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November 9, 2005
The Honorable Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Hastert:
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) mandates the creation of a National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission to study and report on the current conditions and future needs of the surface transportation system, and potential funding to meet such needs. It specifically identifies public transportation infrastructure and facilities as part of the surface transportation system to be considered, and it directs the commission to consider needs related to emergency preparedness and evacuation using the system and alternatives to address environmental concerns associated with the system. With the exclusion of the Secretary of Transportation, who will serve as chairman on the commission, the law provides for the appointment of eleven members by the President and Congress, two of whom will be appointed by you.
The law also provides for the creation of a National Surface Transportation Financing Commission. The commission is directed to consider highway and transit needs and the available federal resources to meet such needs. The law provides for the appointment of fifteen commission members, seven of whom will be appointed by the Secretary of Transportation and eight of whom will be selected by the chairmen and ranking members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. Members will need to be "knowledgeable in the fields of public transportation finance or highway and transit programs, policy, and needs."
On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and its more than 1,600 member organizations, I ask for your support in gaining membership on both of these commissions or the opportunity to submit recommendations for potential commission members. I strongly believe that the commissions should include representatives from public transportation, as public transportation is an important component of the nation's transportation system. APTA's membership includes operators of public transportation systems, businesses that provide goods and services to the industry, planning, design, construction, and finance firms, academic institutions, state associations and state departments of transportation.
I appreciate your consideration of this important matter and stand ready to serve in whatever way possible. Attached for your information is a brief biography. I would be pleased to supply any additional information you might require. Thank you for your consideration and thank you for your support of public transportation.
Sincerely yours,
William W. Millar
President
WWM/tjj
WILLIAM W. MILLAR
President
American Public Transportation Association
William W. Millar is president of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), North America's foremost organization dedicated to the advancement of public transportation. Millar became chief executive officer of APTA in 1996 after 24 years in transportation operations and management.
Millar was Executive Director of the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT), the principal transit system serving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for 13 years prior to joining APTA. As head of one of the country's largest public transit providers, he directed a system that operates bus, light rail, exclusive busway, demand response and inclined plane transit service.
Before joining PAT in 1977, he developed and managed Pennsylvania's Free Transit Program for Senior Citizens as well as other transit aid programs for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation including rural and other community based transportation systems.
In his years as head of APTA, Millar has worked with a broad coalition of interests to vigorously make the case for transit to the Congress and the Administration. Under his leadership, APTA membership is at an all-time high and attendance at APTA meetings is at record levels.
Active in many professional organizations, Bill is an internationally recognized leader in public transportation and has served as chair or on the governing boards of the Transportation Research Board, the Transit Cooperative Research Program, Intelligent Transportation Society of America, The Transportation Technology Center, Inc. and several university transportation programs.
Millar is the recipient of many awards and honors, including APTA's Jesse L. Haugh Award, the Transportation Research Board's W. N. Carey, Jr. Distinguished Service Award and the Transit Cooperative Research Program Founding Father Award. Bill, his wife, Barbara, and their two children live in Falls Church, Virginia, where Bill commutes to the office on Washington D.C.'s Metrorail system.
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