Statement by American Public Transportation Association president William Millar

“We commend Congress for approving the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill which contains $10.7 billion for public transit programs – an all time high.  This represents an increase of more than $500 million from FY 2009.  Congress had the foresight to provide an additional $2.5 billion for grants to support intercity rail service and high-speed rail corridors within the programs of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
 
“While we support this positive development, the legislation does not include an extension of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) or a new authorization bill to replace that law.  The current extension of SAFETEA-LU expires on December 18 and we continue to urge Congress to write a new multi-year surface transportation authorization bill. 

“It is important to acknowledge that not only did the Congress include $2.5 billion for grants to support high-speed rail, but provided specific language which urges the Secretary and the FRA to meet the intent of advancing high-speed rail along 11 named corridors.  We are also pleased that the bill contains $50 million to help rail carrier’s implement Positive Train Control systems as required by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.  This is a down payment to provide technology to make a safe industry even safer. 
 
“This legislation is an important step in increasing investment in the nation’s local public transit systems and laying the foundation for high-speed rail.  Local public transit systems provide over 10 billion trips per year and APTA along with other stakeholder groups look forward to working with the Congress as we address the needs of the riding public.”