Federal Transportation
Funding: Demystifying
the Complexity
ATU Webinar Training Series
November 18th, 2011
3pm ET
Webinar Hosts
• Jeff Rosenberg, ATU Director of Government
Affairs
• Jeremy Marcus, Legislative Director with
Congressman Carnahan
• Robert Molofsky, ATU General Counsel
The Big Picture: A Nation Wide Transit Crisis
Cuts, Layoffs, Fare Increases
Roughly 5,000 layoffs across the US
ATU’s Stranded Voices Report
highlights the stories of real
people who are impacted by
the transit crisis.
ATU Stranded Voices
Check out the Transportation 4 America Website to see
a map of the transit crisis . You can also add your local
transit authority and share your stories.
http://t4america.org/resources/transitfundingcrisis/
Confirmed U.S. Public Transportation Industry Layoffs
2009-2010
City
Tempe, AZ
Alameda, CA
Lodi, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Oakland, CA
Orange County, CA
Transit System
Tempe Transit (Veolia)
Central Contra Costra
Grapeline (MV)
MTA
AC Transit
OCTA
Layoffs
20
38
10
240
15
93
City
Kansas City, MO
St. Louis, MO
Charlotte, NC
Manchester, NH
New Jersey
Binghamton, NY
* = Transit Manufacturer
** = Returned to work
Transit System
KCATA
Metro
CATS
MTA
NJT
*Westcode (supplier of
Layoffs
30**
550**
50
4
200
45
heating and cooling systems
for New York City subway
cars)
Roseville, CA
Riverside, CA
Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
Roseville Transit (MV)
Riverside Transit
RT
SDMT
5
26**
90
17
Hornell, NY
New York, NY
Cleveland, OH
Cincinnati, OH
*Alstom Rail Car Plant
New York MTA
RTA
SORTA
San Jose, CA
San Mateo, CA
SCVTA
Sam Trans
37**
39, 7
returned to
work
7
Austin, TX
Salt Lake City, UT
Startran
UTA
500
672
219
51, 11
returned
to work
21
34
Bremerton, WA
Kitsap Transit
5
73
40
1,099
75
113
Tri-Cities, WA
Hoquiam, WA
Ben Franklin Transit
Grays Harbor Transit
12
5
Detroit, MI
St. Cloud, MN
SMART
* New Flyer Bus Plant
14
320
San Joaquin Regional
Transit District
Colorado Springs, CO Springs Transit
Washington, DC
WMATA
Chicago, IL
CTA
Boston, MA
MBTA
Detroit, MI
DDOT
Stockton, CA
Fighting Back
• Hearing from one of our strongest
allies in Congress – Representative
Russ Carnahan from St. Louis
Missouri
• Jeremy Marcus, Legislative Director on why
Rep. Carnahan has championed this issue
and what the prospects for success are in
the current political climate
Breaking down how Public
Transportation is funded in America
$10 Billion Federal Transit Program
Discretionary
Formula
$23Billion
$28Billion
Buy & Build
Capital
JARC
New Starts
Operating**
Limited with
Conditions
Over the
Road
Formula
Operating: with Conditions
• Federal Transit funding can be used for limited
operating expenses, with conditions
• The current policy allows transit authorities
with area population under 200,000 people to
use their federal funds for operating expenses
– How do you know if your area qualifies?
– http://www.demographia.com/db-ua2000pop.htm
• Preventative maintenance: a capital expense
does support the existing maintenance of the
system
• Introduced by
Congressman
LaTourette (R-OH) and
Congressman Russ
Carnahan (D-MO)
• Currently has 125
cosponsors and has
bipartisan support
House Bill 3200 provides transit systems with the option to use a portion of their federal
transit funds for operating assistance, allowing them to keep buses and trains running
and avoid additional fare increases, service cuts or layoffs.
“Targeted and Temporary”
Flexibility
The bill would allow transit systems
to use a percentage of their federal
funds1 to keep service on the street
during tough economic times if they
are in the midst of a “crisis” period.
A crisis exists if:
• The unemployment rate in
their area is at least 7%;
OR
• The national average retail
price of gas during a quarter
has increased by more than
10% compared to the same
quarter during the previous
year.
Long Term Flexibility
If no “crisis” exists, the bill would allow
a transit system to use a portion of their
funds for operating assistance even if
they are located in an urbanized area
above 200,000 in population as long as:
Encouraging State and
Local Investment in
Transit
It operates less than 100 fixed route
buses during peak service hours;
Transit systems would be
able to increase the level
of funding they may use
for service if state/local
funding for such system
increases from one year
to the next.
OR
State/local funding levels for
such system are maintained
from one year to the next;
OR
A dedicated source of revenue
exists for such system.
Questions
Next steps in our Campaign
1. Letter writing campaign!
2. Share your story: how has
your local transit authority
been forced to spend capital
money while raising fares or
cutting service
3. Webinar training: Making the
Most of In-District Meetings
with Members of Congress,
December 8th @ 3pm
Eastern Time
Thanks for joining us!
Make www.atu.org your homepage, “like” us
on facebook, stay connected to the
developments in Washington and the Action
you can take in your local!