This message was forwarded by the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation from Joe Lamers l, Director, Milwaukee County Department of Transportation.
PLEASE ACT NOW!!
Wisconsin Transit operators are asking community partners to contact their Congressional representatives to urge them to preserve and protect transit funding as lawmakers consider the BUILD America 250 Act (BA250), a bill to fund federal transportation over the next five years.
While BA250 has several positive attributes and intents, passing it as written would significantly cut Wisconsin’s transit funding. BA250 would cut federal transit funding by 14%. A separate continuing resolution under consideration would fund the government through December but would impose a 20% cut to federal transit funding. Although state and local funding impacts are still being evaluated, a 14% to 20% cut would result in an annual statewide impact of between $17 million to $25 million per year.
These amounts do not include competitive grant funding, which would also be reduced under BA250, further limiting Wisconsin’s ability to secure grants for capital infrastructure, including bus replacements and other transit-related needs.
Sustainable transit funding is already a major challenge for all Wisconsin communities. This reduction would have a devastating impact on all riders, but especially those who rely on mobility services for their day-to-day needs. We are already fighting to preserve current paratransit and mobility programs, but this potential loss of federal funding would make it challenging to maintain service for those who need it most.
An additional concern is looming as lawmakers consider BA250. Recently, the Administration called for the elimination of the Mass Transit Account, a key source of transit funding through the U.S. Highway Trust Fund. Although not currently in BA250, lawmakers could propose to eliminate the Mass Transit Account during negotiations. Such an amendment, if passed, would fundamentally change how the federal government finances transit and significantly jeopardize dedicated funding.
Help us maintain vital public transportation services by engaging your Congressional representative before they return from the summer recess. This week, please urge them to:
- Maintain current federal funding investment levels for public transit
- Preserve the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund
Please use this letter template to advocate on behalf of a strong, reliable transit system in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Public Transportation Association (WIPTA) is also urging action. Here is their letter template.
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