Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Transit Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Transit advocates tell committee proposed road package shortchanges nonroad transportation
Summary
Representatives of transit labor, riders and agencies told the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee that the package of road funding bills under consideration allocates only a small share to nonroad transportation and urged restoring a 10% share for transit and other nonroad modes.
Representatives of transit workers, riders and transit agencies testified to the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee that a proposed multi‑billion dollar road package would leave nonroad transportation underfunded.
Earl Cox of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) urged the committee to ensure public transportation receives a full 10 percent share of state transportation funds. “We are in support of the bills, but we'd like public transit to receive a full 10%,” Cox said, adding that his local agency in Kalamazoo faces high turnover and hiring challenges that affect service.
Megan Owens, director of Transportation Riders United, told the committee that nonroad transportation historically received roughly 9–10 percent of Michigan Transportation Fund distributions but that prior packages reduced that share. “You have an opportunity with this package to decide when you decide how you invest in transportation,” Owens said, and she urged lawmakers to “amend this package to allocate 90% of the transportation funds for roads and 10% to nonroad transportation.”
John Donaldson of the Michigan Public Transit Association said agencies face a “bus funding crisis” and estimated a gap of about $400 million to return transit funding to earlier levels of state support. He noted that a recently introduced bill (House Bill 42 10) could provide additional CTF revenue; he urged the committee to consider revenue-neutral options and formula changes to restore transit funding.
Testimony summarized: Witnesses described how reductions in the nonroad share over time have coincided with rising costs and growing demand for transit services, including rides for seniors, people with disabilities and workers who rely on bus service. They said the package before the committee appears to allocate only a small percentage of the overall proposed $3 billion package to nonroad transportation, and they outlined consequences such as reduced service hours, fewer routes and longer waits.
Committee response and next steps: Chairman Altman acknowledged the testimony and said public transit is not lost from the committee’s priorities and that the committee would work on longer-term solutions. The committee did not adopt an amendment in this hearing to change the package’s allocations to nonroad transit; advocates said they would continue to pursue options as the bills move through the House and Senate.
