$23.8 Billion More in Federal Relief Requested for Public Transit Agencies

U.S. transit agencies are hemorrhaging money as the majority of riders avoid trains and buses. People still need public transit, and public transit needs help to weather the storm.

1 minute read

May 18, 2020, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Coronavirus and Transportation

The Smithsonian Metro Station in Washington, D.C. on April 19, 2020. | Nicole Glass Photography / Shutterstock

"The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is urging Congress to provide an additional $23.8 billion in emergency funds to support public transit across the country," reports Cailin Crowe. 

The $2 trillion CARES Act, approved by Congress in late March, included $25 billion in funding for beleaguered transit agencies, but transit agencies are still in need as ridership revenues stay at historic lows into the third month of the public health crisis. The advocacy and think tank organization TransitCenter spent much of April raising awareness about the inadequacy of the initial federal support for public transit

In March, TransitCenter estimated the potential budget shortfall for U.S. public transit agencies somewhere between $26 billion and $40 billion every year that the coronavirus devastates public transit ridership in the country. An independent economic analysis by EBP US, Inc. produced the $23.8 billion figure used in the APTA's lobbying efforts.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 in Smart Cities Dive

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