Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Transit Operating Costs

Missing the Point on High-Speed Rail

By Ryan Avent | Jul 6, 2009 | 15 Comments

Ed Glaeser is a fantastic economist. He has done magnificent work analyzing the economics of urban growth and written indispensable papers on the connection between housing regulations and migration. But when the man picks up his pen to write a piece for public consumption, he tends to take complete leave of his senses. I realize […]

How Much Operating Aid is Your Local Transit Agency Getting?

By Elana Schor | Jun 26, 2009 | No Comments

President Obama has signed into law a $106 billion war funding bill that includes a provision allowing local transit agencies to spend 10 percent of their stimulus money on operating costs. That sounds good … but how much money are we actually talking about? According to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA): St. Louis’ Metro system […]

Congress Agrees to Keep Transit Operating Aid in War Bill

By Elana Schor | Jun 12, 2009 | 1 Comment

(Photo: Model D Media) House and Senate negotiators struck a deal last night on a $106 billion war spending bill that also gives cash-strapped transit agencies the ability to use 10 percent of their economic stimulus grants to pay operating costs. The issue of operating costs has heated up in recent weeks, with local transit […]

Carnahan Steps Up Push For Federal Help With Transit Operating

By Elana Schor | Jun 11, 2009 | No Comments

While lawmakers maneuver to fill local transit agencies’ operating budget gaps with economic stimulus cash, Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) is taking it a step further with a proposal that would make federal operating aid permanent — and use it as an incentive to spur more state-level funding as well as emissions reductions. Rep. Russ Carnahan […]