Sec. LaHood applauds record transit ridership and says we can do even better. Image – NGA.

Transit stakeholders from all over the country were in DC recently and got to hear from USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood. The 38″ talk was covered by CSPAN (video below).

LaHood appeared on the heels of news that more people than ever before are using transit:

“U.S. transit agencies provided 10.5 billion passenger trips to the tens of millions of urban, rural, and tribal Americans who ride buses, light rail, commuter rail, subways, vans, paratransit vehicles, and streetcars each and every day. According to APTA, that’s 154 million more trips taken by Americans than the previous year, and it’s the seventh year in a row that transit providers delivered more than 10 billion trips nationwide.”

LaHood writes about his talk to APTA:

“Through the past four years, the Obama Administration, working through DOT and our Federal Transit Administration has created more than 350 miles of new rail and bus rapid transit systems. We’ve executed more than 40 new major capital transit projects in 16 states.

These projects are attracting billions of dollars in new housing, retail, and office buildings in cities like Phoenix, Houston, Orlando, and Minneapolis-St.Paul.And we’ve helped revitalize American manufacturing and innovation by purchasing 260 rail cars and thousands of clean-fuel buses.

….As we look back, it’s clear we’ve made great progress. But the truth is that we have more work to do. Businesses want safe and reliable 21st century transportation. We must continue to build on the momentum we’ve created and continue to invest in the infrastructure that makes this country great.

And if we’re going to continue to serve America’s communities and continue to make progress in public transit, we need big and bold ideas and leadership to help us achieve the transportation system a competitive future requires.”

Watch the video: