The Bush Administration released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2005 Monday with about $7.3 billion dedicated to public transportation, garnering mostly negative reactions from the public transit community.

In a statement made this week, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) stated that it is disappointed in the budget requested for public transportation. APTA said that the allotted amount does not meet the needs of Americans throughout the country.

The statement read: “In fact, the proposal runs counter to the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent annual Conditions and Performance Report that concludes that $20.6 Billion needs to be invested annually in public transportation. In addition, this FY 2005 figure of $7.266 billion is lower than what was proposed in the Administration's TEA-21 reauthorization plan submitted to Congress less than one year ago.”

APTA also stated that public transportation generates $6 or more in economic activity for every dollar invested. However, the statement said, “The Administration ignores the fact that investing in public transportation benefits everyone, lays the foundation for future growth and prosperity, and is a necessity -- not a luxury -- for the American public. The American public deserves better.”