Release: Obama must back up rhetoric on “green” recovery with an empowered Transportation Secretary.
Washington — Geoff Anderson, Co-Chair for the Transportation for America campaign, today issued a statement in advance of President-elect Barack Obama’s announcement of a Secretary of Transportation:
“Tomorrow’s announcement of the next Secretary of Transportation is perhaps more important and historic than it has ever been before. With America on the brink of a new chapter for economic and energy progress, the next Secretary of Transportation will play a critical and powerful role in our nation’s future.
Congressman LaHood has a commendable record of reaching across the aisle to find compromise that leads to progress for our nation, and we look forward to working with him as he enters what will surely be a challenging role. Come January 2009, the Department of Transportation will be the linchpin in the effort to stimulate our economy and create jobs through what President-elect Obama has called “the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s.” In addition, the Secretary will face demands like none we’ve seen before: the need to rethink how we finance transportation as driving habits and vehicles change and gasoline consumption drops; convulsions in the airline industry; the resurrection of passenger rail service; and many more.
The transformation of our national transportation system is critical to meeting the President-elect’s goals for a financially strong and clean-energy future. This is why Transportation for America — a coalition of housing, real estate, environmental, public health, urban planning and transportation organizations committed to moving America into the 21st Century by building a modernized infrastructure — stands ready to support Secretary LaHood in any effort to help navigate this unprecedented opportunity.”
Contact:
Cosa Bullock
202-478-6128
cbullock@mrss.com
Obama and Congress must back up rhetoric on “green” recovery package.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2008
Contact: Cosa Bullock, 202-478-6128
cbullock@mrss.com
TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICA: OBAMA AND CONGRESS MUST BACK UP RHETORIC ON “GREEN” RECOVERY PACKAGE
National Coalition applauds Obama’s call for accountability and reduced oil dependence in making the ‘single largest new investment’ since the federal highway system, but warns that a rush to road-building could undermine those goals
| Download this Release (.pdf) |
Washington – The Transportation for America Campaign today applauded President-elect Barack Obama’s Oct. 6 proposal to “create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s.” But this national coalition cautions that rhetoric alone will not be enough to move our country forward out of the current economic crisis.
Specifically, as part of the economic recovery package the President-elect is expected to sign on day one, Transportation for America is calling for a $100 billion investment to:
- Repair and preserve highways, bridges and existing public transportation service, and the green jobs associated with it;
- Build modern rail and rapid bus lines and upgrade all forms of service in cities large and small;
- Develop high-speed and other forms of inter-city rail; and
- Make streets safe for walking and biking.
“If we spend this money the right way,” said Geoff Anderson, co-chair of the Transportation for America Campaign, “we should get a three-for-one-return on our investment: a revitalized economy well positioned for long-term prosperity; less dependence on oil; and a reduction in climate-damaging emissions — all of which will help America compete and thrive.”
In his Saturday address, Obama pledged to “invest your precious tax dollars in new and smarter ways” while measuring progress “by the jobs we create, by the energy we save, by whether America is more competitive in the world.”
However, even as Obama spoke, state Departments of Transportation offered up project lists that are merely more of the same — a focus on paving roads rather then fixing and improving what we already have. This random collection of road widenings and resurfacing projects is unlikely to lead a “green” recovery built on a 21st century transportation network.
Accordingly, central to this economic recovery package must be a strategy for fixing what’s broken first, building out green infrastructure and maintaining transparency.
“Now that the national highways system has been built, federal resources and attention must go to making a down payment on a bold national transportation mission,” said Anderson. “This means not only fixing our crumbling bridges and highways but also increasing support for the cleanest forms of transportation — public transit, high speed rail, walking and biking.”
###
Transportation for America is a broad coalition of housing, environmental, public health, urban planning, transportation and other organizations focused on creating a 21st Century national transportation program. T4’s goal is to build a modernized infrastructure and healthy communities where people can live, work and play by aligning national, state, and local transportation policies with an array of issues like economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development. www.transportationforamerica.org
Ending a Vicious Cycle
In an interview last month, President-elect Barack Obama described America’s addiction to oil as a ‘shock and trance‘ cycle, in which increasing oil consumption creates skyrocketing energy prices, leading to calls to for bold solutions and energy independence — that is, until prices temporarily drop and our political leaders conveniently avoid tough issues like energy security and climate change.
After oil prices hovered at record levels throughout the summer, it’s not altogether surprising that as the price of oil has plummeted alongside our economy, some are looking for new excuses to avoid our most pressing global issues. For influential players in this debate, it’s an easy time to argue that an economic recessions give us little leverage to create bold alternative energy plans or fight climate change with investment in new technologies.
As president Obama indicated, we have to break down the illogical notion that our efforts on energy security and climate change should come to a halt in order to rebuild our economy. Fortunately, the most obvious answer here is also the simplest: We can do both.
Policy insiders, political pundits, and top administration members have all argued that making the right investments in modern, green infrastructure — repaired highways and bridges, expanded mass transit capacity, new bicycle and pedestrians paths, improved freight and passenger rail –- would support millions of sustainable jobs and help us transition to a more sustainable, energy independent, 21st-century economy. If we can absorb that lesson, we might be able get something big done with an economic recovery package next year — and help kill our ’shock and trance’ mentality for good.
October 16, 2008Talking points of no return
In their third and final presidential debate, Barack Obama and John McCain batted their plans back and forth on environmental issues like oil dependence and climate change, but didn’t offer too many new ideas. (Grist — Kate Sheppard)
October 15, 2008Your vote, your crummy highways
CNN looks at the presidential candidates’ plans for investing in infrastructure, highlighting John McCain’s focus on cutting back earmarks and Barack Obama’s proposal to create an infrastructure bank. (Tami Luhby)
October 6, 2008Issues: Infrastructure: Approach With Caution
With the financial crisis and $700 billion bailout package dominating conversation in Washington and on the campaign travel, political candidates are avoiding a central economic issue — the need to reinvest in our crumbling infrastructure. (Congressional Quarterly — Colby Itkowitz)
September 23, 2008All the Candidate’s Cars
While the real contest is still more than a month away, John McCain has already topped Barack Obama in one less-than-prestigious category — the Arizona Republican owns 13 cars to the Senator from Illinois’ one.
September 10, 2008To win the presidential race, it takes energy
Citing the importance of energy issues this election season, USA Today walks through the positions of Barack Obama and John McCain on gas prices, drilling, climate change, and other major topics. (Paul Davidson and Barbara Hagenbaugh)
September 5, 2008‘Drill here, drill now’ is drilled in to Americans
Thanks to a media drumbeat and political grandstanding, 51 percent of Americans believe that drilling would immediately bring down gas prices — while the country’s own energy department says that it would not have a significant impact before 2030. (Los Angeles Times — Geoffrey Mohan)
August 25, 2008Obama Promotes Plan For Urban Development
Bringing renewed attention to urban affairs during the presidential campaign, Barack Obama is relaunching his urban agenda, a plan which includes proposals for a $60-million infrastructure bank and new office in the White House devoted to metropolitan issues. (Wall Street Journal — Corey Dade)
-
- Why Jackson, MS needs better transit and complete streets
December 17, 2008 - Introducing the Streetsblog Network
December 8, 2008 - Americans overwhelmingly support new transportation investments
November 20, 2008 - Governors call for new approach to transportation
October 15, 2008 - Reinventing American Transportation
October 10, 2008
- Why Jackson, MS needs better transit and complete streets
Join Us As A Partner Organization
Transportation: In your eyes
Send your transportation-related photos to photos@t4america.org