WASHINGTON (May 19, 2020) – Today, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) hosted a virtual member fly-in, holding more than 140 meetings via phone and video conference with individual Congressional offices and Congressional staffers.
As part of this day of congressional advocacy, APTA members are urging Congress to provide $23.8 billion in funding for COVID-19 Emergency Response and Recovery, including $19 billion provided through the Emergency Relief Program and $4.75 billion through certain formula programs. The Emergency Relief funding would be distributed proportionally to all public transit agencies with a demonstrated need and would be provided at a 100 percent federal share.
“We appreciate members of Congress and their staffs taking the time to meet with our public- and private-sector members and discuss the essential role public transportation is playing in keeping our society working, and the indispensable role it will play in America’s social and economic recovery,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis, dedicated APTA members carved out time in their schedules to advocate on behalf of the critically essential public transportation industry.”
In these meetings, APTA members reiterated the vital role public transportation has played in their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing healthcare professionals to the frontlines, delivering groceries and medicine to at-risk populations, and connecting essential workers to their places of work.
APTA also urges Congress to provide the public transportation industry with long-term certainty by enacting the Surface Transportation Authorization Act prior to its expiration in September.
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The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 public and private sector organizations which represent a $74 billion industry that directly employs 435,000 people and supports millions of private sector jobs. APTA members are engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed passenger rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products.
