Last week brought some good news for those interested in forward-thinking transportation policy. With New York Senator Charles Schumer’s leadership, a tax credit for those commuting to work via bike share passed the Senate Finance Committee, and the Committee voted to restore the $240 pre-tax benefit for transit commuters, an important step toward restoring parity (the benefit for parking was increased to $250 as of January 1 this year) between those who drive to work and those who take public transit. While transit advocates would prefer to see the transit tax benefit surpass the parking tax benefit, the measure has the support of elected officials across the tri-state region.

However, last week also brought some bad news. As Politico notes, the House Budget Resolution that attacks sustainable transportation initiatives will get a floor vote this week. Streetsblog’s Tanya Snyder outlines the resolution:

• Investment in infrastructure projects is decreased dramatically. The Center for American Progress estimates that the plan “would cut surface transportation funding by $172 billion over the next 10 years.”
• The resolution requires any general fund transfers to the Highway Trust Fund to be “fully offset” by finding cuts in other areas of the federal budget.
  
• Lastly, the resolution cuts all funding for Amtrak.

Both Politico and Streetsblog report that this resolution is unlikely to go anywhere, with Politico calling it “largely a messaging document.” Regardless, with our roads and bridges in disrepair, public transit ridership – as well as Amtrak ridership – on the rise, and the Highway Trust Fund running out of money more quickly than anticipated, this document certainly sends a scary message.