Bill would provide $2 billion for state transit agencies

Several senators are pushing for a $2 billion bill that would authorize additional money to help state transit agencies close funding gaps. 

Led by Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), the bill would allow state and local transit agencies hard-hit by the recession to use the funds to reverse fare increases and restore services cut after January 2009 or prevent future cuts or fare increases through September 2011. 

Agencies that haven't increased fares or cut services or aren't planning on doing either can use the funds for infrastructure improvements. 

Dodd is joined by Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez (N.J.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Frank Lautenberg (N.J.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Jack Reed (R.I.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) in introducing the bill to provide the emergency funding. 

"While families continue to struggle to make ends meet, the last thing we should do is make it harder and more expensive for people to get to work," Dodd said in a statement. "This bill will prevent disruptive service cuts and help put money back in the pockets of families when they need it most."

About 84 percent of public transit systems have raised fares or cut services since January 2009, according to figures from the American Public Transportation Association.