Obama and Congress Approve Debt Ceiling Deal and Deficit Reduction; Public Transportation Impacts Varied

This week, Congress passed, and the President signed, legislation to protect the full faith and credit of the federal government and prevent a default. Both the House and Senate adjourned for the August recess. APTA strongly encourages its members to speak with their respective members of Congress while they are at home in their districts and invite them to their facilities to see the real-world impacts of potential cuts to public transportation. Read the full Legislative Alert.

Nominations to Business Member Board of Governors

With the selection of Michael P. Melaniphy as the next President of APTA, there is a vacant vice chair position on APTA's Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG). Accordingly, nominations for that position are now being accepted. Nominations need to be submitted by 5 p.m. EST on Aug. 15.

The BMBG nominations committee will include this position, as well as the nominated candidates for seats on the BMBG, in its recommended slate that will be elected by APTA's business members during the Annual Meeting and EXPO in New Orleans on Oct. 2.

SAVE THE DATE

Have you registered for the Annual Meeting and EXPO yet? You don't want to be late! The opening session will feature speaker Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class and Who's Your City ?. You won't want to miss his thoughts on creativity, the economy, and competitiveness and growth. Register now to hear Florida and everything else the 2011 Annual Meeting and EXPO has to offer Oct. 2-5.

IN THE MEDIA

Everyone has heard the phrase, "You have to spend money to make money," and even more true is that you have to invest in infrastructure or nobody makes money. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce warns that neglecting our decaying public infrastructure has serious consequences.

Gunfire, explosions, and the batbus? The Port Authority of Allegheny County and Beaver County Transit Authority are taking it all in stride. They have been focused on bus rerouting and rescheduling to accommodate road closures for the newest Batman movie, which is currently being filmed in Pittsburgh.  

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Metro Divas play the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. They fill their days with making sure area citizens get around town, but in their free time they like to do a little entertaining as well.