Political Quotes

“millions of Americans rely on transit to go about their daily lives. Many of them are poor, elderly, or disabled. For some, transit is more than a convenience--it is absolutely vital. Unfortunately, in communities across the Nation, transit has become a casualty of the economic downturn. Service cuts, fare increases, and layoffs--the result of tight budgets nationwide--have become an epidemic, disconnecting people from their jobs, placing huge burdens on already disadvantaged populations, and reducing quality of life for millions of American families. The American Public Transportation Association recently found that 84 percent of transit systems either have enacted or are contemplating fare hikes or reductions in service. The transit crisis is having an impact on the American people. In 2008, transit ridership reached 10.7 billion riders, the highest level since 1956 and a 38 percent increase since 1995. But last year, ridership fell by half a billion. This has serious implications for national priorities like reducing traffic congestion, addressing climate change, enhancing our energy security, and restoring our economic competitiveness. Of course, it has serious implications on the lives of ordinary Americans. Young people are finding it harder to get to school. Low-income families, forced to pay more for less service, are losing what is often their only option for getting to work.”