Stimulus Package

I-71 I-70 Columbus OH

The 'INVEST in America Act' Would Help States Kick the Highway Habit

While Congress debates its bipartisan infrastructure deal, a House-approved bill, the INVEST in America Act, waits in the wings with the potential to alter the direction of transportation planning in the United States.

July 20, 2021 - Politico

Birds Eye View of the George Washington Bridge

Updated: Strong Towns: Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Would 'Make our Infrastructure Crisis Worse'

To some, the agreement promises too much funding for traditional infrastructure programs rather than 'adaptations and innovations.'

July 12, 2021 - Strong Towns

California State Capital

Direct Payment, Rent Relief, Homelessness Funding in Expanded 'California Comeback Plan'

Nearly 6 million Californians will receive $600 in economic stimulus checks as the state makes a plan to spend its surprise, massive budget surplus. $2.6 million for rent relief and $2 billion to pay utility bills are also planned.

May 11, 2021 - KQED

Transit Projects Create More Bang for the Buck

A new report from Smart Growth America finds that stimulus spending on public transit produced 70% more jobs per dollar than road spending.

February 7, 2011 - The Hill

The Short-Term Problem of the Stimulus Package

The short-term focus of the first year's worth of stimulus package spending could be creating long-term problem's for America's already troubled infrastructure, according to this review from the Chicago Tribune's Blair Kamin.

February 22, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

More Bang For Your Buck From Transit Spending Over Highways

A new study shows that stimulus funds spent on public transportation were a more effective job creator than stimulus funds spent on highways.

December 18, 2009 - Smart Growth America blog

Sen. Tom Coburn Doesn't Get Bikes

On his blog, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood lambastes Senator Coburn for calling bike infrastructure wasteful.

December 11, 2009 - Welcome to the Fast Lane: The Official Blog of the US Secretary of Transportation

Isn't This How We Got Into This Mess in the First Place?

In the name of economic stimulus, the government has invested deeply in the very business (real estate) that was driving the economy down. Does that make sense? Streetsblog's Ryan Avent reports.

November 7, 2009 - Streetsblog

Cars and Houses Brought Back the Economy

The economy is up 3.5% in the 3rd quarter, thanks in large part to government subsidies for car and home buying. Otherwise, the impact of the stimulus has been muted, says The Washington Times.

November 1, 2009 - The Washington Times

Intermountain West: Off the Map for HSR Plans

Planners from Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Reno met this week to discuss plans for high-speed rail between their cities, since they've been left off the map of potential corridors to be funded by the stimulus package.

October 9, 2009 - The Arizona Republic

Broadband Stimulus Grant Requests Flood In

The application period has opened for federal stimulus grants to fund broadband Internet access projects in underserved areas. The response has been overwhelming.

August 31, 2009 - USA Today

Balancing the Needs for Transportation Between Cities and Within Cities

Yonah Freemark, blogger at The Transport Politic, argues that long-distance transportation projects like high-speed rail are essential to creating a balance of intercity and intracity transit.

August 27, 2009 - the transport politic

Sabotaging the Smart Grid

James Surowiecki argues that state governments are sabotaging the economic recovery, and simultaneously sinking the creation of a smart energy grid.

July 24, 2009 - The New Yorker

LaHood on the Stimulus Package

Speaking today at the Center for National Policy in D.C., Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood touted the success of the ARRA stimulus package and answered questions on transportation bill reauthorization and other topics.

July 15, 2009 - TheCityFix

Japan's Stimulus Package Lowers Highway Tolls To Stimulate Travel

Japan's four major highway operators will drastically lower their tolls, thanks to a generous government economic stimulus package aimed to encourage motoring during the major holidays. The operators are preparing for the enormous traffic jams.

May 5, 2009 - Bloomberg.com

The Smart Grid and the Stimulus Package

The stimulus package is jump-starting smart grid projects, says Jay Birnbaum, Senior Vice President of CURRENT Group.

May 5, 2009 - Focus Washington

2,000 Transportation Projects

That's how many projects the Obama administration claims to have launched with the stimulus money, countering detractors who argued that the funding couldn't be spent fast enough to have an impact.

April 13, 2009 - The Washington Post

Regional Rail Chances Getting Brighter in Detroit

With a recent infusion of $44 million and hopes for more from the federal stimulus package, regional light rail is gathering momentum in Detroit. Advocates see more than mobility in the struggling city's future.

March 17, 2009 - The Detroit Free Press

Translating the Stimulus: What it Means for Energy

$16.8 billion of Pres. Obama's stimulus package is allocated to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Steve Coll of the New Yorker explains where the funding is going, and what it means.

March 16, 2009 - The New Yorker

Stimulus Has Good News for Cities

Next American City's Jeffrey Hill reads through the federal stimulus bill to find good news for cities.

March 16, 2009 - Next American City

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