WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Richard Hanna (R-Barneveld) and Louise Slaughter (D-Rochester) of New York led a national effort to restore support for vital transit programs threatened by severe budget cuts in the House Surface Transportation bill.
Reps. Hanna and Slaughter organized a bipartisan coalition of 60 Members of Congress to push back against proposed cuts to transit programs that could affect commuters across seven states. The bipartisan coalition wrote to members of the House-Senate Conference Committee who are tasked with negotiating a six-year highway bill between the two chambers, including the proposed cuts that could decrease service and increase the cost of maintenance and technology upgrades.
The coalition, led by Reps. Hanna and Slaughter, are asking that the Conference Committee reinstate funding for the 5340 High Density States program, which was eliminated in the House Surface Transportation bill by an amendment passed by a voice vote.
“The elimination of funding to the High Density States program would force transit systems in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island to cut jobs and service, and eliminate the ability to meet demand and keep our respective systems in a state of good repair,” the letter states. “A bill that was carefully crafted to do no harm and ensure no one lost anything now creates devastating loss in the areas where demand for public transportation is the highest.
“The effect of this hardship isn’t limited to transit providers and customers. The loss in funding will negatively impact local transit manufacturers and suppliers of transit related goods and services, as well as the jobs they create. We view this as an issue of responsible governance,” the letter continues. “An amendment that eliminates funding for states that provide public transportation to 50 percent of all transit riders in this country is irresponsible and can in no way be considered to be in the best interest of the people we all serve.”