Yesterday the Joint Finance Committee took up Amendment 431 to the State Budget. This amendment, also known as the Transportation Omnibus, closed the $63 million deficit for 2015 and included some benefits to transit riders:
- 4% of the 10% annual cut in State transit aid has been restored.
- Transit will still be removed from the transportation fund in 2015, but only for a one year period.
What the second point means remains to be seen. Keep reaching out to your elected officials and let them know how important transit is!
Other details of the transportation omnibus:
- Delay $14 million in spending on the Zoo Interchange until the 2015-2017 budget.
- Delay $19 million in spending on the Ryan Road/I-94 exit until the 2015-2017 budget.
- Cut $12 million from repairing State highways.
- Cut $10 million from the Hoan Bridge project.
- Cut $7.3 million in major highway development funding.
- Cut $2.5 million from routine highway maintenance.
- Shift $900,000 from an air quality program to one for repairing highways.