The THUD appropriations bill educes total funding for public transportation by $457 million compared to the FY 2019 enacted levels.
The budget that was approved unanimously by the Fiscal and Management Control Board directs T officials to find $1 million in savings from The Ride, $5 million from the commuter rail, and $8 million from bus maintenance.
Additionally, the earliest trains on Sunday would start at 8 a.m., while the start times for trains on weekdays and Saturdays would remain at 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., respectively.
The agency began its budget process three months ahead of schedule to begin developing options to respond to a projected $12 million to $17 million shortfall. The agency's FY12 operating budget is $444 million.
To mark this week's "Don't X Out Public Transit Day," the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) released a new survey that focused on what the consequences would be on public transportation riders and systems around the country if a House of Representatives-proposed cut of more than one-third of federal funding for public transportation actually took place.
OCTA has been bracing for this hit during the months of ongoing state budget negotiations by adding a fare increase of approximately 25 percent in January, making minor cuts to bus services, and implementing a hiring freeze and cutting capital expenses.
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