All posts from the month of February 2010
Today’s Headlines – 2/18/10
February 18, 2010By Transportation for America
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is still fired up about TIGER grants. (DOT Blog)
Local transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area are set to benefit greatly from the Obama administration’s rejection of a proposed $70 million airport connector. (Merc-News)
California Senator Barbara Boxer said it was “critical” to approve an infrastructure-focused jobs bill. (Hill)
Driving in Washington DC has not been easy recently, partly the result of the snow-induced postponement of pothole repair. (WP)
And, Forbes Magazine ranked America’s best and worst cities for commuters – Salt Lake City and Rochester scored well, while Tampa and Detroit ranked toward the bottom. (Forbes)
TIGER Grants Offer Critical Support to Communities with Innovative Transportation Projects
February 17, 2010By Transportation for America
Merit-based program an excellent model for the next transportation authorization
The Obama Department of Transportation today broke historic ground in unveiling projects chosen in a first-ever program to award federal dollars on a competitive basis to innovative projects that address economic, environmental and travel issues at once.
The 51 projects announced under the TIGER grant program, funded by $1.5 billion included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), meet a broad array of challenges, including:
- Bridge replacements in Oklahoma, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Indiana that can support multiple modes of travel;
- Port and freight-rail projects to spur economic growth in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, Hawaii, Pennsylvania and Ohio;
- Modern streetcar construction to support vibrant urban corridors in Tucson, Dallas, Portland and New Orleans and light rail in Detroit;
- Innovative highway funding and operations in Texas, North Carolina, Colorado, South Carolina and Arkansas;
- Bicycle and pedestrian networks in Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and a complete streets project in Dubuque, IA;
- The long-awaited rebirth of New York’s former Penn Station as Moynihan Station.
“These are the kinds of projects that will create good paying jobs, spur local economic development, revive our city centers and create regional integrated transportation solutions,” said John Robert Smith, the co-chair of T4 America and former Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi. “Today’s announcement clearly shows the administration’s commitment to supporting livability initiatives in metropolitan regions, smaller communities and rural areas alike.”
A complete list of recipients can be found on the US DOT press release.
Project applications had to show multiple benefits, with priority give to these criteria: 1) that projects improve the condition of existing facilities and systems, 2) contribute to the economic competitiveness of the U.S. over the medium- to long-term, 3) improve the quality of living and working environments for people, 4) improve energy efficiency, reduce dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and benefit the environment, and 5) improve public safety.
Secretary LaHood spoke from Kansas City, showcasing the city’s Green Impact Zone, an area of high unemployment and concentrated poverty that is being revitalized with green buildings, clean transportation options including public transportation and bicycle and pedestrian projects.
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood noted that the program was extraordinarily sought-after, garnering 1,400 applications totaling nearly $60 billion for the $1.5 billion pot. “The sheer popularity of this ground-breaking approach is testament to how many states and localities are struggling to build innovative projects that simply don’t happen under the pre-existing program,” Mayor Smith said.
“We hope this is a glimpse of what the next transportation authorization could look like,” Smith added. “Congress needs to build on this success and authorize the surface transportation program along similar lines to support innovation and integrated transportation solutions in communities of all sizes.”
T4 jobs proposal would create nearly half a million jobs, according to Economic Policy Institute
February 17, 2010By Sean Barry
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| Photo: Dan Burden |
The Economic Policy Institute ran the numbers on Transportation for America’s jobs proposal and concluded that our plan for increased transportation spending would create 480,000 jobs.
The Senate’s first jobs bill currently has no money for transportation, other than a transfer of general fund dollars to cover the looming gap in the Highway Trust Fund while extending the transportation bill (SAFETEA-LU) until the end of the year. (Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is said to be planning several separate bills, one of which may focus on transportation).
Our proposed package for Congress directs $34.3 billion toward a mix of public transportation, highways and bicycle and pedestrian projects, closely resembling EPI’s own plan. Our proposal contains roughly $16 billion for transit, $8.1 billion for the Surface Transportation Program (highways), $9.8 billion for competitive grants (like the TIGER grants announced today) and $1.5 billion for Active Transportation such as bike and pedestrian facilities to make walking and biking safer and more attractive.
(View the full detailed T4 America proposal here.)
According to EPI’s analysis, the Transportation for America proposal is especially strong at job creation for low-wage earners and Americans without a college degree. The plan is also effective at creating jobs for African-Americans and Hispanic workers, two demographic groups that have borne a disproportionate share of the economic downturn’s effects.
Ethan Pollack, a policy analyst for EPI, characterizes T4 America’s approach as “a well-tailored package of transportation investments” that can “help put people back to work.” The EPI numbers do not account for the increased consumer spending that will result from these newly employed Americans.
As the U.S. Senate continues to piece together its job-creation legislation, we encourage members to strongly consider substantial investment in infrastructure repair and money to keep transit systems running. Jobs legislation continues to create an opening for increased accountability and benchmarks for federal transportation policy, laying the foundation for more jobs and greater prosperity down the road.
For information about EPI’s report and to obtain a complete copy, click here: http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/ib271/
Today’s Headlines – 2/17/10
February 17, 2010By Transportation for America
Recipients of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s merit-based TIGER grants will be announced today. (Times-Dispatch)
A $25 million light rail project in Detroit is among today’s TIGER winners. (Free-Press)
The White House plans to release a progress report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law one year ago. (WP)
America’s happiest cities, according to the physical and emotional health of their citizens, are more likely to have mass transit and accessible streets. (Atlantic Blogs)
And, lawmakers in Wisconsin approved funding for a high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee. (BusinessWeek)
Today’s Headlines – 2/16/10
February 16, 2010By Transportation for America
The Federal Government denied $70 million to the San Francisco Bay Area’s BART system for a proposed Oakland airport extension, freeing up the funds for existing transit. (AP)
Democrats are concerned about overselling their relatively small jobs bill. (Hill)
The Washington DC Metro’s red line derailed Friday, trapping 345 people underground for more than an hour. (WP)
Two West Virginia Democrats are taking heat for the cap-and-trade bill, despite voting against it. (E&E)
A new study suggests scrapping the gas tax for a vehicle-miles-traveled levy. (Post-Gazette)
And, the mayor of Nashville faces resistance in his push to get more people out of their cars and onto mass transit. (Tennessean)
Mayor John Robert Smith on why transportation matters to him
February 12, 2010By Stephen Lee Davis
Check out this short video of Mayor John Robert Smith, T4 America co-chair and former Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, in which he discusses his very personal reasons for choosing not to seek a fifth term as mayor and move to Washington, D.C. to be a part of this effort to change the course of our country’s transportation system.
Today’s Headlines – 2/9/10
February 9, 2010By Transportation for America
A vehicle-miles-traveled tax is a promising revenue source for the future, and the technology exists to make it happen. (WP)
Seattle’s smart growth conference honed in on housing close to work. (Grist)
Bus and metro service remains limited in Washington DC as residents prepare for another onslaught of snow. (WP)
More stimulus should come before deficit reduction, an Pennsylvania newspaper editorializes. (Philadelphia Daily News)
And, the new mayor of Houston is considering dropping transit fares in order to raise ridership. (Chronicle)
Today’s Headlines – 2/8/10
February 8, 2010By Transportation for America
Transportation for America’s proposal for infrastructure repair and transit assistance would create 480,000 jobs, according to an Economic Policy Institute model. (EDF Blog)
Tonight’s installment of PBS’ “Blueprint America” series profiles Detroit in the face of a declining auto industry. (NYT)
Where does the House-passed climate bill fall short? Support for public transit, says Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer. (Politico)
A top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee vowed to bring GOP ideas to the table on a reauthorization bill. (Streetsblog)
And, most public transportation remains limited in Washington following record-snow – the Federal Government shut down today, but with more snow forthcoming, what will happen tomorrow? (WP)
Today’s Headlines – 2/5/10
February 5, 2010By Transportation for America
With the arrival of the Republicans’ 41st vote, Senate Democrats are uncertain about advancing a large-scale jobs bill. (NYT)
The Highway Trust Fund will be in the red for the foreseeable future absent a new revenue source. (TNR)
Chicago’s Transportation Authority will reduce bus and train service starting this weekend. (Tribune)
Republican support for a gas tax increase is growing in the Texas Legislature. (Dallas Morning News)
An Alabama editorial calls for state officials to get on board with high-speed rail. (Auburn Plainsman)
And, the mayor of Nashville will lead a partnership to improve public transportation in Central Tennessee. (Tennessean)
Today’s Headlines – 2/4/10
February 4, 2010By Transportation for America
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham rejected calls to scrap cap-and-trade legislation for an energy-only bill, calling that approach “half-assed.” (TNR)
Stricter U.S. limits on smog faces steep resistance in oil-rich Texas. (NYT)
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a member of the Building America’s Future coalition, says a national infrastructure bank could help with California’s water challenges. (NBC)
The 2011 Obama budget puts a focus on creating quality places. (TNR)
And, Colorado Springs residents are experiencing what limited government really looks like. (Post)
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- Oppose House bill that slashes public transit funding, falls short on repair and axes bike & pedestrian safety
February 7, 2012 - T4 coalition announces opposition to House energy and transportation bill
February 6, 2012 - House committee ignores broad opposition, decimates transit funding anyway
February 3, 2012 - Massive letter opposing House leadership attack on transit sent to Capitol Hill
February 3, 2012 - House leadership making unprecedented assault on public transit
February 2, 2012
- Oppose House bill that slashes public transit funding, falls short on repair and axes bike & pedestrian safety
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