“In the area of public transportation," said Norman Ornstein, a veteran Washington, DC, political observer, “I don’t see anything ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’—you’ve got to find common ground.”

Kicking off APTA’s 2009 Legislative Conference, Ornstein—introduced by Doran Barnes, APTA vice chair-human resources, and Ed Mortimer of URS—shared insights and comments on the state of politics and policy in Washington.

He noted that, despite “one dramatic election and an overwhelming desire for change—and one charismatic president—this doesn’t erase sharp ideological differences between the parties.”

Ornstein continued: “If we had gotten broad bipartisan support [in the ARRA legislation], we would have seen an impact on the economy already. People would have said, ‘See, they are working together.’” Instead, he said, there is dysfunction, which is why he called for finding “a better way to make all of this synergistic, because it’s becoming increasingly clear that our economic problem is a global one.”

He repeated what is fast becoming an administration mantra: You should never waste a crisis. “It’s an opportunity,” he said. “Do what is necessary to deal with the crisis, but in a way to ensure long-term growth.” He then told the audience: “This is where you come in—to use this as an occasion to provide incentives to move to mass transit. This is a great opportunity!”

Ornstein cautioned, however, that agencies should ensure that the money they receive is spent appropriately, and that tight turn-around times not be used as “an excuse to evade checks and balances in the system.”

This is the year, he said, “to lay the foundation—at a time when the need to spend is greater than it’s been. This gives us opportunities for dramatic changes in our social fabric—and how we operate in society.”

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