House Approves $237M For City Transit System

WASHINGTON — The House approved financial help Thursday to mass transit systems in New York and elsewhere facing a surge in riders because of high gas prices. The House voted 322-98 to authorize $1.7 billion over the next two years to lower fares and expand operations as more riders flock to public transit. New York City will get $237 million of that, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a Manhattan Democrat, said.

The transit measure, which must still be considered by the Senate, marks the first time federal money would be used to support local mass transit operating costs.