KC Light Rail

Please call Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the Chair of the House Rules Committee, before Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., to let her know you support the inclusion of operating assistance to transit agencies in the economic stimulus package. Why? Because it doesn't make sense to hire construction workers while you're firing transit workers (who, you know, take a lot of people to jobs every day). Click on the map above to see the nationwide impact this funding would have (and all to save a paltry tax cut to appease fiscal conservatives).

Our own ATA is at risk of losing around $7 million next budget year due to the drop in sales tax revenue, increased TIF payments, and potential redirection of portions of the 1/2-cent "transportation" tax to other purposes. This means reduction in service and lay-offs, in addition to the already-announced fare increase.

Hat tip to our Streetsblog mother ship!

UPDATE: It appears the amendment for transit operating assistance has failed. Calls are no longer needed to Rep. Slaughter.