Transportation for America response to joint statement of EPW leaders
May 26, 2011By Transportation for America
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Committee, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Senator David Vitter (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, issued a joint statement on transportation authorization legislation. James Corless, director of Transportation for America, issued this statement in response:
We are pleased, indeed, to hear this bipartisan group of key Senators declare that, nearly two years after the expiration of the current SAFETEA-LU legislation, Congress intends to take up the next authorization bill in earnest. We also are heartened to learn that these leaders are not embracing cuts to current funding levels.
Because we have long called for the federal program to “focus resources on key national goals”, we were glad to hear the four senators echo that sentiment. We eagerly await discussion of what those goals might be, as well as the mechanisms for holding states and localities accountable for progress.
Whatever else the bill does, we certainly hope it will ensure that states use our federal dollars to address the 45 percent of highways rated below “good” condition and to repair our 70,000 structurally deficient bridges. In this era of rising gas prices and concerns over oil supplies, the next program also must ensure Americans have many safe, convenient and affordable options for getting around. And it must reduce the rate of death and injury to pedestrians noted this week in our Dangerous by Design report. Because two-thirds of fatalities occur on roads built under federal programs, the federal government clearly has a role in making those roads safer.
Report documents preventable pedestrian deaths, ranks most dangerous metro areas
May 24, 2011By Transportation for America
Programs and policies to promote safer streets and walking threatened as Congress debates renewal of federal transportation bill
More than 47,700 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. between 2000 and 2009, and the majority of those deaths were preventable, according to a new report released today by Transportation for America. The report, “Dangerous by Design 2011: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths,” shows how roadway designs promoted by federal investment endanger people on foot.
Dangerous by Design also ranks America’s major metropolitan areas using a Pedestrian Danger Index that uses 10 years of data to assess how safe pedestrians are while walking. The top four – Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, and Tampa – are all in Florida. Other dangerous cities in the top 10 include: San Bernardino, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Memphis, Tennessee; Phoenix, Arizona; Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, Texas.
The report presents data on pedestrian fatalities and injuries in every U.S. county. And for the first time, this year’s report includes an online, interactive map showing the locations where pedestrian fatalities have occurred.
More than 688,000 pedestrians were injured over the decade, a number equivalent to a pedestrian being struck by a car or truck every 7 minutes. The report finds that while only 1.5 percent of federal funds are allocated towards upgrading dangerous roads, 12 percent of all nationwide fatalities are pedestrians. Of these fatalities, nearly 4,000 were children 15 years and younger, making pedestrian injury the third leading cause of death by unintentional injury for that age group.
The majority of deaths occur on roadways that encourage speeding but do not provide the sidewalks, crosswalks, signals and other protections for people who are walking, the report finds. Most of these roads were built using federal transportation funds. The report comes as the federal transportation bill is being debated in Washington DC and calls to eliminate programs that can promote safer, more walkable streets have increased.
“Some in Congress have questioned the federal interest in keeping pedestrians safe, believing it to be a strictly local issue,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. “But two-thirds of all pedestrian fatalities in the last 10 years occurred on federal-aid roadways.”
Dangerous by Design describes how communities across the country are beginning to reverse the legacy of 50 years of anti-pedestrian policies by retrofitting or building new roads as “complete streets” that are safer for walking and bicycling, as well as motorists.
“Dangerous by Design shines a spotlight on the dangers pedestrians – especially older Americans – face when they walk in unsafe crosswalks and along roads with little protection from fast-moving traffic,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President. “With a rapidly aging population, AARP is renewing its call on Congress to pass ‘Complete Streets’ legislation, which will help ensure that our streets and sidewalks are safe for all Americans regardless of age or ability.”
Hispanics suffered an average pedestrian death rate 62 percent higher than that for non-Hispanic whites. Similarly, the average pedestrian death rate for African-Americans was 73 percent higher than for non-Hispanic whites. In addition, older Americans are over twice as likely to be killed while walking as those under 65 years of age.
Dangerous by Design outlines a roadmap for the future by which Congress can tackle the problems created by poorly designed transportation systems and create safer, more efficient cities for drivers and pedestrians alike. Of particular emphasis is developing transportation systems that take into account pedestrians and bicyclists, instead of viewing them as impediments to traffic.
“Investing to make our roads safer for pedestrians is not a frill, but an urgent matter of life and death in too many of our communities,” said Corless. “Federal programs that caused the dangerous roads to be built now must be reformed to help communities make them safer.”
T4 recommendations for the next transportation bill to create safer streets include provisions to:
- Retain dedicated federal funding for pedestrians and bicyclists;
- Create complete networks of sidewalks, bicycle paths, and trails so that residents can travel safely throughout an area;
- Require federal, state, and local governments to set safety standards they must meet for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and motorists; and
- Hold states accountable for creating communities that are safe for walking.
To view the full report, please click here. (pdf)
Diverse groups propose cost-effective strategies to get the most for our transportation money
May 16, 2011By Transportation for America
Transportation for America, the Reason Foundation and Taxpayers for Common Sense show how to modernize systems, increase safety and reduce congestion
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report released today by Reason Foundation, Taxpayers for Common Sense and Transportation for America proposes cost-effective recommendations that Congress should consider as part of the pending transportation bill that will stretch our limited transportation dollars, save money in the long run, cut congestion, and better maintain the existing system.
The jointly written report, “The Most for Our Money: Taxpayer Friendly Solutions for the Nation’s Transportation Challenges,” introduces innovative approaches that will expand the efficiency of our infrastructure while keeping costs in check.
“Needless to say, the obstacles facing our transportation system are large, especially given the current state of the economy and difficult funding climate,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. “But by making smart, selective choices about how our vital dollars are spent — fixing what we have first and looking for ways to better utilize the system — we can maintain our current network and better meet changing transportation needs.”
The report outlines seven specific tools – some big, some small – that would significantly improve our nation’s transportation system by reducing future congestion, plan for the future, better utilize existing capacity and increase the safety of our roads and bridges.
For example, the implementation of Transportation Scenario Planning would bring together local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and regional councils to assess forecasted data on transportation demands and develop “what-if” scenarios to indicate how potential systems would function as populations expand. Legislators, businesses and the public then assess these scenarios and come to agreement on the most favorable solution. Many communities find that changes to “business as usual” result in a more efficient transportation system at a lower cost. Scenario Planning has been used in various states and regions, and was recently embraced by Chicago in its “GO TO 2040” plan to develop a new transportation system by 2040 that would meet the city’s growing population and transportation needs.
“Staring down the barrel of trillion-dollar budget deficits, federal taxpayers are demanding more bang for their buck, and transportation spending is no exception,” said Erich W. Zimmermann, Senior Policy Analyst at Taxpayers for Common Sense. “Our work highlights a number of opportunities to do more with less. For example, scenario planning, modeled on strategic military planning, enables a community to consider various options and choose the one that best suits its fiscal and transportation needs.
Another innovative approach the report recommends is to reduce congestion on the road by expanding the use of High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. HOT lanes are reserved for buses and other high-occupancy vehicles. Single-occupancy vehicles wishing to access the less congested HOT lanes pay a fluctuating rate based upon the number of vehicles in the HOT lanes to ensure they keep traffic moving. These lanes have already been introduced in cities around the country, and in Southeast Florida alone, saved commuters nearly $9 million in just six months.
“While HOT lanes and Bus Rapid Transit are certainly not new or flashy innovations, the purpose of our recommendations is to encourage Congress to rethink the way we finance and design our transportation systems and support the expansion of these types of low cost, efficient solutions,” said Shirley Ybarra, senior transportation policy analyst for Reason Foundation and former Virginia secretary of transportation. “We’re offering innovative ideas, free-market solutions, and simple fixes that will help us get the most for our money.”
The report also recommends five additional strategies, including:
- Bus Rapid Transit (BRT);
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS);
- Intercity Buses;
- Teleworking; and
- Local Street Connectivity
“It is imperative that Congress seriously consider these tools in the next six-year transportation reauthorization,” said Zimmermann. “Implementing strategies like these is an easy way for Congress to make America’s transportation more effective, efficient and convenient without breaking the bank.”
To view the report, click here.
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TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICA (T4) is the largest, most diverse coalition working on transportation reform today. Our nation’s transportation network is based on a policy that has not been significantly updated since the 1950’s. We believe it is time for a bold new vision — transportation that guarantees our freedom to move however we choose and leads to a stronger economy, greater energy security, cleaner environment, and healthier America for all of us. We’re calling for more responsible investment of our federal tax dollars to create a safer, cleaner, smarter transportation system that works for everyone. www.t4america.org
TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan budget watchdog serving as an independent voice for American taxpayers. Our mission is to achieve a government that spends taxpayer dollars responsibly and operates within its means. We work with individuals, policymakers, and the media to increase transparency, expose and eliminate wasteful and corrupt subsidies, earmarks, and corporate welfare, and hold decision makers accountable. www.taxpayer.net
REASON FOUNDATION is a nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing free minds and free markets and publisher of the critically-acclaimed Reason magazine and its website www.reason.com. For more information, please visit www.reason.org.
Budget deal zeroes out high-speed rail, but preserves TIGER and sustainable communities funding
April 12, 2011By Sean Barry
Funding for high-speed rail was eliminated from this year’s budget as other transportation programs absorbed deep cuts, according to the details of the deal between President Obama and Congressional Republicans to cut $38 billion in spending and keep the government funded through September.
James Corless, director of Transportation for America, issued this statement in response:
The decision to halt progress on modernizing our world-lagging rail network is emblematic of an overall failure of congressional leadership and vision. Once again, Congress finds itself lurching from appropriations bill to appropriations bill, creating and killing programs and keeping outdated programs on life support, while China and Europe surge forward. The resulting chaos is undermining our ability even to repair and maintain our existing infrastructure, much less build a a 21st century transportation system that will allow us to compete in an increasingly global economy.
The one bright spot is that Congress preserved – though at a slightly lower level – the merit-based TIGER and sustainable communities programs, which promote competition and fund innovative, multi-disciplinary solutions to our transportation challenges. When Congress takes up the next transportation authorization, which is increasingly urgent, it must build on this sort of approach, while resurrecting a vision that can move us ahead of our international competitors.
The budget deal zeroes out high-speed rail funding from $2.5 billion enacted in fiscal year 2010. The one week extension to keep the government running through Friday had cut high-speed rail funds back to $1 billion for fiscal year 2011. Those funds had not been committed to any states because Congress never finalized a budget for fiscal year 2011. In addition to the $1 billion, the budget rescinds $400 million from fiscal year 2010 that had been returned by Florida Governor Rick Scott earlier this year.
Other cuts include:
- The New Starts program, a key source of funding for transit projects, is reduced to $1.6 billion.
- The TIGER program is reduced to $528 million from $600 million, a loss of $72 million.
- The Partnership for Sustainable Communities is reduced from $150 million in FY10 to $100 million.
- $3.1 billion in highway contract authority that has not been obligated to specific projects is also cut.
The total cuts to the New Starts program depends on the comparison. The $1.6 billion figure is $400 million less than fiscal year 2010 levels, but only about $220 million less than what the President requested for this year. Of the savings, $200 million became unobligated after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie chose to cancel his state’s planned ARC tunnel project. Seven projects are expected to be impacted by the New Starts cuts.
The final figure for New Starts is only slightly more than what the House passed in HR. 1 several weeks ago. HR1 would have also eliminated funding for high-speed rail and TIGER grants.
New report highlights mounting challenge of aging bridges
March 30, 2011By Transportation for America
One in 9 rated “structurally deficient” as average age nears 50 years. In state rankings, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Iowa have largest backlog of deficient bridges
WASHINGTON, D.C. – One in nine of the bridges and overpasses American drivers cross each day is rated in poor enough condition that they could become dangerous or be closed without near-term repair, according to a report released today by Transportation for America.
Nearly 70,000 bridges nationwide are rated “structurally deficient” and are in need of substantial repair or replacement, according to federal data. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates that the backlog of potentially dangerous bridges would cost $70.9 billion to eliminate, while the federal outlay for bridges amounts to slightly more than $5 billion per year.
The report, The Fix We’re In For: The State of the Nation’s Bridges, ranks states in terms of the overall condition of the state’s bridges, with one being the worst, 51 being the best. Twenty-three states across the country have a higher percentage of deficient bridges than the national average of 11.5 percent.
The five states with the worst bridge conditions have over 20 percent structurally deficient bridges: Pennsylvania has the largest share of deteriorating bridges at 26.5 percent, followed by Oklahoma (22.0%), Iowa (21.7%), Rhode Island (21.6%), and South Dakota (20.3%).
At the other end of the spectrum, five states have less than 5 percent of their bridges rated structurally deficient: Nevada leads the rankings at 2.2 percent, followed by Florida (2.4%), Texas (3.0%), Arizona (3.0%), and Utah (4.5%). The table on the bottom of the main report page shows all 50 states and the District of Columbia ranked by their percentage of structurally deficient bridges, with “1” being the worst conditions and “51” the best.
“Since the 2007 collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Americans have been acutely aware of the critical need to maintain our bridges,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. That need is growing rapidly, the report authors noted, as the average age of bridges passes 42 years for bridges that mostly were designed to have a 50-year lifespan before reconstruction or replacement.
“As Congress takes up the next six-year transportation bill, it is imperative that we devote a larger share of funding to protecting our bridges” Corless said. “Americans also want to see more accountability for maintaining our infrastructure: 64 percent of voters say that the way government currently spends money on building and maintaining our transportation infrastructure is inefficient and unwise, according to a February poll for the Rockefeller Foundation.”
Hit the jump to see the full state rankings
(Continue Reading)
Transportation for America applauds the President’s six-year investment plan for transportation
February 14, 2011By Transportation for America
New poll figures show Americans agree on his proposed priorities
WASHINGTON, DC, February 14, 2011 — President Obama today unveiled a fiscal 2012 budget proposal that calls for investing $128 billion in transportation infrastructure as a first installment on a long-awaited six-year investment plan totaling $556 billion. James Corless, director of Transportation for America, issued this statement in response:
“The President’s proposed budget delivers on his recent promises to ensure we have the 21st century infrastructure necessary to support a revitalized American economy. While we believe the President is right to pursue a front-loaded investment in this budget that will boost employment in everything from construction to manufacturing, we are most excited by the bold proposals to ensure that the money is spent wisely and accountably.
“The Administration’s visionary reforms recognize where we are at this moment in history: Having built the world’s best highway and bridge network, we have to focus on preserving those aging assets while we build the missing pieces of a modern system that allows people and goods to get where they’re going cheaply, conveniently and safely. The Administration is right then, to propose a “fix it first” policy that will ensure that transportation agencies stop siphoning off money intended to rehabilitate bridges and highways. Equally smart are proposals to reward innovation through competitive grants that emphasize greater efficiency, broader and more affordable options and reduced dependency on foreign oil.
“These and other proposed reforms are precisely in line with recent polls, including one released today by the Rockefeller Foundation, showing that the American people believe strongly that providing a modern, safe infrastructure is a primary role of our government, and that they consider it to be – more than any other issue — above partisan divisions. The Administration proposals also deliver on voters’ desire for greater accountability for maintaining what we’ve already built, and for giving local communities greater flexibility and more say in how they solve their transportation issues and build for the future.
“At the same time, the poll underscores the degree to which current House proposals – which would eliminate support for communities that want better public transportation and safer streets — are at odds with the desires of a majority of Americans. The task now is for the President and Congress to engage in the bipartisan problem-solving Americans expect in order to find ways to pay for the jobs-sustaining infrastructure they deserve.”
America’s broadest transportation coalition applauds President Obama’s call to fix 20th century infrastructure while building for the 21st
January 26, 2011By Transportation for America
WASHINGTON, DC — In response to Tuesday’s State of the Union address, Transportation for America Director James Corless issued the following statement:
“We were thrilled to hear the President come right out and say that investment in transportation and other infrastructure is central to rebuilding and growing our economy. An upfront investment in the most needed, clean transportation projects is a great opportunity to create near-term jobs and lay the groundwork for the future economy.
“The President acknowledged that money will be tight and we have to make the best of use of it. That requires fixing the 20th century infrastructure – our crumbling roads and bridges – as we build out the infrastructure for the 21st. That certainly includes high-speed rail, but it also means helping communities get moving on long-planned networks of light rail, street cars, rapid buses, and making progress on road reconstruction to make our streets safe for people walking, biking and driving.
“The President’s vision for infrastructure is not just about near-term construction jobs. It is, as he said, about growing new businesses, livable neighborhoods and dynamic regions that can attract a young and mobile workforce and compete internationally. It’s about jobs associated with new transportation technologies and manufacturing modern transit vehicles, everything from real time information systems to make our highways and transit corridors smarter, to the new rail cars being built today by United Streetcar in Oregon that can breathe new life into our cities and suburbs. We eagerly await the ‘flesh on the bones’ that must come with the Administration’s proposal for the overdue, six-year transportation package, and the President’s continued leadership in ensuring that Congress adopts it this year.”
Urban mobility report paints flawed picture of congestion, solutions
January 20, 2011By James Corless
Editor’s Note: The Texas Transportation Institute released their Urban Mobility Report today, a report you might have read about in a local story about congestion in your metro area today. An example from the Washington Post.
The Urban Mobility Report is an important reminder that too many Americans are stuck without good options for efficient, safe and affordable travel in our cities and towns. It is especially timely as Congress prepares to reset priorities for investing our transportation trust fund. However, we must note that flaws in the UMR’s analysis could lead to faulty conclusions about what the report indicates.
It assumes, for example, that everyone should be able to speed as rapidly down the highway during rush hour as they could in the middle of the night. American taxpayers will never stand for being asked to turn over their wallets and their neighborhoods in order to build that kind of highway capacity.
They would much rather see Congress make more efficient use of their money by fixing crumbling roads and bridges; investing in technology to manage existing freeway traffic better; providing rail and rapid bus service in congested corridors; and linking transportation funding to smarter planning and development.
The economist Joe Cortright showed in a study for CEOs for Cities that the UMR obscures the fact that people who live in cities with transportation options and less urban sprawl generally have shorter commutes. That means a lower proportion of the population is subjected to highway congestion than is true in places where long automobile commutes are the predominant option.
In the upcoming transportation authorization, Congress can fix the system that has left too many with no alternative but to sit in traffic, by giving communities the tools they need to provide more and better choices in living locations and travel options.
Read our response from October about the CEOs for Cities report, and read today’s response from CEOs for Cities here (pdf)
California mayors support smart transportation investments as key to economic recovery and public health
December 15, 2010By Transportation for America
Yesterday, the leaders of California’s population centers issued a call to the incoming Congress to update the nation’s transportation program to address their citizens’ 21st-century needs, from upkeep of roads and bridges to a cleaner, more efficient transit network.
As a new Congress prepares to take up a multi-year infrastructure bill, 65 California mayors, supervisors and other elected officials joined together to send a united message about what their communities need for economic recovery and quality of life.
These elected officials released a signed letter sent to Senator Boxer of California expressing their support for reforms to the federal transportation program that would help California make the transportation investments needed to bring down California’s 12 percent unemployment rate, clean the air, and lay the foundation for healthier, more livable communities.
“The nation’s transportation program has not been significantly updated since the creation of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s. With California and the nation facing new and different challenges in the 21st century, a modern approach is needed to ensure that transportation continues to fuel the economy of California and the nation,“ said Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, who will soon take statewide office as Lieutenant Governor. “We need to put people back to work connecting our cities with high-speed rail, efficient and affordable public transportation systems, and building clean freight systems and safe places to walk and bicycle.”
According to a study from the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute comparing an equivalent amount of investment in the current federal transportation law with a proposal containing reforms from Transportation for America, California is poised to see 807,000 new jobs by focusing on accountability and performance while building a 21st century transportation system.
With five of the ten cities with the worst air pollution in the country, it’s critical for California to clean its air and improve public health — areas where transportation has a major, but often ignored, impact. In the greater Los Angeles region alone the health costs of air pollution are conservatively estimated at $22 billion per year, dragging down the economy and quality of life. The region is home to more than 12 million vehicles as well as the two busiest ports in the United States, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
As a member of the California Air Resources Board, the state agency responsible for cleaning California’s air, Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge believes that providing safe, clean, and efficient transportation alternatives are a crucial step toward relieving congestion, reducing air pollution and ensuring people and goods move freely and efficiently.
“There is a great need for sustained high-speed rail funding and the creation of a national freight plan to fund clean air projects. As the trade gateway to the United States, Southern California needs to have a long-term vision to clean the air while improving economic competitiveness. The federal bill should have dedicated revenues to support sustained investments in regional high-speed and clean freight rail that connect and serve our cities and trade hubs,” Mayor Loveridge said.
Compared to cars, passenger rail reduces oil consumption by 40 percent. Freight rail is four times more energy efficient than trucks and one train can carry as much cargo as 200 trucks. With thorough planning and placement, rail investments — including high-speed passenger rail — can reduce traffic on congested highways.
San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles and other major metropolitan cities will continue to grow. Safe, affordable and efficient public transportation systems will become increasingly important in connecting people to the jobs and services they and their families depend on. A bipartisan, national Transportation for America poll found that over 80% of Americans believe the nation would benefit from an expanded and improved public transportation system.
“Federal funding will allow our public transportation systems to continue to grow and serve expanding communities,” said San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria. “Investments in both capital transit projects and ongoing transit operations demonstrate the prioritization of strong alternatives to single-car transportation.”
Voters are also increasingly willing to tax themselves for improved transportation when they know clearly what they’re getting for the money — like voters did in Los Angeles with Measure R, a half-cent sales tax approved by a two-thirds majority to rapidly expand the local transit system. Elected leaders in the Los Angeles region such as Mayor Richard Bloom of Santa Monica are pushing for innovative financing programs from the federal government that would make ambitious programs like the 30/10 initiative — a plan to build 12 major transit projects in 10 years rather than 30 — a reality.
“These programs will create thousands of jobs and reduce air pollution and oil dependency, thus addressing the most serious national and global challenges we now confront as Americans,” said Mayor Bloom and Councilmember Terry O’Day. “What is truly exciting is that they will do this while improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods and give people access to services they need without having to drive to get them.”
These leaders also called for more accountable and transparent spending to ensure that during the recession and beyond, every federal dollar for transportation gets the most bang for the buck. The letter to Senator Boxer details the group’s collective support for a process of setting long-term goals for states and regions to pursue. Using these goals, regions and states would create regional plans and prioritize investing in projects to make continuous progress towards meeting them. Goals would include achieving measurable progress in increasing transit ridership, reducing congestion, repairing roads, making communities more walkable and bikable, reductions in air pollution, and improving safety, to name a few.
“Performance-based planning programs like the Sacramento Regional Blueprint provide a model for supporting economic growth, a cleaner environment, and safer and more effective transportation options through smart planning with specific goals in mind” said Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento. “In these times of limited resources, we must embrace accountability measures to make sure that each and every tax dollar is spent wisely. Our federal transportation program must keep the eyes on the prize – and support regions in focusing spending on projects that will deliver the outcomes our communities need.”
“Transportation For America’s platform promotes a transportation policy that will serve both local needs and national priorities,” said Judy Corbett, Executive Director of the Local Government Commission, a longstanding Transportation For America partner based in Sacramento. “I’m thrilled that so many California elected officials are joining us in speaking out on the critical issue of investing in a 21st century transportation system.”
The federal transportation bill is rewritten only every six years. These 65 elected leaders are making it clear to Congress that they must adopt reforms that will prioritize maintaining our existing infrastructure and funding the 21st century transportation system that is safer, cleaner, smarter, and works for all communities.
- Download the letter to Senator Boxer
- View the full list of partners, including these California mayors and elected officials
Temporary extension of surface transportation law will enable next Congress to pursue transformational reauthorization in 2011
December 8, 2010By Transportation for America
WASHINGTON, DC — In response to today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives extending current transportation law until October 1, 2011, Transportation for America Director James Corless issued the following statement:
We support the House of Representatives’ passage of a temporary extension of SAFETEA-LU, the nation’s surface transportation law slated to expire on December 31, and encourage the Senate to follow suit. Extending current law until October 1, 2011 would provide state and local transportation officials, contractors and workers the certainty they need to proceed on crucial infrastructure projects, while allowing the 112th Congress ample time to craft a long-term reauthorization bill. We were disappointed to see the House stifle the development of high-speed rail by cutting $1.5 billion. We urge the Senate to restore that funding.
We urge the next Congress to keep its eye on the ball by pursuing a transformational law that prioritizes repair and rehabilitation of our existing infrastructure; concrete benchmarks and objectives for every federal dollar; and assurance that any new construction increases travel options for all Americans.
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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
- Saving a transit system and turning the tide for the future of a mid-sized city
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