Transportation For America » San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Closure an Urgent Reminder to Rebuild America’s Crumbling Infrastructure

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Closure an Urgent Reminder to Rebuild America’s Crumbling Infrastructure

October 30, 2009
By Stephen Lee Davis

CONTACT:

Cosabeth Bullock 202-478-6128

cbullock@mrss.com

Paula Chrin 202-478-6138

pchrin@mrss.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the implications of the indefinite closure of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge sunk in Friday, Americans nationwide were reminded of the urgent need to pass a new transportation law that emphasizes the rehabilitation of America’s crumbling roads, bridges and transit systems.

The crisis also highlights the critical need for transportation options. More than 280,000 vehicles cross the Bay Bridge every day and its closure has resulted in a scramble to accommodate commuters on Bay Area buses, subway lines and ferries. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the area’s underground subway system, posted record passenger usage this week. As Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff noted Friday, “Thank goodness we had that transit option there.”

“The Bay Bridge closure truly validates California’s decision earlier this year to spend stimulus funding on repair, rather than expansion, of our roadways,” said Carli Paine, transportation program director for TransForm, a Bay Area group. “Implementing a ‘Fix It First’ policy at the federal level would bolster our state’s efforts to maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure by prioritizing and funding these projects.”

Congress could go a long way toward that goal by adopting the Critical Asset Investment Program contained in the current draft federal transportation bill. This program, drafted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, would create a substantial, dedicated funding stream for maintaining roads and bridges, preventing states from diverting those funds to more politically popular highway expansion projects.

“Rebuilding America’s transportation system is not only needed to keep us safe, but it is an economic imperative as well,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. T4 America is working closely with its coalition partners, House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar, Ranking Member John Mica, and members of Congress to ensure the next federal transportation bill prioritizes fixing existing infrastructure.

“Americans can’t afford to waste anymore time in traffic jams and detours because we haven’t made the proper investments in maintaining our infrastructure and providing the options that keep people from being stranded, whether by broken facilities or soaring gas prices,” said Corless.