NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Contact: Pam Holland

AVTA Public Information Officer

661-729-2222

June 27, 2007 for publication June 28, 2007

Antelope Valley Transit Authority joins transit systems across U.S. to encourage passing of Transit Systems Flexibility Act of 2007

LANCASTER - As part of a nationwide effort by the 100 Bus Coalition, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) is joining many other transit systems across the country today calling for Congress to pass the Transit System Flexibility Act of 2007.  Over 130 transit systems are caught or will soon be caught in a federal rule that does not allow the use of federal funds to operate service just because their urbanized areas go over 200,000 in population.   For the majority of these systems, including AVTA, this will result in a significant reduction in bus service for FY 2008 as the operating funds are phased out under the present regulations.

The Transit System Flexibility Protection Act was introduced in January, 2007 by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison from Texas in the Senate and in the House by Congressman Joseph R. Pitts from Pennsylvania and is currently stalled in Committee.  “We now have 16 co-sponsors in the Senate and 42 co-sponsors in the House with great bi-partisan support in both Houses,” states Randy Floyd, Executive Director for AVTA.

“The most important part of this legislation,” says Floyd, “is that we are not asking for more money, just the flexibility to use what we get. Some of these transit systems are in the fastest growing areas across the country and are facing growing pains with increased congestion, air quality issues, and suburban sprawl and are being forced to reduce bus service because of this arbitrary population level,” Floyd notes, adding, “the crazy thing about all of this is that we still get our federal funding, but I can’t use it where I need to serve the public”.  I can use it to buy a bus, but not operate it.   We will force people to lose their jobs because public transit is their only means of transportation.  This is another case where an arbitrary federal rule hurts the people that can least afford to be hurt.

Floyd concluded, “At a time when gasoline prices are at all time highs and use of public transit is increasing with transit reaching new records in ridership around the country, Congress must realize that holding on to antiquated philosophy about transit no longer makes sense and communities need more transit, not less.  AVTA appreciates the continued support of Senator Buck McKeon, and has urged him to push this legislation out of Committee and pass it before people lose their jobs.

For more information on the 100 Bus Coalition and this legislation, please contact Randy Floyd, Executive Director, Antelope Valley Transit Authority at 661-729-2206 or Kim Hemperly, AVTA Senior Analyst at 661-729-2232.

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