All posts from the month of December 2008
20th Century Transportation System, 21st Century Driving Habits
December 17, 2008By Andrew Bielak
When gas prices exploded this summer, it wasn’t hard to notice that Americans were changing their habits. Our streets were dominated with bikers and pedestrians; our mass transit systems packed with commuters looking to save time and money; and our driveways were full with unused cars as millions of us found easier, cheaper ways to get to work or go to the grocery store.
But if you know anyone who still has their doubts about just how much our country has cut back on driving — and just how long we’ve been doing it for — be sure to show them this new report from the Washington, D.C. think tank The Brookings Institution.
There’s a whole lot of data and analysis available if you want to read the whole report, but for someone looking to get a general idea of what’s happening on our roads, this first sentence really says it all:
Driving, as measured by national VMT[vehicle miles traveled], began to plateau as far back as 2004 and dropped in 2007 for the first time since 1980. Per capita driving followed a similar pattern, with flat-lining growth after 2000 and falling rates since 2005. These recent declines in driving predated the steady hikes in gas prices during 2007 and 2008. Moreover, the recent drops in VMT (90 billion miles) and VMT per capita (388 miles) are the largest annualized drops since World War II.
Combine those numbers with our skyrocketing demand for transit, and it seems pretty clear what Americans want — clean, green infrastructure, and a complete transportation system that gives us plenty of options for getting around.
Today’s Headlines — 12/17/08
December 17, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- Atlanta’s transit agency struggles to avoid big cuts in service that might be needed plug a $60 million budget hole. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
- Massachusetts faces a multitude of transportation woes. (Boston Globe)
- A stimulus plan from the America 2050 initiative calls for an accountable recovery that mixes a fix-it-first approach with long-term strategic goals. (New York Times)
- A “blank-check” approach to distributing stimulus funds could hinder Obama’s goal of investing in green infrastructure… (Bloomberg)
- …But directing some of those funds directly to city and regional agencies, and not just states, could help make for a more equitable and green recovery. (Streetsblog)
Today’s Headlines — 12/15/08
December 15, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- A new finding confirms what we all know — people are healthier in nations where walking, biking. and riding mass transit are the norm. (Associated Press)
- As New York’s population has grown in recent years, the city’s mass transit system — not its roads — has absorbed the extra residents. (New York Times)
- A provision included in the $700 billion bailout will give cyclists a $20 monthly benefit starting January 1, but employers are struggling to figure the system out. (Chicago Tribune)
- With officials looking to jump start the economy and create jobs immediately, small-scale, ready-to-go projects are expected to be a big component of the stimulus. (Washington Post)
- The open-ended nature of the stimulus discussion leaves a wide variety of groups pushing for a wide variety of plans. (Los Angeles Times)
- The Boston Globe looks at gas-consuming habits in Europe. where high taxes and fuel-efficient vehicles help draw down demand for fuel. (Boston Globe)
Today’s Headlines 12/12/08
December 12, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- The auto bailout sinks in the Senate, but the White House looks for news ways to save U.S. automakers with federal funds. (New York Times)
- With gas prices dropping, Americans continued to drive fewer miles in October…(Associated Press)
- … Helping to cut road fatalities by 10 percent nationwide. (USA Today)
- The New York Times looks at the dangers seniors deal with when walking the city’s streets.
- Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk could become transportation secretary under Obama. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Today’s Headlines — 12/11/08
December 11, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- While 2007 was the biggest year for transit in 50 years, 2008 is set to break even more records. (Los Angeles Times)
- The auto bailout passes in the U.S. House, but could face opposition from Republicans in the Senate. (New York Times)
- Montana Senator Max Baucus works to block a provision in the bailout that would rescue transit agencies trapped in financial deals gone bad. (Dow Jones)
- A former chief economist at the labor department says an effective stimulus plan would repair existing infrastructure first and bring long-term benefits. (Reuters)
- …And a writer for CNN agrees.
- The Center for American Progress makes the case for green jobs and infrastructure.
Obama and Congress must back up rhetoric on “green” recovery package.
December 10, 2008By Transportation for America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2008
Contact: Cosa Bullock, 202-478-6128
cbullock@mrss.com
TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICA: OBAMA AND CONGRESS MUST BACK UP RHETORIC ON “GREEN” RECOVERY PACKAGE
National Coalition applauds Obama’s call for accountability and reduced oil dependence in making the ‘single largest new investment’ since the federal highway system, but warns that a rush to road-building could undermine those goals
| Download this Release (.pdf) |
Washington – The Transportation for America Campaign today applauded President-elect Barack Obama’s Oct. 6 proposal to “create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s.” But this national coalition cautions that rhetoric alone will not be enough to move our country forward out of the current economic crisis.
Specifically, as part of the economic recovery package the President-elect is expected to sign on day one, Transportation for America is calling for a $100 billion investment to:
- Repair and preserve highways, bridges and existing public transportation service, and the green jobs associated with it;
- Build modern rail and rapid bus lines and upgrade all forms of service in cities large and small;
- Develop high-speed and other forms of inter-city rail; and
- Make streets safe for walking and biking.
“If we spend this money the right way,” said Geoff Anderson, co-chair of the Transportation for America Campaign, “we should get a three-for-one-return on our investment: a revitalized economy well positioned for long-term prosperity; less dependence on oil; and a reduction in climate-damaging emissions — all of which will help America compete and thrive.”
In his Saturday address, Obama pledged to “invest your precious tax dollars in new and smarter ways” while measuring progress “by the jobs we create, by the energy we save, by whether America is more competitive in the world.”
However, even as Obama spoke, state Departments of Transportation offered up project lists that are merely more of the same — a focus on paving roads rather then fixing and improving what we already have. This random collection of road widenings and resurfacing projects is unlikely to lead a “green” recovery built on a 21st century transportation network.
Accordingly, central to this economic recovery package must be a strategy for fixing what’s broken first, building out green infrastructure and maintaining transparency.
“Now that the national highways system has been built, federal resources and attention must go to making a down payment on a bold national transportation mission,” said Anderson. “This means not only fixing our crumbling bridges and highways but also increasing support for the cleanest forms of transportation — public transit, high speed rail, walking and biking.”
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Transportation for America is a broad coalition of housing, environmental, public health, urban planning, transportation and other organizations focused on creating a 21st Century national transportation program. T4’s goal is to build a modernized infrastructure and healthy communities where people can live, work and play by aligning national, state, and local transportation policies with an array of issues like economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development. www.transportationforamerica.org
Today’s Headlines — 12/10/08
December 10, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- A provision in the auto bailout bill would protect transit agencies from financial fallout resulting from soured private sector agreements. (Wall Street Journal)
- The prolonged slump in oil prices could give Obama a window to raise the gas tax. (Christian Science Monitor)
- While officials in Texas have found plenty of ready-to-go transportation projects to submit for consideration in the stimulus, critics wonder if some of the better projects are getting left in the dust. (Dallas Morning News)
- Thomas Friedman argues for strict regulations to ensure our economic recovery goes green. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
- The Wall Street Journal looks at the shaping of the stimulus bill, noting that the administration faces an “entrenched status quo” that favors highways when funding transportation infrastructure.
Today’s Headlines — 12/09/08
December 9, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- The Washington Post tells Congress to make transit a priority in the economic recovery act.
- The federal stimulus package could bring some much-needed good news for transportation funding in Maryland and Virginia. (Washington Post)
- The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials pushes for $64 billion for roads and bridges in the next stimulus, without offering many specifics. (CNN)
- Urban expert Neal Peirce says that the upcoming stimulus should empower metropolitan planning agencies, help us protect the environment, and increase equity. (Seattle Times)
- David Brooks wonders if Obama can capitalize on emerging development patterns and help create a more modern network of roads and transit systems. (New York Times)
- The Bush administration and Congress work out the details of a $15-billion bailout for the auto industry. (Associated Press)
Transportation For America on economic recovery and infrastructure
December 8, 2008By Andrew Bielak
With President-elect Barack Obama pledging tens of billions of dollars for infrastructure in the upcoming economic recovery package and Congress preparing for the expiration of the current federal transportation bill next October, there can be little doubt that 2009 is going to be a big year for our roads, bridges, and mass transit systems.
To stay on top of these issues, be sure to check out the National Journal’s new “expert blog” on transportation, an online venue which gives some of nation’s strongest voices on transportation an opportunity to discuss the future of America’s transportation program.
This week, moderator Lisa Caruso has asked contributors to offer their recommendations on how the Obama administration should spend money on infrastructure in next year’s economic stimulus bill. Transportation for America Co-chair Geoff Anderson offered some sound advice in a post this morning:
The key goals of this investment should be to preserve America’s existing highway and transit networks, while giving our growing nation more options for getting around, in turn allowing Americans to use less gasoline. If we spend this money the right way, we should get a three-for-one-return on our investment: A revitalized economy positioned for long-term health; less dependence on oil; and a reduction in climate-damaging emissions.
We can get there by investing $100 billion to repair and preserve highways, bridges and existing public transportation service; build modern rail and rapid bus lines and upgrading all forms of service in cities large and small; develop high-speed and other forms of inter-city rail; and make streets safe for walking and biking.
With nationally prominent politicians like Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and prominent industry members like outgoing transportation secretary Mary Peters signed up to contribute, expect to see plenty of robust debate — along with some fresh perspective from Transportation For America’s coalition — at the expert blog in the upcoming months.
Introducing the Streetsblog Network
December 8, 2008By Stephen Lee Davis
From the confines of Washington, DC, it can be easy to forget that transportation is ultimately a local issue for each of us. While the decisions made in Washington reverberate across the country, we ultimately care most about the quality of the streets we use, the quality of our commute, the choices for travel that have (or do not have), and whether or not our state or city has wisely invested in transportation. So how does an interested advocate living on Main Street — from Maine to Oregon — connect to the others locally who care about 21st Century transportation?
Enter the newly-formed Streetsblog Network, brought to you by the same team that publishes Streetsblog NYC and LA. You may already know Streetsblog as the voice of livable streets and sustainable transportation in New York City, where they work hard to demonstrate how a city “enjoyed best on foot,” continues to design their streets principally for cars.
Transportation For America has partnered with them to help bring you the Streetsblog Network. The network pulls together more than 150 blogs (and growing!) from across the country that focus on the same issues of sustainable transportation and livable streets and cities.
Every member of the network is someone who blogs from a local perspective. We’re writing about different cities, but we’re talking to similar audiences and working towards similar goals. Together, we reach a weekly national readership that must number well into the hundreds of thousands.
…If there is going to be a grassroots movement for change in local and federal transportation policy, then our readers will be among the most active and knowledgeable participants in that movement. By connecting with each other and the T4America campaign, we can have a substantial impact.
Each day, they scan the network and pull out a top story for everyone to read, along with 4-6 other top picks that are worth highlighting. There’s a Google map that you can use to find the blogs in your area, and all of the rest of the posts are continually updated below the map. You can also tag photos on Flickr or videos on YouTube to share on the site.
If you’re running a blog that would be a great addition, visit the site and find out more information about joining the network. And by becoming a member of the network, you’ll get frequent special news releases and other items directly from us at Transportation For America that you can highlight on your own blog.
Visit the Streetsblog Network, find the blogs in your area, and get more engaged today.
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- Saving a transit system and turning the tide for the future of a mid-sized city
May 15, 2012 - U.S. communities step up, hoping a strong federal commitment to infrastructure will follow
May 10, 2012 - Graphic: A closer look at the Senate MAP-21 vote by state
March 27, 2012 - Fixing the House bill: Cutting regulatory burdens and bureaucracy
March 15, 2012 - Fixing the House bill: reducing air pollution by providing more travel options
March 13, 2012
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