There's a sense of urgency on the Streetsblog Network this morning. Transportation for America, using media reports of projected cuts to transit services across the country, has put together a map that dramatizes just how painful those cuts could be:
Thefar-reaching and broad cuts will directly affect transit employees andriders who are among the most vulnerable in this time of economicupheaval. More than 20 million trips are taken each day on these 38systems, and the scores of low-income citizens and 1/3 of Americans whoare unable to or choose not to drive could find themselves out in thecold.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has spoken out
about the way transit got squeezed as the stimulus package was put
together, and he's set to introduce an amendment to the recovery bill
that would direct at least $2 billion to transit
operating costs, preventing at least some of the potential layoffs John
Kaehny wrote about here on Streetsblog
last week. In order for the amendment to be considered, though, it has
to be brought to the floor of the House. Here's what T4A has to say:
The only thing preventing his amendment from reaching the floor for avote is the House Rules Committee, which will determine this Tuesday by3:30 p.m. which amendments to include with the House recovery package.So we’re asking all of you to weigh in with Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the Chair of the House Rules Committee, through a quick phone call before Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Click here for information on how to call and what to say.
Also on the network today: Greater Greater Washington delves into DeFazio's criticism of Obama economic adviser Larry Summers, Kaid Benfield on NRDC Switchboard discusses how "transit without land use change will not take us where we need to go," and WashCycle wonders if an Idaho stop for bicyclists could work in DC.
