Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is pushing to get more mass-transit money into the Senate version of the economic stimulus package, teaming up with Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a fellow New York Democrat, who successfully squeezed an additional $3 billion for transit into the House stimulus bill last week.
“In order for our economy to get the boost it so desperately needs from the stimulus package, we have to ensure there is enough funding to upgrade our nation’s transportation infrastructure, particularly mass transit,” said a statement from Schumer’s office on Monday. “We are going to work night and day to make sure this stimulus package gives New York’s subways, buses, and rails the boost they need to keep our mass transit system on track.”
Schumer introduced an amendment to the Senate stimulus package that would increase transit funding by $6.5 billion, making for a total of $14.9 billion. Money for transit capital projects would increase from $8.4 billion to $10.4 billion, $2 billion would be added for rail modifications, and another $2.5 billion would be added for the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program.
As Streetsblog points out, both the House and Senate versions of the bill are currently missing operating assistance. The original proposal from House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair James Oberstar (D-Minn.) called for $2.5 billion for operating assistance, which would help struggling transit programs keep the trains and buses running by temporarily covering some of the costs of fuel, maintenance, and employee salaries. A proposed amendment from Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) to restore that funding never made it to the floor in the House.
Operations funding is probably more important than money going to new transit projects, according to Deron Lovaas, federal transportation policy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It’s hard to seriously consider expanding transit service when agencies are facing cutbacks right now,” he said. “Before you can bring the patient back to life, you need to stop the bleeding. That’s what’s happening with transit service shortfalls right now across the country.”
The Senate is expected to take up debate of the stimulus package this week; senators will have the opportunity to amend the bill on the floor.
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Comments
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Delay And Deny Posted 3:28 pm
02 Feb 2009
Change? No...not for Democrats. It's the same old story. Tax the middle class and build useless city projects for the elites. Trains to nowhere, tunnels that collapse. That's what you elected folks and now they are here to pick your pocket.
You know you're not a liberal when...
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ejd Posted 7:29 am
03 Feb 2009
What taxes on the middle class? None proposed so far. And city projects for the elite? Since when do the so-called "elite" take the bus or subway to work? This mindless parroting of empty right-wing talking points is beyond tiresome.
I fully agree that there are serious problems with various parts of the stimulus package, but spending on transit projects isn't one of them. This country desperately needs it.
Compared to Western Europe and Japan, and even some developing nations, we have the least efficient transportation system around. Not only are our roads falling apart, our air traffic control system is archaic (China's is more advanced than ours), decent public transit is lacking in most of the country, our intercity passenger rail system is an international embarrassment, and we lack the intermodal connections that would optimize energy efficiency and maximize economic productivity.
The result is a transport system that wastes a huge amount of energy and suffers delays that cost our economy hundreds of billions of dollars per year.
Since Jabailo is obviously a right-winger, perhaps s/he will accept the view of a former Commerce Department official from the Reagan administration:
"The US Government needs to take a hard look at the country's physical infrastructure. People who travel abroad often have a slight feeling of returning to a developing country. While most foreign cities have fast rail connections from the airport to downtown, most US cities do not. The whole US air traffic system from the airlines to air traffic control technology is obviously under stress. In Europe and Japan, rail is fast, comfortable, convenient, and efficient. US rail travel is torture. Among international travelers, the US telephone system has become a bit of a joke. My mobile phone works better in Bombay than Washington, DC. Many of our municipal water systems are getting close to 100 years old, and the blackout of 2003 showed the weaknesses in our electric grid. We cannot be competitive with second-rate infrastructure. The US government needs to make improvement a top priority." -- Clyde Prestowitz, from his book "Three Billion New Capitalists".
When it comes to infrastructure of all types, you get what you pay for-- period. America has made the bad decision to shortchange infrastructure investment.
The economy is bad and deteriorating rapidly. We're in debt up to our eyeballs. Climate change and peak oil are breathing down our necks while we continue to send money to hostile countries to buy their oil. This is real ball now. There is enough blame to go around among Repubs and Dems alike, but we no longer have the luxury of engaging in mindless, empty, partisan rhetoric like Jabailo's. What we need now is intelligent, constructive discussion that will lead to productive action.
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