President Obama has signed into law a $106 billion war funding bill that includes a provision allowing local transit agencies to spend 10 percent of their stimulus money on operating costs.
That sounds good ... but how much money are we actually talking about? According to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA):
- St. Louis' Metro system can spend up to $4.6 million in stimulus cash on operating. When added to the $7.5 million in FTA aid approved on Wednesday, that fills about one-quarter of the transit agency's $50 million shortfall.
- San Francisco can spend up to $17.4 million in stimulus cash on operating. Total size of the local BART's deficit for next year: $23 million, even after fare hikes take effect.
- The New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area can spend up to $118.2 million in stimulus cash on transit operating. Total size of the deficit for next year at New York's MTA alone: $1 billion.
- Los Angeles can spend up to $38.8 million in stimulus cash on transit operating. Total size of the system's deficit for next year: $200 million, as my colleague Damien Newton has reported.
If your home city isn't one listed above, check out the apportionment tables available for download here.
