This Washington
Report: GOP Transportation Plan Would Kill More than 20,000 Jobs in WA
In honor of "Don't X Out Transit Day"---a day focused on highlighting what will happen to transit systems nationwide if Republicans in the US House pass their version of the federal transportation package---the American Public Transportation Association released a report today showing the state-by-state impacts of the GOP proposal. The cuts would include both new starts programs (capital investments in transit) and general capital budget funding.
In the first year after implementation, Washington State would lose $116 million in transit funding and 4,179 jobs, according to APTA's report. After six years, the total lost transit funding would amount to $565 million, and 20,356 jobs. Sound Transit predicts it would have to delay building North Link light rail to Lynnwood two years under the Republican transportation plan. Three King County RapidRide Routes---RapidRide C from downtown to West Seattle, RapidRide E from Seattle to Shoreline, and RapidRide F from Burien to SouthCenter---would also be delayed.
Nationwide, the plan would eliminate 127,000 jobs in its first year from a $3.53 billion cut to transit funding, and 619,800 jobs over six years, from a total $11.2 billion cut to transit funding.
According to the report :
“People in Washington want more transit, not less," Transportation Choices Coalition field director Andrew Austin said. "Now is the time for our federal government to be investing more in public transit, not slashing its funding.”
In the first year after implementation, Washington State would lose $116 million in transit funding and 4,179 jobs, according to APTA's report. After six years, the total lost transit funding would amount to $565 million, and 20,356 jobs. Sound Transit predicts it would have to delay building North Link light rail to Lynnwood two years under the Republican transportation plan. Three King County RapidRide Routes---RapidRide C from downtown to West Seattle, RapidRide E from Seattle to Shoreline, and RapidRide F from Burien to SouthCenter---would also be delayed.
Nationwide, the plan would eliminate 127,000 jobs in its first year from a $3.53 billion cut to transit funding, and 619,800 jobs over six years, from a total $11.2 billion cut to transit funding.
According to the report :
With public transportation agencies already facing budget pressures, the proposed one-third cut in federal public transportation spending would place even more strain on transit agencies. Hundreds of thousands of jobs would be lost, both at public agencies as well as the private sector businesses in the transit industry and beyond. Thousands of transit vehicles would not be purchased by agencies, and the vehicles that remained in service would be less well maintained and more likely to break down. The effects of this proposal would mean more waiting, less service and fewer options for public transportation riders nationwide and hundreds of thousands of fewer jobs for Americans.
“People in Washington want more transit, not less," Transportation Choices Coalition field director Andrew Austin said. "Now is the time for our federal government to be investing more in public transit, not slashing its funding.”
