This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Congress should reject President Donald Trump's proposal to gut federal support for public transportation.
Federal funding for public transportation is a sound investment that creates jobs, spurs economic development and helps limit traffic congestion and air pollution. Furthermore, public transportation is essential for the mobility of millions of Americans, connecting people to jobs and education and giving older Americans, veterans and people with disabilities access to essential services and their larger communities.
It is deeply disappointing and, frankly, doesn't make sense that Trump has proposed such severe cuts to transit after pledging to invest $1 trillion in American infrastructure over the next decade.
We need to be building interconnected, multi-modal transportation networks that meet the needs of our growing population and economy. The proposed cuts will take America in the wrong direction.
There has been strong bipartisan support in Congress for public transportation funding up to now. I urge our congressional delegation to stand up once again for transportation investments that will benefit all of us and reject Trump's proposed cuts.
Lance Parker
Moab