Statement by American Public Transportation Association President William Millar

“APTA applauds the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood for his announcement today of the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program.  These grant awards show a strong commitment to investing in public transportation as a part of a strategy to create jobs, grow the economy, improve our environment, and make our communities more livable.  We are very pleased that the administration supports a full range of projects that will help improve mobility and provide the American public with more transportation choices. 

“These grants are a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and they show that DOT recognizes the importance of investing in public transportation in areas of all sizes.  APTA has long championed a stronger emphasis on multimodal transportation projects that provide significant economic and environmental benefits for entire regions.  These new grant awards move us in the right direction. 

“The grant awards represent a tremendous advancement as we create more livable communities in the United States.  We look forward to working with the administration and putting these funds into action while helping to put Americans back to work.”