The senator who introduced the legislation cited concerns about the state’s low levels of workforce participation, noting that a lack of transportation is one of the main reasons Alabama residents can’t participate in the workforce.

An Alabama state senator is proposing a new funding mechanism for public transit, citing concerns that many of the state’s residents don’t have access to jobs due to a lack of transportation. As Alexander Willis explains in an article for Alabama Daily News, “Alabama’s labor participation rate was 57.5% in August, among the lowest rates in the country. State lawmakers last year established a commission to investigate the root causes of the state’s low labor participation rate. A lack of reliable transportation was one of the key findings.”
Senator Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) introduced Senate Bill 11 to improve the state’s public transit system, which frequently ranks among the least developed in the nation. The bill would add a $5 charge to vehicle license and registration fees to generate revenue for transit.
Coleman-Madison says the bill could have a transformative impact when combined with available federal matching funds. According to policy advocate Dev Wakeley, “State investment here could bring down more federal money, and if you’re talking about a good return on investment, you can’t really get much better than the four-to-one capital matching rate for federal funds.”
FULL STORY: Citing workforce needs, Alabama lawmaker pushes to fund public transportation

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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