U.S. Department of Transportation reposted this
60 years ago today, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law legislation creating the federal transit program, marking the federal government’s major role in supporting transit bus and rail systems across the U.S. In the 60 years since, the program, now managed by FTA, has reshaped transit in America. We have evolved from supporting a few scattered bus lines and city subways to funding world-class rail, bus, ferry and bus rapid transit systems to ensure everyone can fully participate in all their communities have to offer. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we now have more support to help transit agencies expand and modernize their systems. transit.dot.gov/FTA60
GB Arrington
1w
Nice to note the important history. Sadly the federal funding scales remain tipped to highways, sprawl and auto-dependncy. Given the GHG impacts from transportation something needs to change.
Few federal programs bring instant gratification 'en masse and the creation of the FTA is no exception. The USA has better public transportation because of it, for sure. Is it "world class"? Not yet, but we are farther along than without it.
we could (and should) build three times as much urban transit on an annual basis, and still not meet the needs for 20 years.
One downside: "The 2025 Project" would gut federal agencies by (1) defunding, (2) employee reduction and (3) appointment of department heads with little or no expert knowledge regarding transport.
I wouldn't exactly call our transit systems "world class." Not when you compare it to the rest of the world. Third world countries have much better systems. Where is all this money going???
Peter Varga
2w
Great transition from the Urban Mass Transportation Act to the Federal Transit Administration and the many successes of transit improvement over the years since!
Back in the day, I worked on a grant contract from UMTA. Lots of progress, but still too little funding and coordination with land use. I agree with GB (almost always!) this has to change. And federal funding is critical for better state and local decisions.