Transportation leaders stood up for transportation at the American Public Transportation Association’s “SU4T Day” press conference at LA Metro headquarters Thursday to urge Congress to reauthorize the often-delayed federal transportation bill. Many expressed thanks for the Measure R sales tax that continues to provide local money for transportation projects even when the future of federal funding is so uncertain, and also noted that Measure R has been useful in leveraging significant federal “matching” funds.

Move LA Executive Director Denny Zane was among those who called on members of Congress to get their act together: “We think there are lessons to be learned in Washington that we have already learned here in LA County,” Denny said. “It is time to find common ground – and to stop posturing and start authorizing!” Denny was referring to the business-labor-environmental coalition that came together to support passage of the Measure R sales tax – unlikely partners who are more often at odds, except when it comes to transportation

It should be noted that incoming LA Metro CEO Philip Washington, currently CEO of the Denver Regional Transportation District, is the chair of the American Public Transportation Association. It should also be noted that transportation leaders in LA County are considering passage of another sales tax measure, which at Move LA we like to call Measure R2.

Read more about problems with the federal reauthorization.