Communuity and Public Transit and the MAP 21

Challenge

Charles Dickson

Associate Director

Community Transportation Association

Washington DC 20005

www.ctaa.org

Community Transportation Association

• A 35 year old national association seeking improved transportation policies and investments

• 4,500 organizations providing community transportation, medical transportation, public transportation, transportation planning and development.

• Serves as an advocate, provides technical assistance, conducts research, develops special projects, delivers training and education services, and provides a range of innovative financing.

Transit Constants 30 Year Trends

• A Nation Continues to Urbanize

• A Nation Grows Older

• 30 Years of Energy Challenges

• Growth of Special Needs

• A Tremendous Change in Health Care

A Process of Partnership

IKE’s Financing Theory

• Bi-Partisan

• Shared Financing for Construction

• Shared Financing for Maintenance

• Dedicated Revenues

• Some Formula\Some Discretionary

• Multi-Year Commitment to Stability

A Response Built On Partnership

ISTEA

TEA 21

SAFETEA-LU

And Then There Is MAP 21

CTAA’s Core Mobility Values

• Mobility is a national need, requiring investment from all levels

• Committed to creating an investment strategy that responds to growing demand AND enhances productivity

• Increasing population and changes in demographics create a growing demand for Community Transit services

• The USA should be the world leader in community transportation

CTAA’s Overall Goals for Reauthorization

• At least a five-year bill

• Dedicated revenue BEYOND current gas tax

• Using both formula and discretionary funding

• Renewed role of Congress in project selection

• Increasing investment in bus capital

• Increasing investment to meet non-traditional mobility options

Recommendations for Rural Transit

• Increase Section 5311 funding to reflect rising wage and healthcare costs

• Hold the federal government to a performance measure on capital replacement

• Recognize the importance of SGR for rural transit

• Developing cooperative arrangements for urban/rural areas

• Ensure any safety regulations are appropriate for rural systems

Recommendations for Transit Operating

• Allow farebox as local share

• Allow demand-response systems the same flexibility as fixed-route systems to use 5307 funds for operating

• Continue the CMAQ flexibility

• Allow local systems greater discretion in use of formula investment

Recommendations for Transit Capital

• Increase investment in 5339 to pre-MAP 21 levels

• Provide additional revenue in the 5337 to allow for bus SGR program

• Develop model procurement programs to lower cost of rolling stock

• Provide increased investment in the 5311 program for transit asset management

Recommendations for 5310, JARC and Coordination

• Determine impact of the consolidation of the Section 5310. JARC and New Freedom program

• Add a JARC maintenance goal or percentage set-aside in 5307

• Increase investment in 5310 to deal with demographic changes

• Allow states to manage program as they did prior to MAP-21

THANKS!

Charles Dickson

Associate Director

Community Transportation Association

Washington DC 20005

dickson@ctaa.org

www.ctaa.org