Transportation                                              HOME                Update 11-22-04: PAT Budget Cuts Seriously Threaten Service        CONTACT  Steve Donahue, Save Our Transit 412-343-3022  steve@thomasmertoncenter.org
	Testimony of David E. Wohlwill, AICP, Lead Transit Planner Port Authority of Allegheny County:  I would like to thank Molly Rush and Representative Mike Doyle for inviting Port Authority to testify at the Town Meeting on the proposed Federal Budget. I also want to thank Congressman Doyle for his work in seeking funding for Port Authority's major transit improvement projects. Some of you in the audience have worked to get the get the state to maintain its share of funding for Port Authority's operating budget.  I want to thank you for your efforts. The Federal Government has provided funding to Port Authority to maintain and expand its transit system.  This includes acquiring new bus and rail vehicles and maintaining and expanding its rail and busway rapid transit system.  Traditionally, the Federal Government has contributed 80% of the funding for these projects.  In recent years, Congress continued to ensure a major federal role in transit funding with the passage of the Intermodal Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century of 1998 (TEA-21).
		Currently, Congress is considering reauthorization of the federal transportation act.  There is a proposal to reduce the federal contribution to funding for transit projects from 80% of the total project cost to 50%.  Port Authority seeks the traditional 80% share in order to maintain parity with highway projects. The immediate concern is to ensure that there are sufficient operating funds to maintain and operate the existing transit system.  Over the long term, it is also important to expand and improve Port Authority's existing bus and rail rapid transit system to meet the mobility needs of people in the Pittsburgh Region.  A significant federal role in funding of major transit projects is necessary to make these investments happen.