In all, the region has five different streetcar proposals, which would cost an estimated $4.2 billion and would compete with other areas for federal transit funding.

Shift the 80/20 imbalance in federal funding favoring highways over transit to include a significantly higher proportion of transit funding.

In 1978, the City of Fairmont began to cut funding and managed to exclude transit funding entirely.

In addition to membership service, the ATU engages in politics, promoting such causes as increased transit funding, energy independence, and the maintenance of a publicly funded Social Security system.

In turn, these community-based campaigns will nurture coalitions and build grassroots support for increased flexibility in federal and state transit funding, reducing fares and improving access to transit.

He was quoted as saying, "We are not going to let the village of East Garafraxa determine how public transit funding is distributed in Toronto".

Miller later described Harper's 2007 budget as a "step backwards", criticizing its lack of revenues for long-term transit funding and permanent infrastructure.

The vast majority of federal highway and transit funding is distributed directly to states, local governments and transportation authorities by formulas, with projects selected at the state or local level.

"I can't imagine this president winning this state, or certainly this city, after reducing funds for schools, cutting fire and police, the essential services that we need, gutting mass transit funding," he said.

This goal has partially been achieved through Proposition 400, which converts transit funding from city-based to county-based.