U.S. transit industry joining forces for #SavePublicTransit day on Dec. 15

On Dec. 15, the public transit industry in the United States will join forces to deliver a single message to elected officials: At least $32 billion in emergency funding is needed to save public transit.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is leading the industry in its collective push as U.S. transit providers face “an existential financial crisis and emergency funding has never been more urgent.”

APTA says the $32 billion in emergency funding will ensure the survival of transit agencies as they help communities and the nation recover from the pandemic and its economic fallout.

“Immediate action needs to be taken before Congress recesses for the holiday to address the public transportation industry’s dire financial situation so that we can continue to serve essential employees every day and can help with the nation’s economic recovery,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “The industry’s very survival is at stake.”

In early November, a survey conducted on APTA’s behalf found 77 percent of respondents supported emergency funding for public transportation and 71 percent said public transportation keeps communities working and is essential to keep society functioning.

On Monday, a group of bipartisan, bicameral officials shared the final text of the Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, a $748-billion emergency relief bill, which is part of a larger $908-billion framework announced in early December.

The bill includes $45 billion for transportation, including $15 billion for transit, $1 billion for Amtrak and $8 billion for private bus/motorcoach operators.

APTA notes this funding level for transit “can be only a starting point for negotiations.”

The financial stress of the transit industry extends to the manufacturers, suppliers and contractors who provide services, equipment and other goods to the industry. 

A survey conducted in September of APTA business members found nearly one-half of public transit industry businesses (47 percent) expect to lay off employees and nearly one-third of transit industry businesses (31 percent) are concerned that they may go out of business.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has driven home the vital role public transit plays in our communities, bringing healthcare professionals to the frontlines, delivering groceries and medicine to at-risk populations, and connecting essential workers to their places of work,” said John Condon, vice president sales, Vapor Bus International - A Wabtec Company. “We urge Congress and the Administration to enact COVID-19 emergency transit funding legislation before it adjourns for the year.”

"The essential services that provide mobility to our cities also drive our economy. Transit systems that move people also buy products that support local and regional economies. We urge Congress to act immediately in supporting this vital industry with at least $32 billion in emergency funding," said United Safety and Survivability Corporation Executive Vice President Ray Melleady.  

Small to mid-size agencies should be included

The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) is joining the effort, but posted a blog from its Executive Director Scott Bogren that all transit providers should benefit from additional federal relief funds. 

"CTAA’s immediate concern are small and mid-sized urban transit operators – agencies that provide millions of trips every day across the nation. Given the nature of proposed formula distributions of the $15 [billion] set aside to Save Public Transit, many of these agencies would receive no additional support from this effort. Zero. Yet these agencies are beginning to run out of their CARES Act funding allocations (or know they will run out of these funds early in 2021). Some of these emergency relief funds must be set aside for these systems, too, if our effort is truly to Save Public Transit," said Bogren. 

"If Congress chooses to only help the largest urban transit operators with the emergency pandemic-related appropriations now under consideration, it sets up the potential for mid-sized and small-urban transit operations – to say nothing of rural and specialized operators – to face the same, dire service cuts and existential budget crises six months, a year or even two years down the road – but without any potential Congressional, federal help. Local economies in these areas – slower to recover – will be unable to assist and may more likely be seeking to cut back on their spending. State investment may follow suit. Will the entirely of the transit industry be all-in on a Save Public Transit campaign in this scenario? I surely hope so.

"Public transit is a national program not a local one. Vital, important efforts to Save Public Transit need to benefit all operators. And that’s exactly what CTAA and its members are calling on the Congress to do: Save ALL Public Transit," concluded Bogren.

Bogren's full blog can be read here. 

What other systems are saying about #SavePublicTransit

AC Transit in the Bay Area explains its pandemic-driven service reductions could become permanent with more cuts on the horizon without additional emergency funding relief.

“AC Transit is not only the primary transportation for the Bay Area’s essential workers but more than half live in low-income and disadvantaged communities and are fully reliant on our bus service for their survival. Worsening matters, these communities are disproportionately suffering the devastating health impacts of COVID-19,” said AC Transit General Manager Michael Hursh.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority General Manager and CEO Nuria Fernandez, who also serves as APTA chairperson expressed gratitude for the $25 billion provided to the industry in the CARES Act, but noted the “staggering” degree of loss warrants a “second round of at least $32 billion in funding before Congress adjourns for the year.”

“The Santa Cruz [Metropolitan Transit District] and transit agencies across the nation need this funding in order to continue providing services to our community that rely on us to transport them to and from essential functions and essential jobs,” said Santa Cruz Metro CEO/General Manager Alex Clifford.

“The Metro Transit team has been keeping the St. Louis region moving during this pandemic. Health care employers, nursing homes, grocery stores, restaurants and hospitality businesses are all counting on our frontline team members to transport their essential employees to and from work,” said Rose Windmiller, chair of the Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners.

“Additional federal assistance is needed to keep our buses and trains running for the thousands of customers who rely on us daily,” said Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. “RTD is facing a looming deficit of $140 million in 2021 that directly impacts our ability to deliver transit service. Difficult decisions have been made and implementation is forthcoming such as reducing our workforce by about 350 people and imposing furlough days and salary reductions on some of our staff.”

“We are joining transit systems across the country for #SavePublicTransit because CityLink is among the many transit systems that would be deeply impacted if the emergency funding is not approved by Congress. We want to continue to provide the Greater Peoria area with safe and reliable transportation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” said CityLink General Manager Doug Roelfs.