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88 A RESOLUTION CALLING UPON THE VIRGINIA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO OPPOSE PROPOSED FEDERAL FUNDING REDUCTIONS FOR URBAN AREA CAPITAL AND OPERATING ASSISTANCE TO THE TIDEWATER TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT COMMISSION. WHEREAS, transit services are of vital importance to a community, especially a central city such as Portsmouth, and are an essential element of a balance transportation system; and WHEREAS, citizens use transit services to access the important activities of their daily lives; and WHEREAS, experience demonstrates that cuts in transit services or increases in fares or both drive more riders from use of transit and hinder transit system effectiveness and efficiency;and WHEREAS, the financial partnership of the Federal and State governments with local transit providers such as the Tidewater Transportation District Commission have been a critical element in the provision of transit service; and ~EREASt the Federal government is contemplating a reduction of 6% in urbanized area formula capital assistance, as well as a reduction of 10% in urbanized area operating assistance; and WHEREAS, local governments are ill-equipped financially to make up shortfalls caused by declines in State and Federal assistance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Portsmouth: Section 1: Deplores the prospective cuts in urbanized area capital and operating assistance being contemplated by the U.S. Congress as running directly counter to the national and local goals of achieving balanced transportation opportunities and a better environment. Section 2: Foresees the direct result of the proposed cuts in Federal assistance being a decrease in transit ridership and the subsequent decrease in the viability of transit systems. Section 3: Anticipates that such ill-considered cuts will inevitably create a greater hardship on those transit dependent riders who can least absorb such blows.