If the Government Shuts Down, Will the Trains Still Run?

Transit agencies brace for reduced ridership but will keep running -- for a little while, at least.

1 minute read

April 10, 2011, 7:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Whether or not transit agencies will have to shut down because of the Federal government's stalemate depends on who you talk to. Streetsblog's Tanya Snyder has the story:

Just a month ago, AASHTO sounded the warning that the transportation sector could lose up to $100 million a day in case of a government shutdown, which now looks all but inevitable. However, Congress's extension of SAFETEA-LU through the end of the fiscal year (September 30) has put their minds at ease. Now, AASHTO spokesperson Tony Dorsey says spending for federal highway programs will continue unabated, despite a shutdown. "At this point," Dorsey said, "we're not anticipating any issues." Still, he said, they're hoping that "should there be a shutdown, it will be a very, very short one."

But that's not the whole story."

Thanks to Tanya Snyder

Friday, April 8, 2011 in Streetsblog Capitol Hill

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