L E G I S L AT I V E R E P O R T
New Congressional caucus to fight for public transportation ATU
and transit workers are going to have new champions in Congress with the recently formed U.S. Congressional Public Transportation Caucus. Founded by Representatives Dan Lipinski, D-IL, and Michael Grimm, R-NY, the bipartisan caucus will address issues facing rail, light rail, bus rapid transit and traditional bus service.
Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-IL
Rep. Michael Grimm, R-NY
With aging assets, decreased funding and increased ridership putting serious pressure on America’s public transportation systems, the caucus will provide members with an opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue on the challenges and needs of mass transit agencies across the country. In Transit interviewed Reps. Grimm and Lipinski about the new caucus. Here are our questions and their answers:
In Transit: What led to your decision to co-chair the first-ever public transit caucus in the U.S. Congress? Rep. Grimm: Representing two large communities in New York City, which is home to the largest public transportation system in the United States, it was an easy decision for me to agree to co-chair the caucus. Ensuring adequate funding and resources for our nation’s public transportation sector has always been a priority of
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July/August 2013 | IN TRANSIT
mine in Congress. This caucus provides a unique and effective tool to gather together like-minded Members of the House to advance the needs of their constituents and inform our colleagues on the importance of public transportation to our nation’s economic growth. A strong public transit system is crucial to our economy and our livelihood, which is why it must be maintained, updated and improved to meet growing demand and ensure the highest levels of safety. Unfortunately, there is currently a wide gap between where our public transportation infrastructure needs to be and where it actually is today. That is why this caucus is so important. As co-chair of the Congressional Public Transportation Caucus, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on solutions that will improve our aging public transportation system and move it forward into the 21st Century. Rep. Lipinski: The people who depend on public transit need a stronger voice in Congress. I’ve long been a transit advocate, and represent a Congressional district where commuters rely on the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra commuter rail, and Pace suburban bus service. I understand the needs of riders of public transportation because I have always been one of them. Growing up in Chicago, I took the CTA bus to school and to work downtown during the summer. In college I would take the CTA ‘L’ into the city. Now I ride Metra rail into downtown from my home in the suburbs. And when I am in Washington, DC, I ride the Metro to avoid all the traffic on the streets. Transit is a vital public service and it’s critical to the economy – especially as fuel prices fluctuate. Millions of Americans rely on public transit to get to jobs, school, doctor’s appointments, or even the grocery store.