Transit News
September 19, 2006
Virginia Miller
(202) 496-4816
vmiller@apta.com
(Download In Adobe PDF Format)
Public transportation leaders will convey their thoughts about the future needs of U.S. public transportation systems, including federal financing, to the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission Sept. 20-21 in Dallas, TX.
“The American Public Transportation Association is pleased to co-host this field hearing. Nothing is more important than making sure the American people have a world-class transportation system that includes high-quality public transportation to support the American way of life,” said William W. Millar, president of APTA. “When gas prices increased dramatically, people turned to public transportation in record numbers, clearly demonstrating how important it is to have travel choices.”
The commission was mandated by Congress in last year’s surface transportation legislation, SAFETEA-LU. The hearing in Dallas, which takes place at the Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel will be the first of many field hearings around the country that will examine the condition, financing and future needs of the nation’s surface transportation system.
Millar will testify on Wednesday, Sept. 21 on the panel, “Overview of Needs and Long Term Financing Initiatives,” from 1:40–3:00 p.m. Regionally, Texas public transportation systems will be represented by Gary Thomas, president/executive director of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Richard Ruddell, president and executive director of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T). They will testify on the panel, “Regional Needs of the Surface Transportation System,” on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 8:10 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
“The challenges faced by America's metropolitan transit agencies require flexible and creative solutions,” said DART’s Thomas. “The Dallas-Fort Worth region now ranks as the nation's fourth largest metropolitan area, and its population will double by 2030. DART is responding with the development of a multi-modal transit system that's enjoying growing ridership while stimulating more than $3 billion in transit-oriented development.”
“An array of transportation options to match the exploding population and growing needs of the region -- that’s what we need in the Fort Worth-Dallas Metroplex region,” said the T’s Ruddell. “It’s never a ‘one size fits all’ solution. We need to provide a variety of options as Fort Worth’s population continues to grow at a rate that makes it one of the fastest growing cities in the nation with a population of more than 500,000, with projections to become one of the most heavily congested in north central Texas by 2030.”
Representatives from other surface transportation organizations, including the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, and the Texas Department of Transportation are also testifying.
| WHAT: | First field hearing of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission
|
| | |
| WHERE: | Hyatt Regency Dallas Hotel
300 Reunion Boulevard
Dallas, TX
|
| | |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, Sept 20 (1:30 -5:00 p.m.) and Thursday, Sept. 21 (8 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)
|
| | |
| WHO: | William W. Millar, president, American Public Transportation Association will testify on the panel “Overview of Needs and Long-Term Financing Initiatives,” on Wed. September 20 from 1:40 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Gary Thomas, president/executive director, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Richard Ruddell, president and executive director, Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) will testify on the panel “Regional Needs of the Surface Transportation System,” on Thurs., Sept. 21 from 8:10 a.m.–9:45 a.m.
|
***
APTA is a nonprofit international association of 1,600 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. APTA members serve more than 90 percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada.
Some of these pages may include links to documents in the Adobe PDF format. Please download the Adobe PDF reader if you have not already done so.
