Short-Term Funding for Public Transportation Overwhelmingly Passes House

In the face of record-high gas prices and steady increases in public transportation ridership across the country, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Saving Energy through Public Transportation Act (H.R. 6052) by a vote of 322 to 98. The bill authorizes $1.7 billion for transit agencies across America to improve and expand service and help keep fares affordable as fuel costs rise.

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN), the bill’s chief sponsor, and other supporters described the move as a small but important “downpayment” on what this nation ultimately needs to cope with rising energy costs and to remain competitive in the global economy—a world-class public transportation system. The opportunity to make good on that downpayment will come next year when Congress addresses a major transportation authorization bill—current transportation law and funding provisions will expire at the end of September 2009. Funding for public transportation and other lasting solutions to help Americans drive less and save on fuel costs will be a central issue in that debate.

The decisive vote showed considerable bipartisan support for the measure. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute and its collaboration with a wide range of transportation interests was instrumental in demonstrating broad support for the bill to Congressional leaders. EESI Transportation Policy Analyst Jan Mueller noted, “Studies show typical transit riders spend roughly half as much money on gasoline as persons without good access to transit; the need and support for this bill should be no surprise.” 

EESI coordinated a letter from local government officials, major transit operators, consumer, transportation, and environmental advocacy groups urging Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for their consideration. Funding in the bill, if signed into law, would also be subject to decisions by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

The average American family is now spending close to $100 a week on gasoline. Some families are paying up to 15 percent of their income on gasoline, while other families may pay less than three percent, depending on where they live and whether they have access to reliable public transportation.