Urge Our Senators to Support Emergency Transit Funding!

The Senate introduced legislation that would provide emergency funding relief for local transit  agencies here in the Bay Area and nationwide.

The Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010 contains $2 billion in grants for transit agencies across the country for operating trains, buses and ferries by allowing existing capital funds (funds for buying and building new stuff) to be used for operations (actually running stuff).

Write Senators Boxer and Feinstein today and ask them to pass this emergency transit funding bill as soon as possible.

We can't stand by while our transit systems crash and burn. Last year Americans took more than 10.7 billion trips on transit, the highest level in over 50 years. Public transportation use has increased at nearly triple the growth rate of the US population.

At the same time that public transit agencies are working hard to serve growing ridership, they're facing shortfalls in state and local revenues. Transit agencies nationwide are being forced to cut service, raise fares and lay off workers. Jobs and services are being eliminated for those in greatest need. These cuts really hit home.

The Bay Area's transit agencies are in crisis. For example:

San Francisco Muni raised fares by 33% in 2010 and eliminated or reduced service on 50% of all routes; declared a fiscal emergency because of $129 million deficit.

AC Transit increased fares by 14% in 2009; in 2010, service has been cut by 8% already and another 8% reduction is under consideration right now.

Caltrain anticipates a $30 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2011, with service cuts of up to 50% being considered.

Santa Clara VTA eliminated late-night service, terminated 2 routes, and reduced other service - and still faces a projected long-term structural deficit of $40 million annually.

Congress has been paying attention to our calls for help. The hard work and dedication of our partners and supporters -like you- led to the introduction of this bill. This bill will go a long way toward relieving the pain, but it's up to us to make sure it gets passed.

Tell Boxer and Feinstein to support emergency funding for transit systems for the Bay Area and beyond.

Our lawmakers need to take a stand and say enough is enough: we can't let our transit systems fail. Thank you for your support of clean, reliable, safe public transportation.