Four in five (81 percent) Americans believe that increased investment in public transportation strengthens the economy, creates jobs, reduces traffic congestion and air pollution, and saves energy, according to a new national poll conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide. See the poll and the press release from the American Public Transportation Association.
Download: WirthlinPollSum.doc (161.5 KB).
Download: Poll.doc (73 KB).
Taken for A Ride? As the Texas Legislature takes up the notion of statewide and regional brokerages for non-emergency Medicaid transportation — and how it might save money — a local Virginia TV station investigation recent activity there that resulted in abandonment of subcontracted transportation providers and their clients as they hastily departed the state. This is an interesting article — Taken for a Ride? — along with a compelling video. Click on the article and see the video either online at http://www.wusatv9.com/9newsinvestigates/. The video requires Windows Media Player available free at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp .
Download: MTP TakenforRide.doc (29 KB).
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports that the US House and Senate Budget Committees have been working this week on their respective Fiscal Year 2004 budget resolutions, and the respective committees’ markups could occur as early as next week. This is an important step in the budget process, as the budget committees will develop a broad outline for spending and tax policies in FY 2004 and future years. This will have a direct impact on transit and transportation funding in this years appropriations process and the reauthorization of TEA 21. More information is contained in the latest Legislative Alert, posted on the APTA website at www.apta.com .
In a related development, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday released the text of a letter to US Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA), Chairman of the House Budget Committee, and US Rep. John Spratt (D-SC), Ranking Member of the Committee, seeking $50 billion in budget authority for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees Fiscal Year 2004 allocation for the federal highways, highway safety, and transit programs. To insure that transit funding is set as high as possible in the Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY 2004, APTA members need to contact their Senators and Representatives now to advocate increased investment in the federal transit program in the context of the budget resolution. If your Senator or Representative serves on the Budget Committee in either House, it is particularly important for you to contact him or her immediately.
To find out if your Member serves on the Budget Committee in either Chamber, please see www.senate.gov or www.house.gov .
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has also just announced plans to hold a press conference at noon on Wednesday, March 12, to outline the major funding increases they will propose for highways and transit for the next six years and to announce the results of polls conducted for APTA and ARTBA concerning support for federal transportation infrastructure investment.
TTA submitted written testimony to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on March 4, 2003. The legislation, Senate Bill 314 by Senator Kyle Janek, a doctor, requires the establishment of statewide or regional brokerages to coordinate transportation service delivery. The bill also transfers the program from the Texas Department of Health to the Health and Human Services Commission, requires the setting of a statewide cap on expenditures for nonemergency Medicaid transportation. Read the bill and the testimony.
Download: SB00314 filed (27 KB).
Download: SB314Testimony.doc (40.5 KB).
Tyler residents and bus riders explaining why the love their transit system.
Download: TylerTransit.doc (21.5 KB).
London officials have implemented a $8 a day charge for vehicles entering the city in order to mitigate traffic congestion in one of the world’s largest cities. The result? Traffic is down 20 percent the first week.
Download: 022603London.doc (22 KB).
