All posts from the month of June 2010
NRDC Executive Director calls for bold action on oil dependence, citing T4 America blueprint
June 21, 2010By Sean Barry
President Obama stressed America’s reliance on oil during his Oval Office address last week, noting that we consume 20 percent of the world’s reserves while supplying only 2 percent. The transportation sector accounts for 70 percent of the nation’s oil consumption.
The need for a blueprint to address these imbalances could not be clearer, says Natural Resources Defense Council Executive Director Peter Lehner, in a guest post for the Infrastructurist.
We need a new direction that moves America beyond oil and other dirty fuels. This is admittedly a huge challenge: The U.S. consumes the equivalent of the 19,000 or so barrels of sludge released daily by the BP geyser in less than two minutes. Yet this eye-popping consumption level also affords opportunities to address our energy needs by focusing on saving oil rather than scouring the ends of the earth for more.
Lehner praises the Obama administration for adopting higher fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, a step that will make our nation’s vehicle fleet cleaner and more efficient. Lehner also calls for a climate bill that makes alternatives sources of energy more affordable and available.
But all roads inevitably lead to transportation policy, and Congress can make a real dent in America’s oil consumption by embracing a forward-looking reauthorization of current surface transportation law. The draft proposal unveiled by Congressman Jim Oberstar’s House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee includes significant moves toward increased transit options and stronger benchmarks, but could go further.
This is where the Transportation for America campaign comes in, and Lehner points to our coalition’s Route to Reform blueprint as an important guidepost. Adopting the policies in T4 America’s Route to Reform could reduce oil consumption by more than a million barrels a day by 2030, and Lehner seeks the kind of urgency that would make that goal possible.
To sum up, we must use every tool at our disposal given the massive scale of the challenge. This means focusing on reforming our outdated, wasteful transportation law. I look forward to working with Congress and the President on this goal, for the sake of the Gulf, the planet, and future generations.
Today’s Headlines – 6/21/10
June 21, 2010By Transportation for America
President Obama kicked off his “recovery summer,” calling for the nation to get serious about infrastructure. (NY Times)
The number of walking and biking trips in the U.S. doubled in the last 20 years. (NRDC Blog)
Adults are just as guilty of distracted driving as teens. (DOT Blog)
Dubuque, Iowa, a former factory town, is the leading the way on sustainable development. (PBS NewsHour)
And, a writer touts Amtrak as a “fine way to see the country.” (LA Times)
New York Senator Chuck Schumer stumping for $2 billion transit aid bill
June 18, 2010By Sean Barry
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| Sen. Chuck Schumer was joined by TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen on the left and Councilman James Vacca on the right. |
Last week, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, a top Democrat in Washington and influential policy player, spoke out forcefully in favor of the Public Transportation Preservation Act, a $2 billion lifeline for the nation’s transit agencies.
The Act would provide emergency operating aid for buses, subways and other systems throughout the country and would give a significant boost to the tri-state region – hundreds of millions of dollars would reach the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, New Jersey Transit and neighboring systems. Schumer is joined by his fellow Senators from the tri-state area – Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Chris Dodd of Connecticut – in supporting this crucial legislation.
Schumer joined union members and transit advocates at New York City’s Penn Station last Friday, June 11, declaring that “mass-transit is the life-blood of our city.” The Act is gaining co-sponsors by the day, including Alaska Senator Mark Begich and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden.
See Steven Higashide’s write-up at the Tri-State Transportation Campaign for more information and a run-down of the unions and advocacy groups participating.
And if you haven’t already, tell your Senator to support the Act today and join as a co-sponsor.
Today’s Headlines – 6/18/10
June 18, 2010By Transportation for America
President Obama is in Ohio today to celebrate the 10,000th road project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (AP)
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s threat to withhold funding for the DC-area Metro rail could jeopardize the system. (WP)
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican in Obama’s cabinet, stressed the need for substantive bipartisanship. (DOT Blog)
What’s more effective than boycotting BP? Finding alternatives to driving. (Streetsblog)
And, a deal is underway to spare student discounts on New York City transit from cuts. (NY Times)
Today’s Headlines – 6/17/10
June 17, 2010By Transportation for America
The best way to punish BP for the oil spill? Build more subways, a column suggests. (NY Daily News)
Jim Oberstar, a key House chairman, reiterated that insufficient gas tax revenue is preventing movement on a transportation bill. (MinnPost)
Robert Ehrlich, Republican candidate for Maryland governor, could alienate business groups with his hard-line against light rail. (Baltimore Sun)
Councilmembers in Dallas are considering a road-use fee. (Morning News)
And, walking and biking has become a more common transportation choice in the U.S. (Reuters)
Today’s Headlines – 6/15/10
June 15, 2010By Transportation for America
The American Power Act would create jobs and lower household energy costs, a new analysis concludes. (NRDC Blog)
California’s new law encouraging transit-oriented development could yield immense environmental and economic benefits. (LA Times)
Commuters in suburban Pittsburgh could face $7 fares, Port Authority officials say. (Post-Gazette)
Technology writer Tom Vanderbilt wants new ideas for improving urban transportation. (Slate)
And, an architect envisions lower Manhattan without cars. (WSJ Blog)
Today’s Headlines – 6/14/10
June 14, 2010By Transportation for America
President Obama will press BP for quicker action in his first Oval Office address Tuesday. (NYT)
The continuing disaster in the Gulf has kept energy policy on the front burner – and offers a window for action. (Minnesota Public Radio)
Senator Chuck Schumer, joined by transit advocates and unions, pushed for the $2 billion Public Transportation Preservation Act. (Tri-State Campaign Blog)
A multi-million-dollar raid of Florida’s transportation trust fund was halted by Governor Charlie Crist. (Sun-Sentinel)
And, the Gulf spill has also resurfaced debate over the true price of oil. (Klein)
Today’s Headlines – 6/11/10
June 11, 2010By Transportation for America
The U.S. Senate rejected an effort to strip federal regulators of their greenhouse gas authority by a 53-47 vote. (NYT)
With a fragile recovery and low interest rates, now is the ideal time to borrow and invest heavily in infrastructure, writes columnist Steven Pearlstein. (WP)
A push for increased flexibility in federal transportation dollars has divided the nation’s largest mass transit agencies from most others. (WP)
Voters in suburban Brentwood, California rejected a push Tuesday to increase the city’s development area. (CC Times)
And, Texas Republicans in Dallas for a convention seemed to enjoy the city’s public transportation. (Star-Telegram)
American Power Act Will Create Clean Transportation Options
June 10, 2010By Transportation for America
Senator Carper, Business Leaders, Transportation Advocates Praise New Investments for Clean Transportation Options in Kerry-Lieberman Proposal
Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE) joined business leaders and Transportation for America, the largest, most diverse coalition working on transportation reform, to support key provisions of the Kerry-Lieberman American Power Act (APA) that creates a new funding stream for investments in clean transportation options that will create jobs and reduce our dangerous dependence on oil.
“If we want to get serious about reducing our dependence on oil and cleaning the air we breathe, we have to find ways to allow people to get out of our cars,” said Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE). “We have to provide clean transportation alternatives. I practice what I preach by taking the train from my home in Wilmington, Delaware to work in Washington, D.C. almost every day but for too many Americans mass transit isn’t a viable option. We have to change that dynamic. That’s why I am pleased Senators Kerry and Lieberman have included my CLEAN TEA legislation in the American Power Act. This robust investment puts us on the right path to reduce transportation emissions and oil consumption and improve our nation’s crumbling transportation infrastructure. These investments will make us healthier, less dependent on oil, and spur job creation and innovation.”
The proposal from Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), offers the most substantial support for the transportation sector of any climate and energy legislation to date. Roughly 70 percent of oil consumed in the U.S. and one third of climate-harming emissions come from the transportation sector. The APA invests revenues generated from oil refineries in building new clean transportation options and maintaining our existing transportation system.
“America’s oil addiction is a threat to our national security, our economy and our environment,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. “The status-quo is unsustainable. The transportation provisions in the American Power Act will create jobs, spur growth of small businesses and American industry and make it easier and more affordable for Americans to get around. We strongly support these provisions and believe they should be funded at a higher level to ensure they achieve the greatest possible impact.”
The BP disaster is a devastating reminder that every gallon of oil saved not only benefits the planet, but also s bolsters national security and the economy. The transportation provisions of the bill would provide states and local communities with resources needed to reduce this dependency by providing consumers with safe, clean and affordable options for public transportation, walking and bicycling, as well as better-managed, less congested highways.
“Broward County and thousands of local governments across the country have been embracing the types of transportation strategies included in the American Power Act as a way to improve our economy, increase transportation choices, and create healthier, more sustainable communities, said Kristin Jacobs, County Commissioner, Broward County Florida. “The biggest challenge in implementing our plans, of course, is funding, which is why we’re pleased to see significant resources available through this legislation for states and local communities.”
“These provisions in the American Power Act will support innovations to keep America competitive, create jobs, encourage entrepreneurship and small businesses, and strengthen our economy, in part by expanding the use of ITS technologies to improve transportation system efficiency. While we applaud the provisions, we believe that all revenues raised from the transportation sector should be reinvested into our nation’s transportation system to create a more financially and environmentally sustainable transportation future.”
Continue reading to see the letter from Senators Carper, Specter, Merkley and Cardin to Senators Kerry and Lieberman expressing support of the bill’s funding for the transportation sector, while calling for additional funding to maintain and repair existing transportation infrastructure.
(Continue Reading)
Today’s Headlines – 6/10/10
June 10, 2010By Transportation for America
Most Senate Republicans and a handful of Democrats back efforts to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its greenhouse gas regulation authority. (Politico)
The New York Times asks why the EPA proposal is still on the table, given events on the Gulf Coast. (NYT)
Indiana’s transportation secretary resigned, replaced by the department’s deputy. (Business First)
Minneapolis and Denver are among a new wave of U.S. cities looking at bike-sharing plans. (AP)
A higher gas tax is unlikely to happen without leadership at the top. (TIME)
And, St. Louis officials will soon vote on a complete streets policy. (West End World)
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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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