Eyes on the Street: Metro’s Stand Up 4 Transportation Rally

As today’s Streetsblog USA post related, transit supporters across the U.S. are hosting events today to “Stand Up 4 Transportation.” Metro hosted its rally this morning at Patasaouras Plaza at L.A. Union Station. The event featured Los Angeles Congressional representatives Judy Chu and Maxine Waters, and a host of L.A.’s labor, business, and transportation leaders, all calling on congress to renew investment in transportation infrastructure.

Transit riders have a lot to lose if partisan battles in Washington do not find their way to reauthorizing a federal transportation bill. With the gas tax providing a shrinking portion of overall transportation funding, there are lots of stopgap ideas floating around to address the immediate shortfall. If Congress presses forward with “devolution” – basically eliminating the federal gas tax and having states go their own way – Metro transit construction and operations would face an uncertain future.

Stand Up 4 Transportation is the brainchild of the American Public Transit Association (APTA). See APTA’s coverage showing the extent of the national campaign. Follow the full congressional reauthorization drama at Streetsblog USA.