Bill would provide federal operating funding for transit

Media Contact
Stewart Schwartz
stewart@smartergrowth.net
703-599-6437

For Immediate Release:
January 18, 20024

Recently, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA)  introduced the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act. The bill will help fund transit operations costs, including here in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. In response, Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, issued the following statement:

“Our region is facing major challenges in closing transit operating funding gaps for Metro and other transit services in Maryland, Virginia and DC. While the federal government provided critical operating funding during the pandemic, they traditionally provide minimal funding for transit operations. This bill will help our communities by providing critically needed operating funding, especially for those communities most in need.

Transit is essential for our work force and for economic growth while meeting our sustainability goals. Yet, because of the lack of congressional action when it comes to operating funds, across the country we are seeing transit options being cut back and less and less service. Here in our region, the federal government can and should play a role in helping us close our transit funding gaps.

Congressman Johnson’s bill is timely and we are pleased to see Representatives McClellan in Virginia, Ivey and Ruppersberger in Maryland, and Norton in DC have signed on as co-sponsors. We hope that the rest of the Maryland and Virginia delegations will sign on because this bill will benefit urban, suburban, and rural communities alike.

We urge Congress to act on this legislation without delay. Communities, like ours, in red states and blue states, cities and rural communities, can not afford inaction.”

Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director

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Photo credit: Daniel Kelly