If our conversations with ordinary American voters are any guide, the bill introduced yesterday to strengthen “Buy America” provisions for federally funded infrastructure projects is likely to be popular across the political spectrum. The Invest in American Jobs Act of 2011 (HR 3533), sponsored by Congressman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), the ranking Democrat on the [...]

There’s been a resurgence of streetcars in the United States, with dozens of cities from Washington, D.C. to Tucson, Arizona and Cincinnati, Ohio competing each year for federal dollars to build new streetcar systems to help fill gaps in the existing transit network, bring new development to neglected corridors, and provide another travel option for [...]

Youtube user bobrpdx has some great videos of last week’s unveiling of the made in the USA streetcar in Portland, including interviews with Rep. Pete DeFazio and Rep. Earl Blumenauer. Check out the rest of his videos for more Portland transit goodness. In this particular video, Rep. DeFazio talks about the streetcar made locally by [...]

The first American-made streetcar in almost 60 years was unveiled to the public today in Portland, Oregon in a special ceremony today with transportation secretary Ray LaHood. To let everyone in Oregon know how significant Transportation for America thinks this event is, we took out an ad in The Oregonian today to congratulate Portland and their congressmen for making an investment in clean, green jobs in Portland.

With streetcars helping to bring new life to downtowns in Portland, Little Rock and Kenosha, city leaders are taking a second look at using transit to spur community development. (Augusta Chronicle — Tim Rausch)

With big city officials across the country warming to the idea of revitalizing downtown with convenient public transportation, at least 40 cities are developing plans for streetcar service. (New York Times — Bob Driehaus)

In Boise, Idaho, politicians and planners believe that a downtown streetcar program could go a long way in promoting development and housing in the center of the city. (Boise Weekly — Nathaniel Hoffman)

For the first time since 1962, Washington D.C. is planning to use streetcars in some areas to ease the burden on the strained Metro system. First neighborhood up — Anacostia. (Washington Post — Lena H. Sun)