Preserving transit service with federal aid

The campaign to convince Congress to help prevent transit service cuts continues to look for support. Illinois Rep. Daniel Lipinski is circulating a dear-colleague letter in support of allowing transit districts to use federal funding for system operation costs. Normally federal funds can only be used for capital expenses -- new buses, extending light rail lines -- and in normal times that makes sense. But in the current economic climate, transit districts need the flexibility to shift these funds to operating expenses if they are to weather the current economic downturn.

Sacramento Regional Transit is one of dozens of transit providers whose operating budgets has been hammered by the economic recession. (See this post and this RT staff budget report) You can help by sending a letter to your representative supporting Lipinski's efforts. If you don't know what to say, use this form.