Blog

Voices for Public Transit is still celebrating last year’s passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). It is a critical step forward for public transportation across the nation.

February 4 is Transit Equity Day—a day to honor civil rights icon Rosa Parks and reflect on the value of public transportation in advancing racial and social equality, access to opportunity, and civic participation. Commemorating the late civil rights leader’s birthday, Transit Equity Day is a powerful time to look back on the legacy of Rosa Parks—and at the role public transit plays in advancing equity today.

Voices for Public Transit notched some major policy and legislative victories last year in our continued fight to fund and grow public transportation in communities nationwide.

In a major victory for public transportation, the United States House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (BID) on November 5th, which the Senate passed earlier this summer. The bill was signed into law by President Biden on Monday afternoon.

You could feel the excitement—even on Zoom—during United for Infrastructure Week 2021. For years, there has been talk in Washington about passing major infrastructure legislation, but little has happened. This year feels different.

The voices of our advocates nationwide power our movement to improve and expand public transportation in communities of all sizes. Your personal stories make it clear that public transportation can transform lives and benefit communities.

Congress deserves a big thank you for supporting essential services—including public transportation—in the American Rescue Plan Act. Emergency funding has been provided several times in the last year, but this funding is focused on keeping our transit systems running throughout the pandemic and isn’t part of a long-term solution.

Public transportation is helping to save lives and keep our communities strong, but the pandemic is straining public transit systems. Congress can help by providing a new round of emergency funding to close the gap.

Voices for Public Transit welcomes new and returning members of Congress back to Washington! We are excited to begin working with Congress and the many  new faces in the Biden Administration. Thank you for your past—and future—support for public transportation. Communities across the country benefit every day from public transportation, but more must be done to champion this vital, essential service.

Big changes are just weeks away in Washington. The new Congress convenes on January 3, this election cycle will wind down after the Georgia Senate runoffs on January 5, and President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris take office on January 20. Under a new presidential administration and Congress, there is an opportunity for elected officials from both sides of the aisle to unite and support public transit.