Dear Senator Casey,

I write to urge your support of H.R. 6052, the Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act, which was passed by the House, was introduced to the Senate by Senator Clinton, and has now been referred to your Banking Committee.

As you are aware, the economy, in particular the rising price of gas, has made many citizens take a second look at transit. Ridership is up nearly everywhere, including Southeastern Pennsylvania. Yet transit agencies across the country, still reeling from years of budget cuts and low ridership, remain faced with hard choices regarding cutting service. This bill would provide agencies in the nation’s metro areas with, not only relief to stave off those cuts, but also capital to expand service, making it a more attractive choice to those caught between painful fuel prices and no good transit option. H.R. 6052 is no more a subsidy to public transportation than highway bills are subsidies for the nation’s drivers–but unlike the latter, H.R. 6052 does not create perverse incentives for congestion, land use, and environmental destruction.

Let’s view this energy crisis as an opportunity to expand the options of Americans looking for a way to get to work each day, and let’s create more jobs in transit while we’re at it. I strongly urge you to do everything in your power to ensure the referral to the floor and ultimate passage of the Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008.

Regards,

Brian Decker

Info on Senate Bill