Today’s Headlines — 12/30/08
December 30, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- The Merced Sun-Star pushes for a stimulus that slants green with investments in local transit, high-speed rail, and walking and biking facilites.
- Economist Clifford Winston says Obama needs to reform the way we fund infrastructure in order to make the stimulus effective. (Wall Street Journal)
- House Minority Leader John Boehner signals some early opposition to Obama’s recovery plan. (Chicago Tribune)
- A confluence of factors gives us good reason to put train travel at the center of our transportation policy. (Baltimore Sun)
Today’s Headlines — 12/24/08
December 24, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- Demand for transit remains high in Arkansas. (Northwest Arkansas Times)
- The Washington Post examines the push and pull between creating a quick targeted stimulus and building out modern, green infrastructure. (Washington Post)
- While the recession has kept gas prices low for the time being, an increased awareness and sense of urgency is helping to keep up the pressure for a better energy policy. (Los Angeles Times)
Today’s Headlines — 12/23/08
December 23, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- A consumer advocate in Washington make the case for a transit-heavy stimulus package. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
- The new light-rail system in Phoenix, which opens this weekend, could be key for the region’s future success. (Arizona Republic)
- The economic crisis forces states to put big road projects on the back-burner. (New York Times)
- In a tough holiday season, Americans looking to save up cash can leave their gas-guzzler at home. (Wall Street Journal)
Today’s Headlines — 12/22/08
December 22, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- House Representative James Oberstar looks to direct $30 billion towards roads and $12 billion towards mass transit in the federal stimulus. (Wall Street Journal)
- An efficient and comprehensive public transportation system could make Indianapolis a world-class city. (Indianapolis Star)
- Members of Congress press the White House to include support for transit agencies in the auto bailout. (Washington Post)
- The U.S. Department of Transportation searches for private backers of high-speed rail. (Chicago Tribune)
- The National Journal asks what are the biggest challenges ahead for new transportation secretary Ray LaHood.
How will your state spend its transportation stimulus?
December 19, 2008By Stephen Lee Davis
updated: 01/13/09 12:00 pm
As Congress works to craft an economic stimulus that can help get our economy out of a rut, will the spending just dig a bigger ditch?
The numbers for the proposed economic stimulus package keep increasing. Congress and the incoming administration both expect that tens of billions of dollars in the package will be targeted for transportation. Where does your state want to spend the money? We’re starting to get a picture, and at the moment, many of the answers don’t match what’s needed.
As part of developing the stimulus, states have been asked to develop lists of transportation projects that could be “ready to go” if funds were available. Transportation for America has gathered a handful of these lists from state departments of transportation, and the lists thus far suggest some real problems.
(Note: The lists we have received are not all complete, and some other projects may be funded directly by Governors or from other budgets. Refer to your state directly for the final word.)
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Today’s Headlines — 12/19/08
December 19, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- Chicago considers a ‘congestion reduction’ parking fee to encourage less driving downtown. (Chicago Sun-Times)
- The Boston Globe examines whether the stimulus could lay the foundation for a 21st century transportation program.
- The prolonged drop in gas prices offers little help for the slumping economy. (Business Week)
- Obama and Congressional Democrats look at an $850 billion economic stimulus. (Washington Post)
Release: Obama must back up rhetoric on “green” recovery with an empowered Transportation Secretary.
December 18, 2008By Stephen Lee Davis
Washington — Geoff Anderson, Co-Chair for the Transportation for America campaign, today issued a statement in advance of President-elect Barack Obama’s announcement of a Secretary of Transportation:
“Tomorrow’s announcement of the next Secretary of Transportation is perhaps more important and historic than it has ever been before. With America on the brink of a new chapter for economic and energy progress, the next Secretary of Transportation will play a critical and powerful role in our nation’s future.
Congressman LaHood has a commendable record of reaching across the aisle to find compromise that leads to progress for our nation, and we look forward to working with him as he enters what will surely be a challenging role. Come January 2009, the Department of Transportation will be the linchpin in the effort to stimulate our economy and create jobs through what President-elect Obama has called “the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s.” In addition, the Secretary will face demands like none we’ve seen before: the need to rethink how we finance transportation as driving habits and vehicles change and gasoline consumption drops; convulsions in the airline industry; the resurrection of passenger rail service; and many more.
The transformation of our national transportation system is critical to meeting the President-elect’s goals for a financially strong and clean-energy future. This is why Transportation for America — a coalition of housing, real estate, environmental, public health, urban planning and transportation organizations committed to moving America into the 21st Century by building a modernized infrastructure — stands ready to support Secretary LaHood in any effort to help navigate this unprecedented opportunity.”
Contact:
Cosa Bullock
202-478-6128
cbullock@mrss.com
Speaker Pelosi supports “Building For America”
December 18, 2008By Stephen Lee Davis
Smart transportation investments will produce a three-for-one win for America: a stronger economy, less dependence on oil, and reduced emissions of climate-harming carbon. With the support of activists (like many of you) sending emails and making calls to legislators — we’ve been trying to make this case to other leaders on Capitol Hill throughout the month of December. We picked up a lot of momentum over the last few months of the year, but much of it began back in October.
In October, we released Build For America, our five-point plan to strengthen the economy through smart transportation and infrastructure investment. Its release was the official kickoff for Transportation For America, with events across the country highlighting the report’s release.
At the San Francisco Build For America event, we were honored to have Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi join us.
In her speech, she endorsed Transportation for America’s call for smart investment in public transportation to kick-start the economy, telling the crowd assembled that “I am pleased to join the Transportation for America coalition this morning to call attention to our country’s need to rebuild and renew our transportation system.”
A few more of her remarks, which you can read in full here:
Rebuilding America is a national security issue. 90% of our oil imports are used for transportation. With investments in public transportation, more efficient roadways, and increased access to broadband that removes commuters from roads, we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce its implications on our foreign policy.
Rebuilding America is an economic issue. By improving our efficiency, we improve our competitiveness, create the next generation of good-paying jobs and strengthen our economy here at home.
Rebuilding America is an environmental issue. Making greener choices will bring us cleaner air and water, reduce sprawl and congestion, and cut greenhouse gases, to the benefit of the American people and our planet.
The Transportation for America coalition will play a crucial role in building support for investment in transportation infrastructure as Congress moves forward with reauthorization of surface transportation programs in the coming year.
While recognizing the need to maintain our current infrastructure, you are highlighting the importance of diversifying our transportation options to reduce the focus on driving and increase our options for bus and rail transit, walking, biking, and transit-oriented development.
Our thanks to the Speaker. We hope she’ll be leading the way for a smart economic stimulus package that can boost the economy by prioritizing repairs to existing roads and bridges, and investing in rail, public transportation, and streets safe for walking and biking.
Today’s Headlines — 12/18/08
December 18, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- Obama selects Illinois Republican Congressman Ray LaHood for transportation secretary. (Chicago Tribune)
- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City approves big budget cuts and plans for service reductions.
- The State of Texas has some looming transportation needs — $313 billion through the year 2030. (Houston Chronicle)
- Missouri’s list of transportation projects for the federal stimulus needs some major revisions. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Why Jackson, MS needs better transit and complete streets
December 17, 2008By Stephen Lee Davis
As you’ve (hopefully) seen on the front page, we’ve been asking for your photos of anything transportation-related in your community, and you’ve responded with photos of new light rail vehicles in Phoenix, bike boxes in Portland, Safe Routes to School in Ohio, and many others that are being spotlighted on the front page and in the sidebar just to your right.
But we especially wanted to share this story and photos we received yesterday from Dr. Scott Crawford in Jackson, MS. Hit the jump to continue.
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- Atlanta-area transit system 14 days from shutting down, 2 million rides disappearing
March 17, 2010 - U.S. Transportation Department makes good on promise to ensure our streets are made safer
March 16, 2010 - Obama’s livability programs help rural America too
March 16, 2010 - Transit grants out the federal door, but what about the cuts?
March 8, 2010 - Transit riders in Atlanta face massive cuts, “wholesale restructuring” of service
March 5, 2010
- Atlanta-area transit system 14 days from shutting down, 2 million rides disappearing
The United States of Transit Cutbacks
Driving is down and transit ridership is at record highs. Yet transit agencies across the country are considering layoffs, service cuts and fare hikes. Find out more and learn what you can do to help at t4america.org/transitcuts
Transportation: In your eyes
Send us your transportation-related photos.
