<h2>Make sure the stimulus doesn't come up short</h2>

Make sure the stimulus doesn't come up short

Last week, the House released a stimulus package that overemphasized road-building and underfunded other critical transportation projects. But with the help of Transportation for America coalition members and supporters, we were able to dramatically improve the bill, increasing transit funding to $12 billion.

The Senate must follow the House's lead and pass a bill that helps reduce our dependence on oil, establishes accountability, allocates money to public transportation and transportation alternatives, and focuses on helping communities struggling to make do with rising costs and crumbling infrastructure.

Now's not the time for another blank check. Tell your senators that our economic recovery depends on their investment in a cleaner, greener transportation system for the 21st Century.

May 25, 2013

Subject:

Dear Senator,

I'm writing to urge you to make sure that the Senate includes strong support for public transportation and strong accountability measures in its version of an economic recovery package.

First, the Senate proposal must ensure that the recovery bill puts Americans back to work by maintaining and repairing our crumbling roads and bridges. Without explicit language prioritizing a fix-it-first approach to infrastructure investment written into the legislation, federal funds could be wasted adding new highways to a system that is already crumbling. This would have the effect of digging ourselves into a deeper hole of oil dependence, even as we invest stimulus money elsewhere in the hope of finding a way out.
 
Second, transit capital and operating assistance should both be a part of the Senate’s proposal to provide immediate help for America’s transit systems, which employ hard working Americans and transport millions more to their jobs every day. Even as ridership has surged over the last year, falling local revenues and volatile fuel prices have hit transit providers hard. Without federal funds to keep our existing public transportation operating, transit agencies in towns and cities across the country will be forced to institute massive layoffs, service cuts and fare increases that will most hurt the American workers who are already struggling the most to make ends meet. 
  
Please work to support a Senate version of the recovery plan that addresses these concerns so that we can have an economic stimulus and a transportation system that works for all Americans and provides a lasting recovery.

Sincerely,

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