Another View from Washington
Reflecting current feeling in Congress regarding federal support of transit operating subsidies, Rep. Chris Shays (R-Bridgeport, CT area) recently told CT Fund for the Environment's (CFE) Don Strait and Mike Stern and Tri-State Transportation Campaign director Janine Bauer that public transit had grown too costly and didn't serve customers where and when service is needed. When it was pointed out that CT uses operating subsidies to fund local paratransit programs for those without car options, he seemed receptive to learning more. He was more comfortable with aid to transit capital projects than operating aid, but wasn't sure why, likening them to federal-aid highways that states maintain. Shays also railed at Amtrak and thought it appropriate that the railroad be made to turn a profit in seven years. He seemed unfamiliar with farebox recovery ratios for other railroads in the Northeast, such as Metro-North's relatively high 65%, or other evidence of the implausibility of the Amtrak profitability target, saying "the Northeast Corridor should be profitable." Regarding ISTEA, Shays was interested in creation of performance standards for state transportation department spending and in particular, amending ISTEA's "management systems" to reflect clear goals such as traffic and VMT reduction. He thought the attempt by the Washington "Road Gang" (see last issue) to take the Highway Trust Fund off-budget was "an outrage," that will induce highway interests to "spend all they have," rather than spend appropriately. He expressed disappointment with the Clean Air Act and, in particular, enhanced vehicle inspection and maintenance provisions, holding the cost of compliance was out of sync with potential benefits. He asked to see statistics showing CT's program to be successful and cost-effective (CFE's position). He finished the interview saying "environmentalists have to realize you can't be afraid to say a program didn't work or needs change. I'm not very enthusiastic about the Clean Air Act. It needs change and is not cost-effective." Shays is in his fifth Congressional term and is a member of the Transportation subcommittee of the Interstate Commerce Committee.
