Proposal Would End Guaranteed Funding for Public Transit
Posted February 2, 2012
We Recommend...
The House Ways and Means Committee could move Friday to end guaranteed funding for public transportation.
According to the American Planning Association, the Highway Trust Fund was established to provide dedicated funding for highway and transit programs through the federal motor fuel tax revenue. Since 1982 under the Reagan administration, transit has received a portion of gas tax revenue through the trust fund.
H.R. 3862, the bill under consideration by the Ways and Means Committee on Friday, would restrict all gas tax funds to highway programs.
Currently 2.86 cents per gallon of the 18.4 cents federal gas tax supports transit. Non-highway spending would have to come from the general fund.
Demand for transit has been rising as the economy recovers and as people use public transportation to get to jobs and to avoid volatile gas prices.
"We are deeply concerned that if this measure passes, Americans who use public transportation, or who would like that option in the future, will be thrown under the bus," said James Corless, director of Transportation for America.
SEE: New transportation bill drawing lots of hate
blog comments powered by