Federal

Your efforts have paid off with good news for public transportation! The Senate just introduced new legislation providing emergency funding relief for local transit systems.

The new bill - the Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010 - contains $2 billion in grants for transit agencies across the US for preserving vital service - and it couldn't come at a better time.

We can't stand by while transit systems crash and burn. Last year, Americans took more than 10.7 billion trips on transit, the highest level in over 50 years. Public transportation use has increased at nearly triple the growth rate of the US population.

At the same time that transit agencies are working so hard to serve growing ridership, they face shortfalls in state and local revenues. Transit agencies nationwide are being forced to cut service, raise fares, and lay off workers — for those in greatest need.

Congress has been paying attention to our calls for help. The hard work and dedication of our partners and supporters — like you — led to the introduction of this bill. This bill will go a long way toward relieving the pain, but it's up to us to make sure it gets passed.

Can you call Senators Boxer and Feinstein, to urge them to support emergency transit funding?

Here are their phone numbers and a quick script you can use:

• Senator Boxer, 213-894-5000
• Senator Feinstein, 310-914-7300

"Hi, my name is ___________ and I live in _________. I support the Public Transportation Preservation Act introduced by Senator Dodd. [Include a specific reason or a talking point here.] I urge Senator _________ to co-sponsor the Public Transportation Preservation Act to ensure that California's transit systems can continue to help rebuild our economy through lower commuting costs, new jobs and cleaner air."

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