By Philip Newman
Mass transit systems throughout much of the nation, most in varied levels of financial distress, have expressed an eagerness to take advantage of federal stimulus money proposed by the Obama administration.The MTA is one of them.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board member Andrew Albert said, “In times such as these, I don’t know what we’re waiting for as far as stimulus money is concerned. A portion of a this federal money is actually earmarked for this purpose.”
Several other MTA Board members have gone on the record in support of stimulus money to help the agency out of perhaps its worst financial straits with cutbacks in bus and subway service in the offing.
Several members of the public who addressed the MTA Board at its Jan. 27 meeting implored the agency to accept the federal money as a way to avoid the service disruptions, which MTA Chairman Jay Walder has acknowledged would be “painful.”
Diane Palmer of the Chicago Transit Authority said federal stimulus funds are coming at the right time.
“With the $8.4 billion that is proposed through the Jobs For Main Street Act, our region would receive approximately $455 million,” Palmer said.
“We believe the State of Good Repair funding is the most efficient way to create jobs, reduce auto emissions and support sustainable development while helping to shore up our financially challenged transit systems,” she said.
Chicago faces service cuts Feb. 7.
Kristen Holland of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Authority said her agency had already received $67 million in stimulus money and immediately used $6.7 million of it to help close its deficit.
“As more sources of federal money become available, we are fully prepared to compete for these funds,” Holland said.
Steve Taubenkibel, a spokesman for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority and a native of Forest Hills, said the agency’s board approved $10 million in stimulus money to avert reduction in bus and Metro service. The transit agency also last week approved a 10-cent fare increase.
The South East Pennsylvania Transit Agency in Philadelphia plans to use federal stimulus money, but not as a last resort to avoid service cuts, said spokesman Andrew Busch. He said the money would go toward maintenance and construction.
In Los Angeles, where the County Metropolitan Transportation Authority faces a $251 million deficit next year, transit officials look at federal stimulus money “very favorably so far,” according spokesman Rick Jagger.
“Our tax receipts have plummeted and the State of California has cut off its contributions to transit,” Jagger said.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at timesledgernews@cnglocal.com or phone at 718-260-4536.
