Legislation recently introduced in the Senate seeks to increase grant allotments to participants in the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Small Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) programs.
U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the bill that would increase the programs Section 5307 grant allotment from 3 percent to 5 percent. The change would increase the efficiency and capacity of public transportation in communities between 50,000 and 200,000 people. The senators said the allotment does not increase federal spending as it reallocates existing funding to where it is needed most.
“Public transportation provides critical services to communities in Kansas and across the country as people travel to work, doctor’s appointments and more,” Moran said. “This legislation will build on the success of the Small Transit Intensive Cities Program and help to make certain high-performing public transit systems in smaller urban or suburban communities can receive the same access to federal investment as higher population areas.”
The STIC program rewards high transit performance by allocating funds to small-urban transit providers. The awards are based on meeting at least one of six measurable performance criteria that is established annually by the average service levels of larger public transit agencies.
“Small urban areas like Flagstaff, Sierra Vista, and Yuma are doing all they can to keep up with demand for affordable, reliable public transportation,” Gallego said. “This bill gives these already successful systems the resources they need to expand service and connect even more Arizonans to their jobs, school, and health care.”