Public Transit And Road Building Lobbies - Tied At The Hip?

The strange alliance has proved beneficial in Congress, providing a framework for compromise amongst Democrats, Republicans, and urban, suburban and rural interests, notwithstanding the apparent short-changing of the transit advocates.

"Here's one inconvenient truth holding in line the status quo of automobile dependency in the United States: the nation's primary proponent of transit, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), stands on virtually every issue hand-in-hand with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the nation's main advocates of increased highway spending.

APTA and AASHTO have shown themselves committed to retaining a structural funding split in favor of highways over other modes of travel, despite the fact that that reliance systematically enforces automobile dependency. The organizations' approach to the Senate's proposed energy and climate legislation has been little different. in a joint statement in mid-May, APTA and AASHTO argued against the bill because about two-thirds of new revenues sourced from fuel consumption would be directed to non-transportation related investments, equivalent to heresy in their minds."

From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Transportation interests oppose new climate bill: "Twenty-eight groups representing government transportation officials, trucking interests, mass transit operators, transit employees, motorists, construction workers and contractors said the legislation would impose higher fuel tax costs but divert most of the money from transportation improvements." [See Coalition letter on transportation funding and the American Power Act"].

However, other transportation groups endorse the transportation approach in the legislation. "The American Power Act represents a key step towards creating a long-term policy that will meet our country's future climate, energy and transportation goals, "said Transportation for America Director James Corless.

Thanks to Marilyn Skolnick