MTA host Stand Up for Transportation Day

Brandon McDowell tells 41NBC he takes the bus everyday to work.  He, along with other bus riders, attended the free event at the bus terminal.

“It’s crazy that they would even try to just discontinue our bus service,” says McDowell.

There were speeches, a raffle for T-shirts, and various vendors.  But, the festival-like atmosphere was designed to alert people of a more serious issue, according to MTA officials.  Stand-Up for Transportation Day is a national campaign to inform the public of what officials are calling a “long-term transportation funding plight.”  The campaign was held in several cities across the country, urging residents to call on politicians to not cut bus budgets.

“We need to have enough support to where the politicians in Washington will come up with a permanent source of funding for transportation,” continues MTA’s CEO Rick Jones.

U.S. Congress has until May 31 to agree on passing a federal transportation bill that would free up more than two-million dollars for MTA.

“Public transportation has a huge impact on the economy of any city dose not matter the size where transportation goes communities grow,” explains Macon-Bibb County Transportation Authority Chairman, Craig Ross.

MTA officials say they give nearly a million rides per year.

“Some people just need a way to work,” says McDowell. “If they cut the bus line off it’s going to be jeopardizing everybody’s job in Macon.”

For more information on how you can help keep MTA get the federal funds needed to maintain the bus line call 478-803-2520.