·         Reduced funding may lead to fare increases and service cuts around state, just as transit ridership reaches all time record levels

·         Governor cites state deficit as reason for redirecting transportation funds to other state budgets

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – The city of Santa Monica is urging Westside residents to show their support for public transportation by contacting their local representatives to voice concern over additional planned cuts to the state's already ravaged transportation budget.

The proposed cuts involve diverting nearly all of the nearly $1.4 billion in state funds dedicated to transit to shore up other budgets within the state's General Fund currently experiencing deficits. If adopted, this proposal would bring the total siphoned from the Public Transportation Account this decade to more than $4 billion.

The Big Blue Bus could lose as much as $3.5 million if the proposed cuts are approved at a time when gas prices are at record highs and ridership has increased by 7.1 percent. Cuts of this nature would prevent the Big Blue Bus from adding additional buses to overcrowded lines and hamper any new services.

"People all over Los Angeles and other parts of the state are flocking to public transit because of spiraling, out of control gas prices," said Stephanie Negriff, director of transit services for the Big Blue Bus. "People need to have transit options that don't involve driving a car to help them economically with the rising cost of gas as well as to help our fragile environment. If only 10 percent of all trips made throughout the U.S. were made on public transit, we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil by close to 40 percent. Think what that would mean to the economy and to the environment."

"We are urging everyone, whether you take public transit or not, to write or call your state representatives and ask them to put an immediate stop to the planned transportation cuts in California," said Negriff. "We need the public's help to get this critical message across that transit funds that have been voted on and protected over and over again by the people should be used for transit only and not as a band-aid to help the state budget."

This latest action by the Governor and legislature follows last year's decision to permanently reduce state transit program funding by diverting 50 percent of the revenue from the sales tax on gasoline (called "spillover" funds) into the General Fund to offset other budget problems.

Up until last year, 100 percent of spillover funds had been allocated for use by transit agencies, the use of which has been overwhelmingly and repeatedly approved by voters over the past 30 years.

Negriff emphasized that residents who don't own a car, the elderly and the disabled will be especially hard hit by any cut backs in service or possible fare increases.

"People depend on low cost and effective public transportation every day to go to work and school, to keep medical appointments, to shop for food, and to take care of other everyday needs. It will be devastating to a large number of people if we continue losing these funds."

"That's why it's so important to let your voice be heard, because people can make a difference in these matters."

The public can voice their opinions about the transportation budget cuts by contacting State Senator Sheila Kuehl at senator.kuehl@sen.ca.gov or 310-441-9084, or District Assemblywoman Julia Brownley at Assemblymember.Brownley@assembly.ca.gov or 310-395-3414.

For media inquiries, please contact Dan Dawson at 310-458-1975 x5831, dan.dawson@smgov.net or Francine Pares at 949-481-7559, fpares@intelibrand.com.

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About the Big Blue Bus

The Big Blue Bus operates a fleet of over 200 energy efficient vehicles, transporting more than 80,000 passengers a day across a nearly 52-square mile service area. Nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to a cleaner environment, the entire fleet operates on alternative fuels, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), which helps to cut emissions by over 80 percent. Serving Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area since 1928, the Big Blue Bus has an 86 percent on-time performance record and has won numerous national awards for its customer service, safety and efficiency.