Senators introduce a $2 Billion Dollar Emergency Transit Fund Bill

Earlier today Senator Christopher Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee introduced a bill that would give $2 Billion dollars in emergency funding to struggling transit systems. The funding is intended to help transit agencys roll back the fare increases and service cuts that have been put into place since January by 84% of the country's transit systems.

While the proposal is expected to recieve some oppposition from Senate members that are looking to cut federal spending, Senator Dodd received support from Senate co-sponsor Sherrod Brown of Ohio, as well as lawmakers from New Jersey, Rhode Island and Illinois. 

The New York MTA has spoken out in support of the emergency funding and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) as well as the Transport Workers Union (TWU) are planning to run ads asking for support of the funding.