A bill backed by the Transport Workers Union of America that was reintroduced Friday would provide billions of dollars annually to help transit agencies increase bus and rail service.
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) introduced the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, a bill that provides $20 billion annually for transit operations over four years. Currently, federal transit funding is tied to capital projects like buying new buses, but federal dollars cannot be used for operations funding that would improve service.
“The federal government inexplicably funds transit capital investments without providing the operations funding to ensure that buses and trains can run safely, on time, and frequently enough to benefit working families,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “This bill would end a transit funding practice that doesn’t make sense and ensure that federal dollars can go toward transit operating expenses that improve service and ridership.”
Johnson’s bill creates a new funding source for transit operations. Ending the current prohibition of federal funds for transit operations is the top priority for the TWU heading into next year’s surface transportation reauthorization.
The bill creates a new formula grant program to support transit operating while requiring that funds must be used to make service improvements like increasing the frequency of buses, trains, and new bus routes. The bill has 103 original cosponsors – a significant increase from when the bill was introduced in the previous Congress.
“Transit in our communities is as essential as food on our tables, clothes on our backs and a roof over our heads,” said Rep. Johnson. “This kind of funding is a game-changer for Atlanta and communities across the nation.”
To read the bill, click HERE.