WASHINGTON, D. C. — U. S. Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), Chairman of the Committee on Banking and Housing and Urban Affairs, along with Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Committee, today released a letter sent to the Senate Budget Committee urging the continued growth of the federal investment in mass transit. The letter, addressed to Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), was also signed by sixty three other Senators.

Increased transit funding has proven critical to spurring economic development in many communities throughout the United States. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which is due to expire on September 30th, 2003, represented a significant commitment to improving our nation's surface transportation system. In the letter, Sens. Shelby and Sarbanes outlined the substantial benefits of transit funding in TEA-21 and emphasized the need to maintain this commitment in the future.

The text of the letter is available here.

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