Local and National Leaders Urge Congress to Pass Long Term Transportation Legislation Before May 31
Phillip Washington, Head of the Public Transit System in Denver (Regional Transportation District), and Chair of the American Public Transportation Association
(Washington, D.C., Monday, April 6, 2015) – On April 9, elected officials, business and transportation leaders, public transit advocates and riders across the country will participate in the first nationwide “Stand Up for Transportation Day.” Phillip Washington, head of the public transit system in Denver (Regional Transportation District), and chair of the American Public Transportation Association, also called APTA, says this advocacy day highlights our nation’s need for federal infrastructure funding at the local level. Congress needs to recognize transportation investment is a local issue. Washington and others across the country are calling on Congress to pass long term transportation funding legislation before the current funding expires on May 31.
Phil Washington explains what is at stake.
SOUNDBITE #1:
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING IS IN JEOPARDY EVEN AS MORE AND MORE AMERICANS ARE RIDING PUBLIC TRANSIT. LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEADERS, ALONG WITH TRANSIT ADVOCATES AND RIDERS, ARE STANDING UP FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AT COMMUNITY EVENTS NATIONWIDE. EVERYONE INVOLVED IS URGING CONGRESS TO PASS A LONG TERM TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BILL BEFORE THE CURRRENT FUNDING EXPIRES MAY 31.
SOUNDBITE #2:
TRANSPORTATION IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL ECONOMY. WITH FEDERAL TRANSPORATION FUNDING DUE TO EXPIRE ON MAY 31, THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY’S COMMUNITIES IS AT RISK. IGNORING OUR COMMUNITIES’ TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IS LIKE IGNORING THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IN YOUR CAR – IT WILL SOON STOP US IN OUR TRACKS. I URGE LISTENERS TO JOIN THIS MOVEMENT AND TELL CONGRESS TO PASS A LONG TERM TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BILL NOW.
For more information, visit www.standup4transportation.org.