The Alaska Mobility Coalition (AMC) is a statewide coalition of transit advocates and providers.  The Coalition's priorities for FY 2010 state budget is to ensure:

*Safe and cost effective rides for all - including seniors, persons with disabilities, youth and low income Alaskans;

*Stable funding for existing community transportation systems; and

*Support for the development of sustainable community transportation systems across Alaska.

1.  Fuel Reimbursement for Alaska's Transit Providers - $1 million

Rising fuel costs are putting all Alaska transportation systems into financial peril, forcing systems to cut back on hours, levels of service and raise fees beyond that which low income riders can support.

In June 2008, the Alaska Mobility Coalition conducted a survey of transit systems across the state. Alaska's transit systems have seen an increase of 5-7% in ridership or 325,000 rides.  However, the ridership increase has been offset by rising fuel costs which have increased 30% in the last twelve months.  Rising fuel costs are placing all of Alaska's transit systems in financial peril, forcing transit providers to cut back on hours, levels of service and raise fees and fares beyond that which low income riders can afford.

AMC recommends that the Alaska Legislature include a provision to support the fuel costs for local transit providers with up to one million dollars to offset the rising fuel costs for local transit providers.

2.  State Capital Funding Match for Community Transportation Systems - $2.5 million

Alaska is one of only two states in the country that do not provide state funds for transit services.  Like federal highway funds, federal transit funds require a percentage of matching funds.  Alaska's general fund "match" would bring in the maximum possible federal transit funding into the state.  For every dollar of state money provided for transit, another four dollars is generated from federal funds.

AMC proposes $2.5 million in the capital budget in FY10 for statewide transit programs.

The funds would be used to match federal funds to purchase new buses and other transit-related capital equipment.  In order to use the state resources efficiently, we recommend a 10% match requirement for the state transit funds.

3.  Alaska Community Transportation Trust Fund - $20 million

According to a survey conducted by Hays and Associates over the summer of 2008, 61% of Alaskans support the use of the state's budget surplus to fund community transportation in the state.  The Alaska Mobility Coalition supports a proposal from the Anchorage Assembly to create a statewide trust fund for community transportation systems in the state.  The demand for community transportation is growing in the state and we believe that this is a good first step.