APTA Applauds Transportation Conferees for Completing Work on Surface Transportation Bill

Statement by APTA President and CEO Michael Melaniphy"

“On behalf of the 1,500 members of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), we commend the Conferees on the surface transportation bill for reaching a successful agreement. The bill maintains funding for public transportation through September 2014. This authorization period will provide public transit agencies and the business community with a greater degree of certainty than they have had since the expiration of SAFETEA-LU. We urge Congress to approve the agreement and the President to sign this bill into law, because investing in public transit is essential to creating American jobs and boosting our economy.

This proposal demonstrates that Congress and the Administration understand the important role public transportation plays in getting people to work and putting people to work. The agreement reflects a balance of the public transportation needs in both urban and rural areas. It includes improvements to keep our systems in a state of good repair; streamlines delivery of public transit projects; provides funding for new start projects and for a bus replacement and a bus facility program.

We believe this new law will create American jobs and help the United States remain economically competitive.”