Oceanside CA— The North County Transit District called upon Congress today to renew funding for the federal transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which is set to expire on May 31, 2015. Stand Up for Transportation Day is an effort to urge federal officials to support the passage of a long-term sustainable and reliable federal transportation funding bill.
The northern San Diego County cities of Encinitas, Oceanside and San Marcos issued proclamations of their participation in Stand Up for Transportation Day, an event sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) that united more than 240 participating organizations including transit agencies, businesses, and community-oriented interests. “I grew up in Encinitas, where the rail corridor bisects our community, and it’s critical that we take that infrastructure, which is more than 100 years old, and make improvements which improve quality of life,” said NCTD Board Member and Encinitas Council Member Tony Kranz at yesterday’s media event hosted by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).
On the national level, an analysis from APTA shows that more than $227 billion in economic productivity is at risk to the nation’s economy over the next six years without long-term federal investment in public transit.
APTA noted the nation faces a $160 billion backlog just to bring public transit and road systems into a state of good repair. The lack of a long-term federal funding bill creates local funding uncertainty which jeopardizes transportation project planning and discourages private sector investment. With a lack of a commitment on the federal level, local business investment and job creation are stifled.
A long-term federal commitment to our public transportation and road infrastructure is needed in order to create jobs and boost economic development right here in North County. The transportation system is the life blood of the community, connecting employers to employees and providing a vital connection for people from all walks of life.
To learn more about Stand Up for Transportation Day please visit www.standup4transportation.org or follow #SU4T on Twitter.