Transportation Policy

The House version of President Obama's stimulus plan has left bus riders with nothing to look forward to but stiff fare hikes and painful service cuts. Bus systems got zero in immediate operating support from the bill that passed yesterday -- stunning neglect compared to the $150 billion in educational "operating assistance" to local schools and universities and $127 billion in emergency health care "operating assistance" to state Medicaid and private insurance programs. A relatively puny request for $2 billion in transit operating support was shot down before even reaching committee.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco claims she is committed to public transit and reducing motor vehicle congestion. In a speech to the Regional Plan Association (RPA) last April she said her flagship issues as speaker are energy independence and reducing global warming.

The House just passed Jerrold Nadler's amendment to add $3 billion for transit investment to the stimulus bill. There's a lot more work coming up very soon -- in the Senate and in conference committee -- but this was a hard-fought win and everyone who helped push it through should take a minute to pat yourself on the back. 

We're getting word that the House will vote on Jerrold Nadler's amendment to the stimulus bill in less than an hour. $3 billion for transit is on the line. If you haven't called your representative yet, there's still time to speak up for more investment in green transportation. Here's how to get your message through.

New York's senior senator threw suburban train riders a bone yesterday, announcing that he's secured a tax break for transit commuters in the Senate version of the stimulus bill. The Daily News reports:

Last night Jerrold Nadler's stimulus bill amendment, which would add $3 billion for transit, cleared the House Rules Committee. The full House may vote on the amendment by noon today, so the sooner you call your representative the better.

A spokesman for Jerrold Nadler confirms that the amendment to boost transit funding in the stimulus package has cleared the House Rules Committee. That means the full House will decide whether to add $3 billion in transit investment to the economic recovery bill -- a vote that could take place as soon as noon tomorrow. The most important House member to call now is the one who represents you.

We're at a critical moment for green transportation in the stimulus package. The key piece on the table now is Jerrold Nadler's amendment to boost transit investment by $3 billion. A decision could be reached as soon as today, so now is the time to make those phone calls. The people to reach are the House leadership and the Appropriations Committee, who must be persuaded to allow more transit investment into the bill.

Last night's news about the denial of Rep. DeFazio's amendment to fund transit operations left us wondering whether parliamentary issues were really the deciding factor. In general, it appears, the Democratic leadership is coming down hard against any add-ons to the recovery package. "There's a desire to keep the bill at the size it is currently," said one House staffer involved in the negotiations who wished to remain anonymous. "Pelosi's office and the Appropriations Committee are resistant to amendments that increase the size of the bill."