contact: Amy Coggin
(202) 496-4816
acoggin@apta.com

WASHINGTON, DC, February 5, 2002 - The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) applauds the Bush Administration's proposal to increase federal transit funding by $483 million to $7.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2003, as guaranteed by the landmark Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA 21). This is a 7.2 percent increase over the current year.

"This is great news for public transportation riders across the nation," said William W. Millar, president of APTA. "We are gratified that the President has honored the funding guarantees enacted under TEA 21. This increase recognizes the important role public transportation plays in keeping our communities moving and in assisting in the Administration's key priorities of homeland security and reviving the economy."

Due to technical revenue calculation issues federal spending on highways is slated to drop dramatically. As more projects are increasingly intermodal in nature and public transportation relies on an effective network of roads and highways, APTA supports efforts to deal with the reduction in federal highway funding.

"As this country works to emerge from the economic recession, it is gratifying to see that there is additional investment in the public transportation infrastructure," said Millar. "Now is not the time to decrease highway investment."

APTA is a nonprofit international association of 1,400 public and private member organizations including transit systems and commuter rail operators; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions, transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products. Over ninety percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA members.