Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: A LEGACY FOR USERS -- (House of Representatives - March 09, 2005)

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlemen for yielding me time. I begin by thanking the leadership of this committee, which is a real model for bipartisan leadership. They know how to get the job done. I hope the Congress finally follows suit.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to conduct a colloquy with my friend on the other side.

I want to bring the attention of the House to a transportation issue that affects every office of the Senate and the House and every Federal agency. Federal employees are the biggest users of the Metro subway and bus system, accounting for almost 50 percent of rush hour riders. Because Federal employees and the Federal presence itself are scattered throughout the region, the system is indispensable to the daily operations of the Federal Government. More than 300 Federal offices are served by Metro.

The Federal Government has encouraged ever greater use of Metro to help solve the congestion crisis on the roads of this region. Today, 150,000 military and civilian employees here get a Federal subsidy to use the system. Metro's homeland security benefit to the government was dramatically demonstrated when it moved hundreds of thousands of employees on 9/11. However, the large investment of the Federal Government in helping to build this system is at high risk because Metro riders have grown so rapidly, by one-third in just the past 8 years.

The regional delegation needs the Federal Government to do its fair share, beginning with helping to secure additional rail cars necessary to keep up with the astounding growth in ridership driven by Federal employees in the post 9/11 era. I ask that the committee work with me and regional Members from Virginia and Maryland to find ways to help the region bear the burden of expanded Federal use of the system.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. NORTON. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I would respond by saying we appreciate the gentlewoman bringing this to the attention of the chairman and myself. The chairman and I will continue to work with the gentlewoman on this issue as we continue to proceed to conference.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman.

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