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Pennsylvania Transit Coalition |
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Contact Us (215) 880-6142
Links
saveTransit
PPTA
PenTrans
Delware Valley Association of Rail Passengers Pennsylvania Alliance of Public Transit Advocates
An alliance of groups like the PTC that are working
together to fight for more funding for public transportation.
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Why is Dedicated Funding for Public Transportation So Important? What are dedicated funds? Much of the money spent by the state comes must be appropriate every year. That is, the House of Representatives and the Senate must pass and the Governor must sign an appropriations bill. Some state spending is fixed by the law that creates the program and thus a special appropriation is not necessary. Dedicated funding for public transportation would not need a yearly appropriation. Instead, a certain portion of tax revenue would automatically be devoted to public transportation. Why is dedicated funding appropriate for public transportation? Public transportation is vital public utility, like roads, telephones and water, and sewer systems. In order to sustain these utilities and plan for the expansion, maintenance and repair, they need a steady and predictable source of revenues. Public transportation, however, is a utility that is not paid for by the fares of those who use it. It must be publicly subsidized. Thus public transportation needs steady and predictable source of public support. Why should public transportation be publicly subsidized? Public transportation—like all other forms of transportation—require substantial public subsidy. Economical and efficient transportation cannot be paid for directly by the users of any mode of transportation. That is true for automobiles as well as trains. While the gasoline tax pays for part of the infrastructure—the major roads and bridges—on which are cars run, it does not pay for all of that infrastructure. City streets, traffic signs, police patrol as well as the medical and legal costs of traffic accidents are all paid for by general revenues. There are two justifications for subsiding public transportation: First, the benefits of public transportation go to everyone not just those who use it. Whether we drive to work or take the train, we all benefit when from public transportation. (For more on those benefits, go to Why Public Transportation? Second, public transit helps make our community more just by providing alternative forms of transportation for the poor, the disabled, and senior citizens. |