May 10, 2007

CONTACT: Rosalinda Dejesus
Phone: 849-2403 or 843-4786

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            

City of York Joins Governor Rendell and Other Municipalities Across Pennsylvania to Call for More State funding for Public Transportation
YORK COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO CUT SERVICE SIGNIFICANTLY; HIKE FARES

May 10, 2007 – Local and County elected officials joined Gov. Edward G. Rendell and other municipalities across Pennsylvania Thursday and urged the General Assembly to support an annual, reliable, dedicated funding source for the state’s 73 public transit systems including rabbittransit and York County Transportation Authority, which face service cuts and fare increases.

Citing the urgency of the situation with at least a dozen transit agencies across the state planning to cut service and increase fares without new funding, the City of York joined 22 mayors in a pledge to call state legislators.

Appearing at the steps of City Hall, local and County elected officials urged citizens to also call their legislators for an annual, reliable, dedicated funding source for public transportation. rabbittransit will have to cut service by 20 percent and increase fares 5 percent, unless the Legislature acts soon.

Mayor John S. Brenner urges the legislature to enact mass transit funding immediately.

"I urge the legislature to adequately fund mass transit in the state of Pennsylvania," said Mayor Brenner. "This issue affects all of us who live in the City and the County. People need mass transportation to get to work and to go to the supermarket. A mass transit system also is an important part of a thriving community and it’s one that we must continue to support. It is one of the many things that make our community an attractive place to live, work and play.”

Gov. Rendell has proposed taxing the profits of oil corporations to raise the needed $760 million more per year to keep public transit systems operating safely, reliably and effectively. Without funding, service cuts would be dramatic, in some places draconian; fares would increase significantly and more than 1,000 transit workers would lose their jobs. For more information, visit www.rideonpa.org.

State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, who also attended Thursday’s press conference, expressed support for mass transit funding.

"I am committed to making sure rabbittransit gets a dedicated funding source and that York County gets a fair piece of the transit funding," DePasquale said. "This is critical to enable people to get to work, reduce congestion on our highways and improve the environment."

Keith Martin, treasurer of the rabbittransit board of directors, reiterated his support for mass transit funding at the state level.

"We are encouraged by the support that the City of York is demonstrating for transportation funding as they recognize the importance of rabbittransit and the life-sustaining services it provides. We hope this effort, along with other local support across the state, will send a message to the legislature that inaction is not acceptable."

rabbittransit, York County's public transportation system, provides a variety of transportation services to the residents of York County. Nearly 6,000 people depend on rabbittransit each day to get to work, medical facilities, school and other life-sustaining activities. rabbittransit is dedicated to helping all York Countians get to where they want to go.

Other mayors participating in press conferences in support of this issue were from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Hazleton, New Castle, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Lancaster, Lebanon, Altoona, Erie, Johnstown, Wilkes-Barre, State College, Scranton, Pottsville, Reading, Washington and Williamsport. They were joined by their communities’ transit heads and business leaders.

Twelve of the mayors including York’s are from cities served by regional transit systems that would take the first wave of hits due to lack of funding, which would adversely impact local economies and businesses.

Ridership has increased statewide the last four years from 406 million to 410 million riders. Public transit serves a vital role in all 67 counties. Without it, seniors can’t get to the pharmacy or grocery, commuters can’t get to work and students can’t get to school.  

Donna Armstrong, a rabbittransit customer who lives in York City, knows firsthand the importance of funding mass transit.

"If it were not for the service offered by rabbittransit, many of we seniors would be denied independence, something we all value," she said. "Transit affords us the privilege and convenience of doing things - grocery shopping, visiting, doctor's appointments and more - and provides assistance. For me and countless others, it is most important."

Gov. Rendell has urged state legislators to act now on his proposal for an Oil Corporation Gross Profits Tax, which, at 6.17 percent, is a rate about one-third lower than the 9.99 percent Corporate Net Income Tax oil companies now pay.

Under the Governor’s plan, the state’s seven major oil companies would be exempt from the CNI. And the loophole they have used to only pay about $71 million per year on about $13 billion in profit would be closed. The new tax is anticipated to generate $830 million in a full fiscal year, with $70 million going back into the General Fund to replace the revenue lost from the CNI exemption.

The remaining $760 million would provide an annual, dedicated funding source for Pennsylvania public transit systems.

Service cuts and fare hikes press release: PDF | Word

rabbittransit, York County’s public transportation system, provides a variety of transportation services to the residents of York County. Nearly 6,000 people depend on rabbittransit each day to get to work, medical facilities, school and other life-sustaining activities. rabbittransit is dedicated to helping all York Countians get to where they want to go.