Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Streetsblog.net: Help Rep. Oberstar Green the Stimulus

11:19 AM PST on December 22, 2008

JLO_2_Bike2th.jpgRep. James Oberstar, D-Minn.

A lot of Streetsblog Network
members are already starting to wind down for the holidays, and we're
all for that. But in Washington, where lawmakers are working on an
economic stimulus bill, things are happening that could have major
ramifications for many years to come.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Minnesota Democratic Rep. James Oberstar, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is advocating that mass transit should receive a significant portion of the proposed transportation stimulus money:

He is suggesting Congress steer $30 billion to highways and bridgesand $12 billion to transit -- part of $85 billion being discussed fortransportation spending in the stimulus plan.

These figures may change, but it would be a significant policy shiftif Congress were to pass a bill that provides mass-transit fundingequal to 40% of the total spent on highways. For years, Congress hasfunded public-transportation projects at 25% of the level that has goneto highways, which is currently about $42 billion a year.

Oberstar is pushing against entrenched tradition on this point. Transportation for America has done some analysis of what states have asked for from a stimulus package, and the requests are heavily
weighted toward highways. So T4A is calling for us to take action and ask our Congressional representatives to put the money to smarter uses.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Rundown of New Federal Reconnecting Communities Grants for L.A. County

There are seven L.A. County Reconnecting Communities grants totaling $162 million - about 90% of that goes to Metro's Removing Barriers project, which includes new bus lanes, first/last mile walk/bike facilities, bike-share, and more.

March 19, 2024

Where L.A. City Will Add New Bus-Only Lanes

New bus lanes are coming to Broadway, Colorado Blvd., Crenshaw Blvd, Lincoln Blvd., Los Feliz Blvd., Santa Monica Blvd., Valley Blvd., Vermont Avenue, Westwood Blvd., Whittier Blvd. and many more city streets!

March 15, 2024
See all posts