TRANSPORTATION: ISSUES: Mass Transit Projects Provide Transportation Equity and Workforce Development
David P. Dillard
TRANSPORTATION: ISSUES:
Mass Transit Projects Provide Transportation Equity and
Workforce Development
Mass Transit Projects Provide Transportation Equity and
Workforce Development
Monday, February 25, 2008
Progressive States Network
Daily Dispatch
<http://www.progressivestates.org/blog/782/mass-transit-
projects-provide-transportation-equity-and-workforce-development>
A shorter URL for the above link:
Mass Transit Projects Provide Transportation Equity and Workforce
Development
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty spent less than 24 hours reviewing a
transit plan that would create jobs, increase safety, fund better local
public transit, and reduce gridlock on the state's roads before he vetoed
it. The transit package was backed by a wide coalition of unions, the
Chamber of Commerce, and environmental advocacy groups. In calling for the
legislature to overturn the veto, the state's AFL-CIO President Ray
Waldron said that the sorry condition of roads, bridges, and transit
services in the state "has a negative impact on every worker and business
in the state. Investments in our transportation infrastructure would help
our state's businesses -- and create 33,000 jobs a year for the next five
years."
General investments in our infrastructure are poor across the board, but
there has also been a strong, overt bias against public transit projects
especially at the federal level with the Bush administration proposing to
slash mass transit funding in its last budget, including a 40 percent cut
in funding to Amtrak. In 2004, spending by federal, state and local
governments on transit projects was overwhelmingly in favor of highways
and bridges. Highway and bridge spending averaged over $70 billion while
non-vehicular transit received just $9.2 billion.
This Dispatch will highlight ways that states can work around the federal
bias and obstacles to implement successful public transportation options.
As detailed below, public transit is not only essential for fighting
climate change, but brings economic benefits to states and good,
well-paying jobs.
Covered in This Article
The Need for Public Transit
Successful State Transit Projects
Denver, Colorado
After several years of delays and half-measures, leaders in North
Carolina are moving forward on Charlotte's public transit system,
CATS.
LYNX commuter rail system
Virginia is looking to implement a mass transit expansion that could
include Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Arizona
Illinois
The Transportation Equity Network (TEN)
Transportation Equity Network and Workforce Development
Conclusion
Resources
Reports
General Resources
State Transit System Profiles
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The complete article may be read at the URL above.
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Thanks to Ed Havens for posting these and many more photograph links.
Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
jw...@temple.edu
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