T4A Calls for Smarter Jobs Policy

In yesterday’s post about the Streetsblog Network‘s first birthday, I should have mentioned the crucial role that Transportation for America played in the network’s conception and inception. We couldn’t have done it without them.

T4A’s
vision of a national coalition of groups and individuals who can
influence transportation policy at the federal level was key to the
network’s formation — as was their funding support.

In the
months after the network’s launch, we partnered with T4A to keep our
members abreast of opportunities to speak out on transportation in the
stimulus package. And we’re going to continue that kind of work as the
Congress moves forward, albeit slowly, on a new transportation funding
bill — as well as any jobs creation legislation that’s on the horizon.

Today, T4A’s campaign blog
has a post on a letter that they’ve sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
about just that subject. It calls on the Speaker to stay focused on
long-term goals for a sustainable transportation system when crafting
short-term jobs proposals:

Let’s put people to work building a sustainable future. (Photo: wools via Flickr)

If we’re going to fund infrastructure investments to put people back
to work, it’s imperative that we get the most out of our precious
dollars — and stay on track for passing the long-term transportation
bill we so desperately need to get America moving again.

Any plan to create jobs through transportation spending should:

1. Create the greatest number of jobs in the quickest time possible by
   prioritizing rehabilitation and operation of existing infrastructure
   and target new workforce development opportunities for people most in
   need of employment. (i.e., “Fix-it-first.”)
2. Chart a new 21st century direction in transportation policy.
3. Be limited to no more than a year and not replace the long term authorization of the transportation bill.

More from around the network: Cyclelicious has some sweet numbers on the rise in biking in Marin County, California. The DC Bicycle Transportation Examiner digs into the growing backlash against bikers in Philadelphia. And The Urbanophile admires some fantasy transit maps from Columbus, Ohio.