Riders across the Bay Area rely on BART for safe, efficient and frequent service. However, as public budgets shrink, it has become harder and harder for the system to meet the needs of every customer. But there is a way we can change this.

Under current federal law, only transit systems in cities with fewer than 200,000 people can use federal transit funds to keep fares down and to actually operate buses and subways to keep public transportation running.

This fiscal flexibility helps these systems weather financial storms while maintaining a level of service that ensures sustainability.

Our community is much too large, and BART may only use federal transit dollars for capital expenses -- building new stations and buying new vehicles.

However, BART faces the same pressure as any public transit agency -- to maintain the safe and efficient service many riders count on while balancing staffing, services and fares.

There is a solution. The Local Flexibility for Transit Assistance Act (HR 3200), was introduced by Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-Mo, Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, and nearly 90 others.

Not only does this legislation provide all transit systems with the option to use a portion of their federal funds to keep buses and trains running, but it also provides flexibility for transit systems to keep fares low during tough economic times and provide funding to ensure staffing meets increased demand.

If passed, HR

Congress announced plans to pass the federal surface transportation bill before Christmas. This is great news to local agencies like BART and AC Transit. It will allow us to preserve critical service and hold down fares during tough economic times so that working people can have quality, affordable public transportation.

If passed, HR 3200 would provide transit systems a way to deal with an economic "crisis" period, like the one we are in now or when the national price of gas rises substantially, as was the case last year.

It also provides much-needed local control to maximize funding where it is needed most.

Mass transit is in crisis across the nation because the recession has reduced local revenue available for transit. Riders face numerous challenges each and every day. Over the past two years, 84 percent of transit systems have raised fares, cut service or are considering either measures in the near future, according to the American Public Transportation Association.

Mass transit is in dire need of investment and flexible funding to meet our difficult economic times through innovative solutions.

Public transit is at its most cost-effective when local transit systems can control how funds are spent. When we support public transportation, we help our nation dig out of this deep recession.

We need this bill. After all, what good are shiny new buses if they are sitting idle in a parking lot while you, or some member of your family, are out at the BART stop waiting ... and waiting?

The people of the Bay Area want and deserve reliable and affordable public transportation that can get them safely to and from work, school and other tasks. The riders and public need to get behind this bill, and the time to act is now.

We urge our local elected officials to support HR 3200.

Antonette Bryant is president and business agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1555, representing 900 front-line BART employees including transit operators, station agents and foreworkers. More information can be found at www.atu1555.org. ATU 1555 is affiliated with the California AFL-CIO.