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

First Impressions of Obama’s Big Infrastructure Announcement

President Obama gave the first outlines yesterday of a $50 billion plan for new infrastructure investment, which would provide funds for the expansion of high-speed rail and local transit systems, road construction and repair, and runway upgrades at airports. A centerpiece of the proposal is the creation of a national infrastructure bank, which would pool public and private funds to finance transportation projects.

President Obama touts his $50 billion infrastructure plan yesterday in Milwaukee. Photo: New York Times
President Obama touts his $50 billion infrastructure plan yesterday in Milwaukee. Photo: New York Times

Transportation for America called the plan “fundamental to the long-term health of our economy.” Director James Corless issued this statement:

The Administration has recognized that the earmark-driven, unaccountable spending of the past must end. The President today has promised to press for carefully targeted investments in those projects that compete best in satisfying clearly articulated national goals for energy security, safety, affordability, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness.

Yonah Freemark at The Transport Politic asks how the timing of the infrastructure push will affect its chances in Congress:

It is not clear how much enthusiasm the Congress holds for what is being portrayed as a second stimulus, nor how much can actually be built with the money, which would be invested over a period of six years though mostly at the front end.

James Rowen at The Political Environment had a front row view of the President’s speech, given at a labor rally in Milwaukee:

I loved the administration’s commitment to a national passenger rail system; jobs and growth for Milwaukee will be and already are the local outcomes.

Rowen thinks the plan might win broad support, even in this divided political climate, though not necessarily for the right reasons:

Obama’s plan will keep road-building at a very high pace, so the highway lobby and its allies in both parties, in all legislators, have nothing to fear from the train alternative getting some funding.

Expect more details on the plan to surface soon. The Times reports that Obama will deliver a speech in Cleveland tomorrow introducing a “broader package” of proposals tied to the reauthorization of the transportation bill.

Elsewhere on the Network, M-Bike.org outlines Detroit’s plans for revitalization via a “Strategic Framework” of interconnected dense neighborhoods surrounded by greenspace; Extraordinary Observations explores what lessons we can learn about “free” parking from the characters of Seinfeld; and Baltimore Spokes goes into detail about the Black Hawk, Colorado bike ban.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Unproven Tunnel Idea Getting in the Way of Inland Empire Transit Solutions

San Bernardino County Transportation Authority is still considering a car tunnel instead of high-capacity transit serving the Ontario Airport and its planned expansions

November 14, 2024

Downtown Metro B/D Line Subway Service Suspended This Weekend For Electrical Work

Metro is temporarily closing DTLA B/D Line stations and SGV A Line stations - all to get ready for new extensions opening soon

November 14, 2024

This Week In Livable Streets

Metro 14 Freeway expansion, Metro 5 Freeway expansion, Dutch mobility symposium, river/arroyo ride, Metro East SFV rail, Metro transit alerts, and more

November 12, 2024

Beach Streets Uptown – Open Streets Open Thread

Cyclists, skaters and pedestrians took to two miles of North Long Beach streets - including a revamped Artesia Boulevard - though participation was somewhat sparser than past Beach Streets events

November 12, 2024
See all posts