The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) was encouraged to hear President Donald Trump call for a $1.5 trillion investment in infrastructure at this week’s State of the Union address, but is also worried the plan may result in a cut to public transportation funding.
A $90 billion budget would be needed to update and modernize the nation’s public transit systems.
The nation’s public transit systems serve tens of millions of Americans, and three out of four Americans support increasing public transportation investment.
“Recent news reports stated the Trump administration was considering eliminating some public transit federal funding to help pay for an infrastructure initiative,” Paul Skoutelas, APTA president and CEO, said. “That action would be a step backwards and counterproductive, as well as harmful to the economy and to the tens of millions of people who depend on public transportation. Additionally, APTA supports the Chamber of Commerce’s position that the federal gas tax, which has not been raised since 1993, should be increased to help pay for surface transportation infrastructure needs.”
Infrastructure is a bipartisan issue, Skoutelas said, and Congress members on both sides of the aisle need to work together to improve infrastructure.
Public transit relies heavily on state and federal funds and local partnerships.