Comments on: Lawmakers Push for Federal Help With Transit Operating: Read the Letter http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/09/lawmakers-push-for-federal-help-with-transit-operating-read-the-letter/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/09/lawmakers-push-for-federal-help-with-transit-operating-read-the-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-69767 John Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:40:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6378#comment-69767 Sorry, cash-strapped :-p Sorry, cash-strapped :-p

]]> By: John http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/09/lawmakers-push-for-federal-help-with-transit-operating-read-the-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-69766 John Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:39:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6378#comment-69766 I actually don't think I agree with this one guys, although as an avid transit supporter, naturally I am not going to say no to the funds for strap-cashed transport authorities. My main issue with this is one that is raised often in the transit debate - particularly as of late. Whereas I do believe more funding should go to transit development and operations, I also want to underline what for me is a key definition of transit; that is, it is more sustainable. Shouldn't it then be more fiscally sustainable? In short, my argument here is that the money is needed - for sure - but is a provision in the war spending bill going to fix the problem? The response is: only temporarily. Transit agencies in the future will continue to face this problem of sufficient funds if Congress and state and local authorities do not come up with a more sustainable long term fiscal solution. Since the present administration has made it clear it won't raise fuel taxes during the recession, my addition to this article is the following: Call your Congressperson and tell them you want this measure included in the war spending legislation, but also tell them, transit is SO important to you and this country that you want to see a real, long-term financing solution to transit so that this doesn't happen again and again... I actually don’t think I agree with this one guys, although as an avid transit supporter, naturally I am not going to say no to the funds for strap-cashed transport authorities.
My main issue with this is one that is raised often in the transit debate – particularly as of late. Whereas I do believe more funding should go to transit development and operations, I also want to underline what for me is a key definition of transit; that is, it is more sustainable. Shouldn’t it then be more fiscally sustainable?
In short, my argument here is that the money is needed – for sure – but is a provision in the war spending bill going to fix the problem? The response is: only temporarily. Transit agencies in the future will continue to face this problem of sufficient funds if Congress and state and local authorities do not come up with a more sustainable long term fiscal solution.
Since the present administration has made it clear it won’t raise fuel taxes during the recession, my addition to this article is the following:

Call your Congressperson and tell them you want this measure included in the war spending legislation, but also tell them, transit is SO important to you and this country that you want to see a real, long-term financing solution to transit so that this doesn’t happen again and again…

]]> By: Rhywun http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/09/lawmakers-push-for-federal-help-with-transit-operating-read-the-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-69728 Rhywun Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:27:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6378#comment-69728 Well, if sneaking it into a war bill is what it takes to get Republicans to support transit, why not. None of our elected officials read any of those things anyway. Well, if sneaking it into a war bill is what it takes to get Republicans to support transit, why not. None of our elected officials read any of those things anyway.

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