Call to Action: Win Back Stimulus Funding for Transit Service

There’s a sense of urgency on the Streetsblog Network this morning. Transportation for America, using media reports of projected cuts to transit services across the country, has put together a map that dramatizes just how painful those cuts could be:

cuts_map.jpg

The far-reaching and broad cuts will directly affect transit employees and riders who are among the most vulnerable in this time of economic upheaval. More than 20 million trips are taken each day on these 38 systems, and the scores of low-income citizens and 1/3 of Americans who are unable to or choose not to drive could find themselves out in the
cold.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has spoken out about the way transit got squeezed as the stimulus package was put together, and he’s set to introduce an amendment to the recovery bill that would direct at least $2 billion to transit
operating costs, preventing at least some of the potential layoffs John Kaehny wrote about here on Streetsblog last week. In order for the amendment to be considered, though, it has to be brought to the floor of the House. Here’s what T4A has to say:

The only thing preventing his amendment from reaching the floor for a vote is the House Rules Committee, which will determine this Tuesday by 3:30 p.m. which amendments to include with the House recovery package. So we’re asking all of you to weigh in with Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the Chair of the House Rules Committee, through a quick phone call before Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

Click here for information on how to call and what to say.

Also on the network today: Greater Greater Washington delves into DeFazio’s criticism of Obama economic adviser Larry Summers, Kaid Benfield on NRDC Switchboard discusses how "transit without land use change will not take us where we need to go," and WashCycle wonders if an Idaho stop for bicyclists could work in DC.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Sen. Mikulski Supports Car Tax Breaks While Transit Languishes

|
This just in from the Streetsblog Network: Greater Greater Washington takes Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski to task for supporting car sales tax breaks — and asks how that money could be better spent: Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) touts tax breaks for car buyers at the 2009 Motor Trend International Auto Show in Baltimore. Photo by […]

Doomsday Transit Cuts, District by District

|
Barring a viable MTA rescue plan, the 140,000 transit riders in Ruben Diaz. Sr.’s district will lose the Bx4 and the Bx14 If you’re wondering how MTA doomsday service cuts will affect you, you can now look them up by state legislative district and ZIP code, thanks to new maps from the Regional Plan Association. […]