William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association, issed the following statement on the Federal Transportation Program Shutdown:

"On behalf of the more than 1,400 members of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), I call on Congress to quickly vote for an extension of federal funding for public transportation and highway programs.

Transportation is the economic backbone of the United States. Letting federal funding for transportation programs expire, at a time when jobs are a national priority, is unthinkable. Now, as a result of the inability to extend federal aid legislation, more Americans will be out of work. This is not in the best interest of our country.

From the public transit side, this means that the Federal Transit Administration cannot make payments for transit projects underway and cannot process new applications. Transportation investments should not be delayed while the economy suffers.