Transit Roundup

• APTA yesterday released a report on the impact of the recession on public transportation agencies. The report details the findings from a survey of transit providers regarding changes in revenue, budget shortfalls, changes in service levels and fares, and cuts in staff.

• While transit providers across the country have been forced to cut services or increase fares, or both, a new national poll conducted for Transportation for America shows support for improved public transportation. Support for expanded transit is found to exist not just in urban areas but also small towns and rural areas.

• The Natural Resources Defense Council recently released a report showing that rural states are hurt the most when gas prices increase. This relates to a more detailed SURTC study completed in 2008 that used county-level data to show how rural areas, and Indian Reservations in particular, are impacted more by higher gas costs.

• The Transportation Department announced this week a proposal to ban text messaging at the wheel by interstate truck and bus drivers. The proposal would make permanent an interim ban announced in January.

• Sioux City Transit is encouraging citizens to send in their census, saying it will have a big impact on their budget.