Coast Transit faces loss of federal funds

MISSISSIPPI

This is the best news I have heard all year

STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

Monday, April 30, 2007

Director of CTA: rhopper@coasttransit.com

CTA seeks money
click here

Why does the federal government give tax money to a transportation system located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast anyway?

CTA IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THEREFORE IT 
CANNOT MAKE A PROFIT ONLY LOSE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

According to CTA, total rider ship, including Special Services, was over 710,000 for 2001.

For many years, Coast Transit Authority and the municipalities of the Mississippi Coast have been fortunate to receive federal funding to offset the operational cost of public mass transit. However, due to Census 2000 there exists a very strong possibility that CTA will lose those funds.

I never believed CTA should ever have received federal taxpayers dollars.

CTA is a non-profit organization, which means that if it wants to exist it should rely on state and local funding.

This will determine whether the people and politicians of Mississippi want a mass transit system.

The Federal Transportation Administration has informed CTA that FY 2002 will likely be our last year to receive federal allocations. FTA contends that due to the population growth, the local and state tax base should generate enough revenue to fund the operations of any public transit system.

I do agree this should be the last year for federal funding, and let the Mississippian's determine if it cost effective for a mass transit system to be paid for by the taxpayers.

Due to our unique urban geographical description, FTA and Congress are having difficulty in arriving at a description of our Urban Zone Area. Our UZA population base, according to Census 2000, has exceeded the population limit of 200,000 set by FTA regulations.

It seems pretty simple to me, our Census has exceeded and that placed us into another category. 

I assure you that we are working with our elected officials in Washington to have the UZA definition revised or the population threshold raised.

In other words lets lie and cheat the system to ensure we get the federal money so we can keep on wasting the taxpayers dollars.

Sounds like a political move too me.

On the state level, we have been successful in the FY 2001 passage of the Multi-Modal Funding Bill, which will allow state funds to be used in funding of many modes of transportation, including airports, rail, water ports and mass transit. Unfortunately, at present there are no funds to be allocated to any mode.

I call this a good thing, not a bad thing; there is no money because mass transit is not needed here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Coast Transit Authority has for many years wasted federal money, but now it's catching up with the company.

I urge all Coast municipalities to unite and draft a resolution to our state Legislature and our Washington delegation in support of Coast Transit Authority and of establishing a dedicated funding source for continued operation of a public transit system on the Mississippi Coast. It will take a joint effort on behalf of all stakeholders who see mass transit as one of the major solutions to our traffic congestion and air-quality issues.

I intend to help Coast Transit Authority as much as I can, I will tell the Federal Transit Administration that they have finally realized that by pouring federal money in a system, which is not needed, they will save the taxpayers money.

CTA Directory

REID HOPPER, executive director

Coast Transit Authority

STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY
MY OPINION