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Congressional Black Caucus Calls for Bypassing States on New Jobs Bill
By Elana Schor |
As the $787 billion stimulus law nears its one-year anniversary, Congress’ choice to route the lion’s share of recovery funds through state capitals — including state DOTs where misplaced priorities are all too common — remains a sore spot for mayors and urban advocates. CBC Chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) (Photo: AP) Today the Congressional […]
Two Action Alerts to Improve Stimulus Package for Transit Today
By Matthew Roth |
Which one gets the stimulus money? NACTO Action Alert We’ve all been disappointed with the tiny margin of transit funding in the $825 billion Obama stimulus package, what amounts to only 1% of the total, despite the fact that 80% of us live in metropolitan regions and transit ridership is booming. Meanwhile highway expansion and […]
Polly Trottenberg Tapped for Senior U.S. DOT Spot
By Elana Schor |
It’s a happy Friday for transportation wonks: the White House has nominated Polly Trottenberg, executive director of Building America’s Future, as assistant secretary for policy at the federal DOT. Polly Trottenberg, tapped as assistant DOT secretary (Photo: NewTalk) Trottenberg’s ascension signals that the Obama administration will make transit a serious priority and encourage a more […]
Local Advocates Mourn “Death of Transit” as Part of National Campaign
By Matthew Roth |
Mock funeral for transit today in Oakland. Photos: Matthew Roth Transit advocates, transit riders, politicians, and religious figures mourned the continual underfunding of transit operations by staging a mock funeral for public transit above the 12th Street/Oakland BART station today. The event was tied to a national campaign led by Transit Riders for Public Transportation […]
Oberstar Stays Optimistic About New Transport Bill in 2010
By Elana Schor |
House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) on Friday renewed his call for action on a new federal infrastructure bill before year’s end, using a hearing on the Obama administration’s stimulus law to urge passage of long-term legislation as well as a second round of short-term investment in roads, bridges, and rail. House transport committee […]
It Gets Worse: Boxer/Inhofe to Request $50B More for Highways
By Matthew Roth |
Friends of the Earth tells Streetsblog San Francisco that Senator Barbara Boxer’s staff has confirmed that Boxer and Senator Inhofe will present an amendment to the federal Stimulus Plan for $50 billion in additional funding for highways, bringing the total to $80 billion, exactly the figure Inhofe demanded last week in a letter to the […]