LA Times: Mass Transit on the Front Burner: House approves more funds for thriving public transit

House approves more funds for thriving public transit
The $1.7 billion would help transit agencies pay increased fuel costs, limit fare hikes and expand service.


By Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 27, 2008


WASHINGTON -- As commuters increasingly turn to bus and rail lines because of soaring gasoline prices, public transit, long the poor relation of American travel, is finally getting respect -- and money.

In an effort to make riding bus and rail lines even more appealing, the House on Thursday moved to provide $1.7 billion to help transit agencies pay higher fuel costs, limit fare hikes and expand service. California would receive about $266 million.

That's on top of a record $10 billion -- a $1-billion increase -- a congressional committee recently recommended for expanding transit nationwide in the next year. A bipartisan measure also has been introduced to expand tax credits to encourage more workers to ride public transit.

"Americans are flocking onto mass transit at rates not seen in half a century in the United States," said Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.).

The new appreciation for the services comes as politically anxious lawmakers have scrambled for ways to respond to high gas prices.

But as they head home for the July 4 recess, a number of representatives are worried about facing voters without a better record on energy.

Although the transit measure passed overwhelmingly, on a 322-98 vote, some Republican lawmakers ridiculed it as a poor substitute for expanded domestic oil drilling.

Rep. Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.) complained that his constituents not only must pay higher gas prices, "but now they have to subsidize people in big cities with the luxury of access to public transportation."

Last year, public transit recorded its highest number of trips in 50 years. During the first quarter of this year, ridership on light-rail lines rose 10% while vehicle-miles traveled on the nation's roads declined 2.3%.

"We're loving our transit systems to death," DeFazio said, noting that higher fuel costs and increased demand for service are straining budgets of transit agencies. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-transit27-2008jun27,0,5938674.story