Number: RL34183
Title: Public Transit Program Funding Issues in Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Authors: William J. Mallett, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: This report outlines several ways of restructuring federal public transit programs, each an alternative to the possibility of leaving the existing system unchanged. First, Congress might decide to focus more resources on major capital expenses for the rehabilitation and expansion of transit service in places that are best served by this mode, primarily the densely populated parts of large cities that are often severely congested. Second, Congress might focus on supporting and rehabilitating existing services rather than major capital expansion. Third, Congress might eliminate the capital improvement programs altogether, to be replaced with a simple "block grant" that could be distributed based on transit ridership or population. This would allow state and local governments to decide how best to allocate transit funding support among existing and new services.
Pages: 24
Date: April 16, 2008