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- Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
- Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!rich
- From: Nigel Allen <nigel.allen@canrem.com>
- Subject: Transit Association Statement on First Anniversary of ISTEA
- Message-ID: <1992Dec17.030338.13505@mont.cs.missouri.edu>
- Followup-To: alt.activism.d
- Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
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- Organization: Echo Beach
- Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 03:03:38 GMT
- Approved: map@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Lines: 99
-
- Here is a press release from the American Public Transit Association.
-
- Transit Association Statement on First Anniversary of ISTEA
- To: Transportation Writer
- Contact: Chip Bishop of the American Public Transit Association,
- 202-898-4114
-
- WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Following is the statement of
- Jack R. Gilstrap, executive vice president, American Public
- Transit Association, on the first anniversary of the Intermodal
- Surface Transportation Efficiency Act:
-
- One of our new government's highest priorities should be the
- expansion of investment in our nation's transportation
- infrastructure, including public transit. ISTEA shows the way.
- ISTEA is a landmark law. For the first time, it calls for a truly
- intermodal surface transportation network and requires better
- cooperation among the modes. It budgets increased spending on both
- highways and transit to move people and goods more efficiently, and
- grants states and localities broad new authority to use federal funds
- for mobility improvements as they see fit.
- For the most part, ISTEA is working well. Transit funds are being
- obligated on an acceptable timetable and, as promised, these funds
- are producing jobs at the rate of about 6,000 per $100 million spent.
- Local matching shares between modes are now equitable. There is
- better transportation planning locally and more coordination with air
- quality and land use policies. About $300 million in flexible funds
- were set aside by the federal transit administration in the last
- quarter of fiscal year 1992 for transit improvements selected
- locally.
- But unfortunately the level of transit appropriations in the
- current fiscal year falls far short of what ISTEA budgeted.
- Accordingly, the transit community's No. 1 priority is to achieve
- full funding of ISTEA this year, most likely through supplemental
- appropriations. We need the full authorization of $5.4 billion not
- just the $3.8 billion appropriated. The difference is more than
- dollars, it is jobs -- 93,000 of them.
- The first chart illustrates our shortfall: 31 percent overall,
- 40 percent in the formula program, 23 percent in operating assistance
- and 15 percent in the major capital program. Under-funding of this
- size undermines the goals of ISTEA. It limits our ability to move
- people to and from jobs; it leads to service reductions and fare
- increases.
- Make no mistake about it, transit agencies can and will spend
- additional federal money. Our members told us in a recent survey
- that they have projects and purchases worth $7 billion ready to go in
- this fiscal year. Seven billion dollars translates into more than
- 400,000 new, full-time jobs.
- As this chart shows, most of the funds would be spent to replace
- over-age buses, vans and rail cars. Right now, nearly a quarter of
- our fleet has outlived its usefulness and ought to be replaced. At
- the same time, the bus building industry is operating at 75 percent
- under capacity.
- We would invest added funds in new systems and other expansion
- plans, improvements to old rail systems, and in operations and
- maintenance to safeguard the federal investment.
- Clearly, these figures show a dramatic need, a huge pent-up
- demand. As Congress and the Clinton administration develop their
- economic stimulus package, we urge that investment in transportation
- systems -- transit and highways -- be a key part of it. And the
- place to start is by honoring the funding pledge of ISTEA.
- APTA is the international association of operating transit
- authorities, their suppliers and other advocates of improved transit
- service.
- Note: For further information and interviews contact Chip Bishop
- of APTA at 202-898-4114.
- ------
- Shortfalls of Transit Funds FY 1993
- Appropriations vs. ISTEA
-
- Total Federal Program 31 Percent
- Formula Funds 40 Percent
- Operating Assistance 23 Percent
- Major Capital 15 Percent
-
- Jobs 93,000 (includes 5,000 jobs
- from direct federal
- spending for research
- and administration)
-
- Additional Federal Funds Transit Can Spend
- This Fiscal Year
-
- Rail and other
- modernization $1.2 billion
- Operations $1.4 billion
- New buses, vans
- and rail cars $2.7 billion
- New systems and
- other $1.7 billion
-
- Total $7.0 billion (405,000 jobs)
-
- (Source: American Public Transit Association, Dec. 1992)
- -30-
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