American Public Transportation Association (APTA), President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas said the recent passage of a continuing appropriations bill in Congress will ensure surface transportation programs can continue, for now.
In a statement, Skoutelas said that APTA applauded passage of H.R. 8337, the “Continuing Appropriation Act, 2021 and other Extensions Act” by Congress.
“This is the first time in 30 years that Congress has enacted a one-year extension of surface transportation authorization programs after the lapse of a multi-year authorization act,” Skoutelas said. “H.R. 8337 provides public transit agencies with much-needed certainty regarding public transit funding in FY 2021. It addresses transportation appropriations and surface transportation issues, preventing a federal government shutdown and continuing current appropriations through December 11, 2020. The bill also includes a one-year extension of the surface transportation authorization act, providing at least $12.6 billion for public transit investment and preventing a $6 billion across-the-board cut to public transit agencies. The bill also specifically provides $3.2 billion to the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund.”
Speaking on behalf of the transportation industry, Skoutelas said the bicameral, bipartisan work on the bill by Congress was to be applauded.
However, he said, more work needs to be done to save the industry in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While passage of this bill is vital to the industry, Congress still needs to address the urgent and dire situation faced by public transportation systems across the nation. As Congress negotiates the newly proposed The Heroes Act, APTA implores both chambers of Congress and the Administration to provide at least $32 billion in critical federal support to enable the public transit industry to survive this unprecedented pandemic,” he said.