Washington, DC

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

 

For Immediate Release Contact: Virginia Miller

February 21, 2012 (202) 496-4816

vmiller@apta.com

MEDIA ADVISORY

General Managers of Public Transit Systems Discuss the Impact of

Transportation Funding Proposal on their Local Systems and Riders

APTA to Host Media Conference Call on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11 am EST

Click Here To Open Full PDF of Document



Public transportation systems across the nation are fighting back against a provision in a new transportation House bill that will eliminate all dedicated federal funding for public transportation and put transit projects at risk. The provision would eliminate the Mass Transit Account and leave public transportation without a long-term dedicated funding source. The impact would be devastating for the public transportation systems that people rely on every day to get to work and school and to go about their daily lives. By introducing great uncertainty in the funding process, public transit systems will be unable to do long-term planning and capital investment. At a time when public transit ridership numbers are growing, tying the hands of transit systems will have disastrous consequences.

APTA and its members are pleased that a bipartisan coalition of U.S. Representatives have come together to sponsor a bipartisan amendment that would restore dedicated motor fuels tax revenues for public transportation.

This media conference call will highlight the impact on public transit systems nationwide if the Mass Transit Account is eliminated.

WHO:

• Joseph J. Lhota, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York, NY)

Chairman and CEO

• Richard Sarles, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Washington, DC)

General Manager and CEO

• Joe Costello, Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago, IL)

Executive Director

• Joseph M. Casey, SEPTA (Philadelphia, PA)

General Manager

• Will Kempton, Orange County Transportation Authority (Orange County, CA)

CEO

• Joyce Eleanor, Community Transit (Snohomish County, WA)

CEO

• W. Curtis Stitt, Central Ohio Transit Authority (Columbus, OH)

President and CEO

Moderated by:

• Michael Melaniphy, American Public Transportation Association

President and CEO

WHEN: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11 am EST.

RSVP: Please e-mail Nick Fabiani at nfabiani@apcoworldwide.com or call (202) 778-1300 to register for the call. Dial-in information will be sent upon RSVP.

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The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 public and private member organizations, 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 members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada ride APTA member systems.

Virginia Miller

Senior Manager-Media Relations

American Public Transportation Association

Washington, DC

202-496-4816