http://o.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2010/01/29/a-funding-crisis-of-olympic-proportions/ Mass Transit's editor, Leah Harnack, speaks weekly on critical issues facing the public transportation industry. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:57:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://o.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2010/01/29/a-funding-crisis-of-olympic-proportions/#comment-20256 William Moorhead Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:07:48 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2010/01/29/a-funding-crisis-of-olympic-proportions/#comment-20256 I completely disagree with the concept of the Federal government financing the infrastructure maintenance costs for rail or any other transit mode. The need to prevaricate to get grants from FTA or whatever funding agency is providing the money has protituted the entire capital funding process (citations: Tren Urbanoo and Norfolk). In addition, Washington siphons off a great deal of the funds that pass through its hands; better to provide a reliable local funding mechanism, and that the locals are made aware that it actually costs something to maintain a transt system. I completely disagree with the concept of the Federal government financing the infrastructure maintenance costs for rail or any other transit mode. The need to prevaricate to get grants from FTA or whatever funding agency is providing the money has protituted the entire capital funding process (citations: Tren Urbanoo and Norfolk). In addition, Washington siphons off a great deal of the funds that pass through its hands; better to provide a reliable local funding mechanism, and that the locals are made aware that it actually costs something to maintain a transt system.

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