Media Contact: David Roscow, 202-537-1645 x 254
Washington, DC – Larry Hanley, international president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) responds to report from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) showing that 2013 ridership on all forms of U.S. public transportation rose to the highest level since 1956.
“Will the record increase in public transit ridership finally convince Congress our nation must meet this growing demand?
“Despite more and more people riding transit, more young people forgoing cars and growing urban populations, commuters all over the country are waiting longer for crowded buses and trains, if they come at all, and paying higher fares in many places. If we fail to deal with this continuing record growth in ridership, there will be an even more serious national crisis facing our nation’s already overcrowded and cash-strapped transit systems.
“Public transit provides reliable mobility for everyone and benefits communities in many ways. It creates good jobs and delivers customers to businesses. For every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 in economic returns is generated. It helps fight pollution and traffic. More people riding buses mean fewer cars on the road and less emissions. Buses emit 80 percent less carbon monoxide than a car.
“Americans are on board too. Seventy-six percent of all ballot measures to increase taxes for mass transit passed since 2000.
“Congress needs to recognize that the American people want more public transportation and are willing to pay for it.
“Public transit when done well has been and continues to be a great ladder of opportunity for all. It’s time for Congress to pass a bipartisan transportation bill that invests more in public transit to enhance mobility for all of us."
About the ATU
The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members in 264 local unions spread across 44 states and nine provinces, including 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Composed of bus drivers, light rail operators, maintenance and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal employees, the ATU works to promote transit issues and fights for the interests of its hard-working members. For more information visit www.atu.org.