With transit riders across the country facing fare increases and service cuts, and with transit agencies preparing to lay off thousands of workers, many are asking Congress to take another look at authorizing operating aid to transit agencies.

Yesterday, TSTC joined the American Public Health Association, Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (GBTA), Regional Plan Association, and 10 Connecticut organizations in thanking Sen. Chris Dodd for his leadership on transit issues and asking him to take it “a step further” by working for federal operating support.

“Transit ridership in Connecticut is reaching record highs,” the groups wrote in a letter, “but as ridership soars, local transit agencies are struggling to pay for operations.” They highlighted planned service cuts on Metro-North’s New Haven Line and a recent fare hike on GBTA buses (to $1.75 for a one-way trip) which made them more expensive than other transit systems in the state.

Last summer, the House of Representatives passed a bill to provide federal operating support which was then taken up by Sen. Hillary Clinton. But the effort died out as Congress turned to broader climate change and energy legislation, and then the stimulus. Many lawmakers argued that the stimulus should include transit operating aid, but the package ultimately included only capital grants.

The Connecticut groups signing the letter were 1000 Friends of Connecticut, the Business Council of Fairfield County, CT Association of Community Transportation, CT Citizens Transportation Lobby, CT Fund for the Environment, CT Livable Streets Campaign, League of Women Voters of CT, Partnership for Strong Communities, People to Jobs Regional Transportation Task Force, and Transit for Connecticut.