By Ron Thaniel
June 23, 2003

At a Monday June 9 Plenary Session, Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn addressed the Mayors on the importance of transit investment to the continued growth of America's cities.

Thanking the mayors for their central role in "increasing public transportation ridership by 28 percent over the past six years" Dorn noted that the mayors of the nation understand the importance of public transportation.

Highlighting economic development, Dorn said, "businesses go where there is good public transportation."

"Today more than half of the nation's fortune 500 hundred companies are located in America's most transit intensified cities," said Dorn.

Further highlighting the importance of transit investment, Dorn said "a recent national survey found that for high tech companies making location decisions proximity to public transportation was second in importance only to computer bandwidth."

State and local governments realize a 4 to 16 percent gain in business and personal tax growth as a result of a good public transportation investment.

"The fact is that public transportation spurs economic growth," said Dorn.

Introducing Administrator Dorn was Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory stating "transportation is an integral part of our economic development and also an integral part of protecting our environment."