Unions, groups seek $111.3b in US transportation assistance

Unions and trade groups are seeking at least $111.3b in additional government assistance to rescue the struggling US transportation sector hit hard by the collapse in travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Reuters review of funding requests. The groups seek: $39.3b in emergency funding for public transit systems sought by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and several transportation unions; $40b for US motorcoach, school bus and passenger vessel and ferry companies; $15b sought by aviation unions to keep airline employees in their jobs after March 30, when the latest government assistance package expires; and $17b sought by Airports Council International–North America and the American Association of Airport Executives in a previously unreported Jan. 13 letter to help “pay for debt service on their bonds, (and) keep their critical health, safety, and security projects on track.” Congress has approved $39b since March 2020 to aid transit systems, including $14b in December. It awarded $40b to date in payroll assistance for US airlines, $12b for airports and airport concessionaires and $2b for bus and vessel industries.<br/>