The late President Lyndon Johnson was born on Aug. 27, 1908. Many remember him for succeeding President John F. Kennedy after his assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.
Others remember him for his domestic Great Society Program, which included civil rights, Medicare, Medicaid, the War on Poverty and public broadcasting. There was also foreign policy, most notably the Vietnam War.
Few remember that the success of public transportation can be traced back to one of Johnson’s greatest accomplishments that continues to benefit many Americans today. On July 9, 1964, he signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 into law.
Subsequently, this has resulted in the investment of several hundred billion dollars into public transportation under grants from the Federal Transit Administration (prior to 1991 known as the Urban Mass Transit Administration).
In the current federal fiscal year 2023, the FTA has made available a record $20 billion in funding under various formula and competitive discretionary programs to over 900 transit agencies around the nation.
One way these dollars can be used, depending on the program, is to pay for the replacement of aged buses, paratransit or commuter vans, light rail, subway, commuter rail or ferries that have reached their minimum useful life according to federal replacement eligibility criteria. They are also available for fleet expansion.
There are also a number of national competitive discretionary programs to supplement transit agencies’ formula programs. Millions of Americans continue utilizing various public transportation alternatives. They include local and express bus, paratransit and commuter vans, ferry, jitney, light rail, subway and commuter rail services.
Investment in public transportation today contributes to economic growth, employment and a stronger economy. Dollar for dollar, it is one of the best investments we can make.
What better way to honor the late President Johnson and all that has been achieved these past 59 years in public transportation by continuing funding the federal Highway Trust Fund and Mass Transit Account.
Happy Birthday!
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.
