This week, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and a broad coalition of 45 industry partners sent letters urging Congress and the Administration to provide at least $10 billion of additional public transit investment in the reconciliation bill—the Build Back Better Act.
The letters also urge Congress and the Administration to provide significant, dedicated high-speed rail funding in the bill. The letters’ signatories include a broad coalition of national associations representing public transit, high-speed rail, labor, environmental, local government, mobility, and construction interests.
“These bold investments in public transportation in the Build Back Better Act will enable us to tackle climate change, advance equity, and meet the growing and evolving mobility demands of our communities,” APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas said in a statement. “Investing in public transit and high-speed rail will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and public health, and help transform our nation’s transportation network for a sustainable future. Public transportation creates access to opportunities, including jobs, health care, and education, which can help our communities address the equity challenges that they face.”
APTA says it looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration on the reconciliation bill and urges U.S. leaders to use this once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide the public transportation investments necessary to address the nation’s climate and equity challenges.
The $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package is making its way through Congress to pass in addition to the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. The infrastructure bill includes $39 billion for public transit systems and $66 billion in passenger and freight rail.
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SOURCE: American Public Transportation Association
