APTA: Majority of Americans favor increased public transit funding

Seventy-four percent of Americans in a recent survey agreed that Congress should boost public transit funding, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reported yesterday.

Conducted by the Mineta Transportation Institute on APTA's behalf, the survey also showed that 80 percent of respondents support using tax dollars for creating, expanding and improving public transportation in their communities.

"The nation's support for public transit continues as Americans have more mobility options such as car- and bike-sharing apps, and as other multi-transit opportunities evolve," APTA officials said in a press release.

In addition, 80 percent of respondents said public transit is important to communities because it "helps businesses flourish," according to the survey.

The Mineta survey collected data from 1,201 interviews with individuals across the United States.

APTA officials believe the survey demonstrates that there's agreement among the public and both houses of Congress to increase public transit investment.

In 2018, Congress appropriated $13.5 billion for public transit investment and $2.8 billion for intercity passenger-rail grants. Those amounts exceeded what was authorized in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act in 2015.