Transit supporters all across the country are protesting massive cuts in road and transit funding that have been proposed by the US House of Representatives.
These cuts, if enacted will have the potential to further devastate local public transit riders who depend on these systems to get to and from work and school, while also penalizing commuters looking for new options, and limiting the ability to respond to growing demand.
“More people in our community are looking for transit options,” said Michael Ford, CEO of TheRide. “The cuts would also affect Michigan’s ability to continue to make progress on regional projects such as Washtenaw County’s Transit Master Plan.”
“Our entire transportation system is at risk,” said Delisa Brown, Transit Workers United Local #171. “Management, labor and riders are united in stating that now is the time for government to be investing in public transportation, not cutting.”
Organizers say cuts this drastic will mean significant job loss in both the public and private sectors. It is estimated that 614,000 public transportation jobs could be lost over the next six years if a funding cut this extreme takes place, and about 10,000 of those jobs would be in Michigan.
“Many people are turning to public transit as a means to save money and become more environmentally friendly,” added Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United. “These rallies are taking place across the country today to show Congress that we want more public transportation options, not less. We can’t afford to go backwards.”
To combat the impact of these cuts, transit supporters formed a diverse coalition of public transit interests to participate in “Don’t X Out Public Transit Day.” Participants include: Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), National Association of Public Transportation Advocates (NAPTA), Reconnecting America, Transportation for America (T4), Transportation Riders United, Transportation Workers Union (TWU), and everyday citizens.