The American Opportunity/Free Congress Foundation, led by former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, released a synthesis of 16 transportation and public transit policy papers that summarized 20 years of politically conservative support for federal aid to surface transportation.  The briefing was held on Capitol Hill and drew congressional staff and media.

APTA Acting President & CEO Richard White participated in the event, along with Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) and John Duncan (R-TN), Maryland Deputy Secretary of Transportation Earl Lewis, Connecticut DOT Special Commissioner Emil Frankel and National Governors Association Director of Government Relations Anna Davis.

"From America's earliest days and under presidents of different political parties, federal support for transportation, including public transit, has been vital to meet national needs," White said.  "We cannot retreat from this historic commitment to continuing the federal, state and local partnership for public transportation investment."

In summarizing the synthesis, Gilmore said, "Throughout history, our nation was deliberately joined together though infrastructure.  Our national leaders always believed that the success of each state and locality adds to the success of our entire nation."

SAVE THE DATE

July 22-25
Transit Board Members & Board Support Seminar
The Palmer House Hilton, Chicago
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August 6-9
Sustainability & Multimodal Planning Workshop
Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis
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August 6-9
Risk Management Seminar
The US Grant, San Diego
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October 8-11
Annual Meeting & EXPO
Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta
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IN THE MEDIA

Safety First:  The newest edition of FTA’s Transit Safety and Oversight Spotlight newsletter is out, with reports on lessons public transit can learn from the aviation industry’s employee safety reporting model, SEPTA’s Safety Management System and more.  Find it here.


Put a Ring on It:  A new wearable device — a chip-embedded ring called "Token" — promises users the ability to pay for everything from their public transit ride to their morning coffee.  Developers have partnered with more than 50 public transit organizations worldwide for “tap-and-go” travel.  See the article and a one-minute video here.


London Calling:  Mayor Sadiq Khans has a 25-year plan to reduce congestion in London (expected to grow by an additional 1.5 million people by 2041) by strengthening public transit and reducing traffic by 3 million miles a day.  Read about his recently released draft plan here.


Cost of Inaction:  U.S. Chamber of Commerce executive Ed Mortimer, executive director of the chamber’s Americans for Transportation Mobility coalition (to which APTA belongs), says the costs of current inaction on infrastructure burdens the next generation. He urges federal officials to “step up to the plate” in this brief video.

NOTABLE & QUOTABLE

"As a Conservative voice for economic growth, I and the American Opportunity/Free Congress Foundation believe that the benefits of federal investment in public transit are compelling — economic growth, job creation and national defense.  We encourage President Trump and Congress to include public transit as a central part of our future infrastructure plans for the nation."

                                                                     Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore
                                                                     President & CEO, American Opportunity/Free Congress Foundation