Amendment Proposed For Economic Recovery and Revitalization Act

Amendment Proposed For Economic Recovery and Revitalization Act
An amendment to the bill to increase the transit funding allocation is being introduced by U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Steve Ellison (D-MN) and Michael McMahon (D-NY) to increase transit capital funding.


Specifically the amendment would provide $1.5 billion in funding for transit capital improvement program and $1.5 billion for the New Starts Program, raising the total funding level for transit and rail in the recovery bill to $12 billion.


The $3 billion dollars in this amendment would restore the transit portion of the recovery bill to level proposed by Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN). The USDOT reports that $12 billion is needed annually to maintain and improve our transit systems. FTA reports that $4 billion in existing New Start funding agreements are outstanding.

Our nation's transit and intercity rail systems are struggling to meet maintenance, repair and capital needs. In a national poll released earlier this month by Transportation for America and the National Association of Realtors, fully 80% of respondents said stimulus funds should not only create jobs, but also help the goals of reducing oil dependency, improving the environment, and increasing transportation options. Now is the time to increase much needed funding for public transportation.

Transportation For America has identified more than $5 billion in new transit extension and rail projects that could be ready to go in 120 days, generating over 178,000 new jobs. These investments could put people to work in the manufacturing sector building new rail cars and bus vehicles, in the steel and concrete industries, in design and planning professions, and in their construction and operation. New transit lines have also been demonstrated to generate substantial economic development, which yield economic benefits far beyond the life of the recovery bill.