House approves more funds for thriving public transit

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-transit27-2008jun27,0,5938674.story

WASHINGTON -- As commuters increasingly turn to bus and rail lines because of soaring gasoline prices, public transit, long the poor relation of American travel, is finally getting respect -- and money.

In an effort to make riding bus and rail lines even more appealing, the House on Thursday moved to provide $1.7 billion to help transit agencies pay higher fuel costs, limit fare hikes and expand service. California would receive about $266 million.

That's on top of a record $10 billion -- a $1-billion increase -- a congressional committee recently recommended for expanding transit nationwide in the next year. A bipartisan measure also has been introduced to expand tax credits to encourage more workers to ride public transit.

"Americans are flocking onto mass transit at rates not seen in half a century in the United States," said Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.).

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