Emanuel Votes to Fund Chicago Transit;
House bill provides funding for mass transit systems, includes over $80 million for Chicago

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, a majority in the House passed the Saving Energy through Public Transportation Act of 2008.  As gas prices rise and more families turn to public transportation, the bill provides $1.7 billion in grants to reduce fares and improve transit systems, including more than $88 million for Chicago transit.

“Families in Chicago are suffering every time they pull into a gas station, and the bill we passed today will provide much-needed relief and improve public transit,” said Emanuel. “After seven years of Bush-Cheney’s energy policies and skyrocketing gas prices, we’re reinvesting in public transit and working to craft a new energy strategy.”

In 2007, Americans took the most public transit trips in 50 years, and in the first three months of 2008, Americans took almost 85 million more transit trips than in the same period last year. Yet at the same time, mass transit systems are forced to pay the same record fuel prices as consumers, while a slowing economy means lower tax receipts and less money for transit.

The Saving Energy through Public Transportation Act has support from an array of state and local governments, transit agencies, and environmental agencies. In addition to providing grants to reduce fares, the funds could also be used to expand transit services and support operating costs.