May 4, 2010

CONTACT: Jenna Reedy, Business Development Manager
Day: 849-0708
Fax: 848-4853
Email: jreedy@rabbittransit.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            

Transportation Funding Threatened: York Residents Share Their Stories
Governor Calls Special Session of General Assembly

York, PA – Governor Rendell held a special and extraordinary session Tuesday afternoon with the General Assembly to address immediate and devastating shortfalls of transportation funding. The failure to implement the tolling measure on Interstate 80 will have a direct effect on both capital and operating programs for public transit agencies across the state.

The statewide implications include an immediate $484 million capital shortfall and an operating funding freeze.

“Not only will our future capital needs - including vehicle replacement and facility improvements – be in jeopardy, but the current level of service we provide to our communities will be unsustainable,” said rabbittransit Executive Director Richard Farr. “Therefore, I am hopeful the Legislature will reach a swift and responsible solution to this funding crisis.”

Last year rabbittransit provided 1.6 million trips to and from work, health care, school, social services, shopping and other life-sustaining needs.

rabbittransit customer, David Reynolds believes “public transit is vital to every citizen in Pennsylvania. I believe it is at the foundation of our needs. Without Public Transit people will not be able to make it to work, the doctors, school, grocery shopping and several other needs. My wife and I, like many other people, cannot afford a car so we depend on public transit. We will have a hard time making it to work. We need Public Transit. Without [transit] funding many employees stand a chance of losing their jobs. Then what? They become a part of the growing population that are unemployed”.

The tolling of Interstate 80 was expected to fund the Commonwealth’s transportation needs for five decades. Without it, the promises of Pennsylvania’s 2007 transportation funding law (Act 44) will not be fulfilled, leaving not only public transit in flux, but also creating significant challenges to the maintenance and safety of the state’s highways and bridges.

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.