Transportation For America » Speaker Pelosi supports “Building For America”

Speaker Pelosi supports “Building For America”

December 18, 2008
By 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.

Help keep the pressure on Congress to ensure that a stimulus package will invest in the smartest possible transportation projects.

Molly Wright

Yes, strengthening transportation infrastructure is an appropriate response to the current recession – a “New Deal” fix.

But the infrastructure must acknowledge a post-carbon economy, otherwise it would be a gross waste of resources.

Appropriate transportation infrastructure for the post carbon economy includes rail infrastructure and infill pedestrian infrastructure.

Infrastructure spending for transportation in an economic recovery bill must:

* Hold State Departments of Transportation and Transit Agencies accountable for funding they receive, making sure that new money is prioritized for repair, preservation, and improving safety.
* Provide energy assistance operating grants to preserve current jobs in transit and ensure that affordable travel options don’t disappear for those who already rely on it.
* Replace aging buses with new clean energy vehicles, acquire new buses and rail cars to meet surging demand, and perform needed maintenance.
* Fund ready-to-go projects for all modes of alternative transportation — trains, buses, bike and walkways — for a down-payment on our green recovery.

Now is not the time to squander money on wasteful projects; we need to invest in projects that help American families reduce their expenses, that free America from oil dependence, and that create long-term jobs that are clean and green. Infrastructure investments as part of an economic recovery package will put people to work quickly by creating a 21st Century transportation system.