Transit Still Under Attack

Transit continues to be on the chopping block in Washington D.C. as House Republicans lead the charge to essentially defund transit in America.

Today Puget Sound Transit agencies stood together to articulate the dangerous impacts of the House Republican anti-transit plan.

Metro’s General Manager stated, “This House bill is alarming, because it puts at risk a critical source of predictable revenue that transit agencies have counted on year after year. For Metro alone, as much as $70 million in annual revenues would be at risk, worsening our financial hole at a time when demand for transit service is rising.”

Pierce Transit and Community Transit, two transit agencies who have already made draconian service cuts, amounting to approximately 40% each, would also be hit hard by the House Republican plan.  Community Transit estimates this plan would amount to an additional 9% service cut and Pierce Cut would be forced to cut an additional 28% of their service, taking bus service to dangerously low levels in Peirce County. This plan is not just a Puget Sound problem.  Every single transit agency in the State of Washington will feel the pain if the House Republican attack on transit moves forward.

Not only would local bus agencies be impacted by the anti-transit plan, so would Sound Transit.  If this plan passed voter approved ST2 projects would be delayed with the loss of federal matching dollars.

The New York Times has called this proposal, “A Terrible Transportation Bill”. Our government, U.S. Congress, can and must do better.  Click here to sign a Transportation for America action alert to tell your Congressperson to vote NO on the House Republican’s unprecedented attack on transit.