SWTA is joining efforts with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and transit agencies throughout the SWTA Nation to raise awareness for emergency COVID relief funding. We emphasize the need for Congress to approve additional emergency COVID relief of at least $32 billion for transit to avoid service cuts and job losses at transit agencies across the country.

We stress the best method for Congress to distribute those funds is through existing federal formula programs as used successfully in the CARES Act passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump this past March.

From the largest urban systems to the rural and tribal communities, transit has connected people to essential workforce locations and healthcare throughout all of 2020. Public transit provides necessary and vital services everywhere.

Transit operations staff throughout the SWTA Nation have been on the front lines interacting with people of all risk profiles since the onset of the COVID and numerous transit workers have died after contracting the virus. They must be considered as priority recipients of COVID vaccination.

Transit agencies across the nation are at risk of significant staff lay-offs or service due to lack of federal funding. Amplify the voice transit agencies across the nation today as we join forces to #SavePubicTransit by urging Congressional Leaders to enact emergency transit funding before they adjourn for the year.

For more information on SWTA’s position on additional emergency COVID relief for transit or its current Legislative Agenda, contact Executive Director Rich Sampson at rsamspon@swta.org or 225.270.0855.

States

Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas