August 24, 2006
Mr. Quintin C. Kendall
Executive Director
National Surface Transportation Policy
and Revenue Study Commission
c/o U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 10228
Washington, DC 20590
(Download in Adobe PDF format)
RE: Hearing Proposals, FR Doc. E6-11904
Dear Mr. Kendall:
On behalf of the more than 1,500 member organizations of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), I write to thank the Commissioners for inviting outside organizations to host the Commission's field hearings. As the Commissioners conduct their study of the future needs and financing of surface transportation, the on-site nature of these sessions will offer tremendous insight into the many challenges our transportation networks face, and APTA is proud to offer to assist these efforts.
In that spirit, APTA has separately partnered with the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) coalition, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and others to propose and offer to sponsor field hearings in Dallas, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, respectively. APTA and its members strongly believe that public transportation interests and multimodal options should be represented in each of these hearings.
Public transportation is a rapidly growing component of our nation's surface transportation system, and in an era of increasing energy and fuel conservation, transit is a critical element in our nation's efforts to move toward energy independence. Since 1995, public transportation use increased 25.1 percent. This ridership growth demonstrates that Americans want transportation choices and will often leave their cars behind when quality public transit services are available.
Last year's 9.7 billion trips on public transportation also benefit our entire nation by reducing congestion, improving air quality and conserving foreign oil. In fact, according to the 2005 Texas Transportation Institute Annual Urban Mobility Report, transit is successfully reducing traffic delays and costs in America's 85 largest urban areas. Without transit, nationwide delays would have increased 27 percent, costing residents in the major urban areas studied an additional $18.2 billion in lost time and fuel.
Public transportation also plays a vital role in meeting the transportation needs of older Americans, and this role is expected to grow considerably in the near future. By the year 2025, 18 percent of the U.S. population will be 65 and over and many will be unable to drive. In fact, one-fifth of persons 65 and older do not drive. As the "baby boom" generation begins to plan for their mobility needs, quality transit options must be available.
APTA recognizes that the Commission will make all final decisions on the composition of the hearings, and for all of the reasons cited above, I strongly encourage the Commission to include transit representatives and representatives of mobility options generally in each of the proposed field hearings. APTA stands ready to support the work of the Commission in any way we possibly can. If you have any questions about any of APTA's partnership proposals, please do not hesitate to contact Art Guzzetti of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4814 or email aguzzetti@apta.com.
Sincerely yours,
William W. Millar
President
WWM/tjj
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