Richard C. Shelby
United States Senate
110 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0103
Dear Senator Shelby:
I write on behalf of the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA)
1,500 member organizations, to convey APTA's views on the development of a
conference agreement between the transit and highway authorization bills passed
by the Senate and House, S. 1072 and H.R. 3550.
First, APTA strongly supports the six-year investment level of $318 billion
in the Senate-passed bill, including the $56.5 billion level of guaranteed
funding for the federal transit program. This level of investment is critical
to help address the demand for public transportation service and maximize
the transit industry's ability to improve the economy and meet other important
national goals.
Second, we strongly support preservation of the highway and transit funding
guarantees that were so important to the success of TEA 21. It is more critical
than ever that the funding guarantees include both the Mass Transit Account
and General Fund components of the federal transit program.
Third, we strongly support maintaining the modal balance as between transit
and highway investment established under the funding levels in each bill.
Fourth, our members worked over three years to develop transit industry
consensus positions on many issues including funding distributions. We urge
the conferees to adopt APTA's recommendations.
Ridership, Investment and Needs
The needs-based structure and annual investment increases provided by TEA
21 led to ridership growth and helped address the growing demand for transit
service. Despite the success of TEA 21, a report by the American Association
of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) estimates that an annual
capital investment of nearly $44 billion is needed to maintain, improve, and
expand transit service. Both the Senate and House-passed bills essentially
maintain the TEA 21 structure, but the Senate-passed bill does more to grow
the federal transit program and would be more effective in meeting growing
capital needs.
Public transportation investment stimulates the economy by creating 47,500
jobs for every $1 billion invested. Every $10 million invested in transit
capital projects yields $30 million in business sales. Transit also helps
the economy by reducing congestion and providing mobility options for workers.
Finally, public transportation helps reduce the nation's dependence on imported
oil, and the portion of our trade deficit that is attributable to imported
oil.
Conclusion
We thank you for your consideration of these issues. We believe that increasing
the federal investment in our nation's transit and highway infrastructure
is necessary and will produce enormous benefits for our citizens. We appreciate
the efforts of Members of both Houses who worked so hard to craft legislation
that addresses our need as a nation to maintain and improve our surface transportation
system.
Should you have any questions, please have your staff contact Rob Healy in
APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4811 or by e-mail at rhealy@apta.com.
William W. Millar
President
WWM/amm
June 8, 2004
The Honorable Don Young
U.S. House of Representatives
2111 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0201
Dear Representative Young:
I write on behalf of the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA)
1,500 member organizations, to convey APTA's views on the development of a
conference agreement between the transit and highway authorization bills passed
by the Senate and House, S. 1072 and H.R. 3550.
First, APTA strongly supports the six-year investment level of $318 billion
in the Senate-passed bill, including the $56.5 billion level of guaranteed
funding for the federal transit program. This level of investment is critical
to help address the demand for public transportation service and maximize
the transit industry's ability to improve the economy and meet other important
national goals.
Second, we strongly support preservation of the highway and transit funding
guarantees that were so important to the success of TEA 21. It is more critical
than ever that the funding guarantees include both the Mass Transit Account
and General Fund components of the federal transit program.
Third, we strongly support maintaining the modal balance as between transit
and highway investment established under the funding levels in each bill.
Fourth, our members worked over three years to develop transit industry
consensus positions on many issues including funding distributions. We urge
the conferees to adopt APTA's recommendations.
Ridership, Investment and Needs
The needs-based structure and annual investment increases provided by TEA
21 led to ridership growth and helped address the growing demand for transit
service. Despite the success of TEA 21, a report by the American Association
of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) estimates that an annual
capital investment of nearly $44 billion is needed to maintain, improve, and
expand transit service. Both the Senate and House-passed bills essentially
maintain the TEA 21 structure, but the Senate-passed bill does more to grow
the federal transit program and would be more effective in meeting growing
capital needs.
Public transportation investment stimulates the economy by creating 47,500
jobs for every $1 billion invested. Every $10 million invested in transit
capital projects yields $30 million in business sales. Transit also helps
the economy by reducing congestion and providing mobility options for workers.
Finally, public transportation helps reduce the nation's dependence on imported
oil, and the portion of our trade deficit that is attributable to imported
oil.
Conclusion
We thank you for your consideration of these issues. We believe that increasing
the federal investment in our nation's transit and highway infrastructure
is necessary and will produce enormous benefits for our citizens. We appreciate
the efforts of Members of both Houses who worked so hard to craft legislation
that addresses our need as a nation to maintain and improve our surface transportation
system.
Should you have any questions, please have your staff contact Rob Healy in
APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4811 or by e-mail at rhealy@apta.com.
William W. Millar
President
WWM/amm
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