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would phase out all federal operating assistance to public transportation systems over four years, reducing assistance to Virginia by 25 percent annually.
* The House leadership’s plan eliminates all federal support to improve our nation’s passenger railroads. Intercity rail is a very costeffective way to travel. For example, a recent Virginia Railway Express study found that, over 20 years, it costs $284 million less to build, maintain and operate VRE service than the equivalent lane of interstate highway mileage for people driving alone.
Tight budgets require us to be hardhearted when it comes to spending our federal dollars. The most costeffective use of our transportation budget is a balanced policy that invests in trains, buses and public transit as well as new roads. Reduction in DOT funds should be spread equally among highway and public transportation assistance. Any other approach is simply penny-wise and pound-foolish.
(Editor’s Note: Virginia Citizen Action is a 50.000 member consumer organization.)
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