[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 107 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1523-E1524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    LEGISLATION TO CONTINUE OPERATING ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL TRANSIT 
                   OPERATORS IN LARGE URBANIZED AREAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARTIN FROST

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 3, 1998

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that will 
address a serious problem facing certain small transit operators in 
large urbanized areas. My bill will allow for the continuation of 
operating assistance for small transit operators in large urbanized 
areas.
  With the passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century (TEA-21), a number of new programs will be implemented which 
will benefit and enhance mobility across the country and in the Dallas/
Fort Worth area. However, due to the elimination of transit operating 
assistance to cities in large urbanized areas, funding for certain 
small transit operators will also be cut. The elimination of this 
funding will cause extreme hardship for those operators, particularly 
those that provide transportation exclusively to the elderly and 
disabled.
  My bill will direct the Secretary of Transportation to allow small 
transit operators that have fewer than 20 revenue service vehicles 
located in a large urbanized area to continue to use funds for 
operating costs, if the Secretary finds that providing no assistance to 
the small

[[Page E1524]]

transit operator for such operating cost have caused, or will cause, 
the small transit operator to suffer undue hardship.
  Small transit operators are usually more reliant on Federal operating 
assistance than larger operators since they do not have dedicated sales 
tax to help fund their systems. Federal operating assistance has been 
eliminated, from the fiscal year 1995 level of $710,000,000 to $0 in 
fiscal year 1999. The elimination of operating assistance over the 4-
year period provided little time for many small transit operators in 
large urbanized areas to adjust, and without the resources to make up 
this gap, these small transit operators might have to cut service and 
raise fares.
  In fact, two cities in my congressional district, Arlington and Grand 
Prairie, may be forced to cut back their Handitran transit service to 
the elderly and disabled by 50 percent. The loss of federal funds comes 
at a time when the North Texas Council of Governments is recommending 
that the City of Arlington substantially expand Handitran in response 
to a growing need for the service. According to Arlington officials, 
64% of the riders of Handitran are disabled, 23% are elderly and 14% 
are both elderly and disabled. Without these funds, cutbacks in 
services to those most in need may prove to be a reality.
  I urge my fellow colleagues to examine this legislation and support 
this important bill.

                          ____________________