Comments on: CALPIRG, Smart Growth America Slam State Stimulus Spending http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/29/calpirg-smart-growth-america-slam-state-stimulus-spending/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Vanessa http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/29/calpirg-smart-growth-america-slam-state-stimulus-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-26321 Vanessa Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:12:50 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=3091#comment-26321 "If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places" --F.K. Our country was new to paved roads when we created a 41,000 mile network that had unforeseen effects, so it is sad to see the so-called progressive California today continue to significantly fund new highway projects at the expense of mass transit projects, despite the laundry list of known negative effects to our society and environment. We are stronger in planning and allocating money for multimodal transportation at the regional level- why doesn't our state reflect this? We must plan for people instead of narrowly focusing on traffic, especially since the common thought is that work trips are the reason for congestion when it is actually non-work trips that overthrow road capacity. “If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places” –F.K.

Our country was new to paved roads when we created a 41,000 mile network that had unforeseen effects, so it is sad to see the so-called progressive California today continue to significantly fund new highway projects at the expense of mass transit projects, despite the laundry list of known negative effects to our society and environment. We are stronger in planning and allocating money for multimodal transportation at the regional level- why doesn’t our state reflect this? We must plan for people instead of narrowly focusing on traffic, especially since the common thought is that work trips are the reason for congestion when it is actually non-work trips that overthrow road capacity.

]]> By: chris http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/29/calpirg-smart-growth-america-slam-state-stimulus-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-9751 chris Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:24:15 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=3091#comment-9751 The most energy efficient form of transportation requires that we use our cars less, build livable and sustainable communities. I'm highly skeptical that building new highway capacity injects money into local economies any more effectively than building / improving biking and walking facilities. The most energy efficient form of transportation requires that we use our cars less, build livable and sustainable communities. I’m highly skeptical that building new highway capacity injects money into local economies any more effectively than building / improving biking and walking facilities.

]]> By: Abby http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/29/calpirg-smart-growth-america-slam-state-stimulus-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-9691 Abby Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:52:29 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=3091#comment-9691 There are very practical reasons why the state and local agencies are spending the stimulus funds on highway widening projects rather than mass transit. One very important reason is jobs creation: as much as we need to develop mass transit, it does not provide as many jobs as highway projects. The stimulus bill was enacted for the purpose of stimulating the economy, not exploring energy efficient transportation. Another reason why state and local agencies are spending the money on highway projects is that to be eligible for funding, the projects have to be construction ready. The feds will not award stimulus funds for projects that are still in the planning/design state. Accordingly, state and local agencies do not have authority to spend the stimulus funds on transit planning. The feds don't just give each agency a certain amount of funds to spend on transportation however they see fit. There are an awful lot of conditions. California does need to create more mass transit. It is unfortunate that the stimulus money cannot be spent on transportation planning. Please contact your congress person about securing federal funding for transportation research and planning. There are very practical reasons why the state and local agencies are spending the stimulus funds on highway widening projects rather than mass transit. One very important reason is jobs creation: as much as we need to develop mass transit, it does not provide as many jobs as highway projects. The stimulus bill was enacted for the purpose of stimulating the economy, not exploring energy efficient transportation. Another reason why state and local agencies are spending the money on highway projects is that to be eligible for funding, the projects have to be construction ready. The feds will not award stimulus funds for projects that are still in the planning/design state. Accordingly, state and local agencies do not have authority to spend the stimulus funds on transit planning. The feds don’t just give each agency a certain amount of funds to spend on transportation however they see fit. There are an awful lot of conditions.

California does need to create more mass transit. It is unfortunate that the stimulus money cannot be spent on transportation planning. Please contact your congress person about securing federal funding for transportation research and planning.

]]> By: mikesonn http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/29/calpirg-smart-growth-america-slam-state-stimulus-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-9651 mikesonn Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:48:20 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=3091#comment-9651 I hate to say it, because I was optimistic also, but you really can't be surprised with the percentages. Especially since the state has been using public transit funding as a piggy bank to the point of completely exhausting it. Why not continue that complete lack of respect when it comes to the stimulus? I hate to say it, because I was optimistic also, but you really can’t be surprised with the percentages. Especially since the state has been using public transit funding as a piggy bank to the point of completely exhausting it. Why not continue that complete lack of respect when it comes to the stimulus?

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