[IMAGE]MCI-Commuter-Coach-at-the-Capitol-Telling-Our-StoryFULL-2.jpg[/IMAGE] Transit workers, riders and equipment manufacturers told their stories at a rally on Capitol Hill last week, urging Congress to increase funding for public transportation by passing a multi-year surface transportation authorization bill.

In support of the “Telling Our Story” initiative created by the American Public Transit Association (APTA), Motor Coach Industries put its MCI Commuter Coach, with APTA’s signature campaign graphics, front and center in the caravan that converged on Capitol Hill.

“You couldn’t miss the message on our 45-foot coach, but more importantly the rally provided an opportunity to be heard by key representatives,” said Michael Melaniphy, MCI vice president of Public Sector, who spoke at the rally. Melaniphy’s message was about job creation. “MCI is an example of a company that is creating skilled, green jobs by building clean-diesel, diesel-electric hybrid and CNG models used by transit agencies across the country on commuter routes. In many cases, private operators are also beneficiaries of funding, with opportunities to provide service on rural routes.”

MCI has been a fixture in the transit market for 40 years. More than 4,000 MCI coaches currently serve commuter transit. Major customers include New Jersey Transit and Metropolitan Transit Authority of New York as well as transit systems in Houston, Salt Lake City and Atlanta, among others. With a final assembly plant in the U.S., MCI can supply D-Series coaches that are compliant with the Federal Buy America requirements.

In addition, MCI's D-series coaches have met the FTA’s Altoona accelerated life cycle testing requirements. APTA’s Online Wall features video testimonials of riders and community leaders speaking to the benefits of public transportation during the rally at www.apta.com. All content on the wall was submitted by APTA members, and APTA plans for the wall to become the collective voice of Americans expressing the importance of public transportation.