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They're often at odds, but on Monday the Metropolitan Transportation Atuhority and the Transport Workers Union joined forces with several members of Congress to blast a bill in the House of Representatives that would cut off dedicated federal funding for mass transit systems nationwide.

The MTA says it would lose a billion dollars a year.

“This is draconian and unacceptable. It's a blow to mass transit which will result in disastrous changes to millions of New Yorkers,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler.

The bill would end 30 years of using part of the federal Highway Trust Fund for mass transit projects. Republican sponsors say the trust fund is nearly insolvent because drivers with fuel efficient cars are buying less gas. Only roads, bridges and tunnels would get funding, helping rural areas at the expense of cities.

“We have people shooting dice with the economy of the city and state of New York,” said Congressman Charles Rangel.

The MTA says it depends on the money to cover a quarter of the cost of maintaining the system, including repairing track and buying buses.

“If we don't get the monies necessary to do the repair and renovations of the system, it will raise fares,” said Joseph Lhota, chairman and CEO of the MTA.

If the bill passes, mass transit systems would have to push for federal funding every year.

Opponents say it would slow projects like the Second Avenue subway and could put thousands of jobs at risk.

They say the bill is designed to hit New York, which has a third of all mass transit riders in the country.

“It is unfair, it is wrong, it has to stop,” said Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.

Opponents say there is little chance the president would sign a measure that would eliminate dedicated funding for mass transit, but they aren't taking any chances. They want the public to speak out against the House bill.