Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Transit Operating Costs

Good News From the Senate: Transit Operating Assistance and Much More

By Tanya Snyder | May 19, 2011 | 1 Comment

Today’s Senate Banking Committee hearing held some good news for transit riders. Unintuitive though it may be, Banking has jurisdiction over public transportation in the Senate. While in the House, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee handles every aspect of the reauthorization, in the Senate the bill gets carved up. Environment and Public Works is taking […]

Why Transit Agencies Expand Capacity While They Cut Service

By Tanya Snyder | Oct 21, 2010 | 9 Comments

The past couple of years have been bittersweet for American transit riders. While the Obama administration’s TIGER grant program and livability initiatives have spurred investments in new streetcar and bus projects, service cuts and fare hikes have been the order of the day in cities large and small, as transit agencies cope with shrinking revenues […]

AFL-CIO Flexing Its Muscle for Senate Transit Operating Aid Bill

By Elana Schor | Jun 1, 2010 | 2 Comments

The AFL-CIO, a formidable lobbying force in Washington, is throwing its weight behind a Senate bill offered last week that would authorize $2 billion in emergency funding for transit agencies forced to hike fares or cut service in lean budgetary times. Rev. Jesse Jackson, second from left, has joined transit workers’ unions in their Save […]

Eight Senate Dems Offer $2B Plan for Emergency Transit Operating Aid

By Elana Schor | May 25, 2010 | 6 Comments

Transit agencies forced to raise fares or cut service to close budget gaps would be eligible for $2 billion in emergency operating funds under legislation unveiled today by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) and seven other Democratic senators, including two members of the party’s leadership. Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT), left, Charles Schumer (D-NY), […]

Jackson Joins Transit Unions to Rally for More Federal Operating Aid

By Elana Schor | Apr 27, 2010 | No Comments

The scene at today’s transit workers’ rally on Capitol Hill. (Photo: Steve Davis) "CONGRE$$ PLEASE HELP." "THINK BEFORE YOU CUT." "HANDS OFF OUR BUS OPERATORS." The messages were stark on Capitol Hill today as hundreds of transit workers gathered to protest the wave of local budget shortfalls that are threatening many of their jobs and […]

As Minneapolis Joins NACTO, Oberstar Backs Shift on Transit Operating Aid

By Elana Schor | Mar 30, 2010 | 6 Comments

At an event in Minneapolis today, House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) announced his support for giving urban transit agencies more flexibility to spend federal transportation formula money on operating — a change in the current law that has already won the backing of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood but has split the transit industry. […]

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