Economic Stimulus

Funding in the federal stimulus package for high speed rail has been cheered by transit advocates across the country. This opinion piece argues that in addition, funds should be taken away from the auto industry.

February 25, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Before officials get too excited about using stimulus money to repair the nation's infrastructure, they should carefully consider design, according to this oped.

February 5, 2009 - The Orlando Sentinel

We have just published a new report, "Smart Transportation Economic Stimulation: Infrastructure Investments That Support Strategic Planning Objectives Provide True Economic Development" which discusses factors to consider when evaluating transportation economic stimulation strategies.

February 3, 2009 - Todd Litman

As the Federal government prepares to pour massive amounts of funding into road infrastructure, James Russell sends up a warning that the 'shovel-ready' projects may just be more bridges to nowhere.

January 23, 2009 - Bloomberg.com

John Norquist presents CNUs recommendations for improving the American Recovery and Reinvestment Economic Recovery Bill, including more funding for transit and smarter road building.

January 20, 2009 - Congress for the New Urbanism

The first draft of the house stimulus package has been released. This piece from Stateline looks at its major components.

January 18, 2009 - Stateline

Officials are complaining about the first draft of the economic stimulus package, arguing that it does not dedicate enough money to transit projects and heavily favors road building.

January 18, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

In this column, former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer calls on the Obama Administration to direct its stimulus package towards innovative technologies and "transformative" projects, not just the status quo roads and bridges of the past.

January 10, 2009 - Slate

Obama has compared the size of the stimulus package he wants to the 1956 National Highway Act. If the states have their way, it may be just that -- a new highway bill with little left for transit.

December 31, 2008 - Bloomberg

In an effort to secure federal stimulus funding, cities and states are elbowing to see who can get transportation projects started the fastest.

December 19, 2008 - Stateline

Surprising many, IL Congressman Ray LaHood, a Republican, was selected to fill the transportation position in Obama's administration, presumably to show a bi-partisan approach. Transportation reauthorization and the stimulus package await LaHood.

December 18, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

Economic stimulation is an important issue these days. Let’s be smart when choosing economic stimulation strategies.

November 30, 2008 - Todd Litman

Local and regional governments in Riverside County, California, have assembled a "Red Team" task force to mitigate the impacts of the foreclosure crisis in the fastest growing region in the state.

November 30, 2008 - The Planning Report

Dismissed earlier in the year as a method too slow to revive the economy, infrastructure investment is now receiving renewed attention as a bailout for the country.

November 16, 2008 - Nate Berg

As China embarks on the greatest rail-building investment since the U.S. built its transcontinental railroad, this article points to the urgent need to reform its state-controlled pricing system, both for freight and passengers, to make it effective.

November 11, 2008 - Business Week

Stimulus packages are nothing more than an "economic sugar rush", according to columnist David Brooks. He argues that the country needs to create a larger-scale transportation-based infrastructure project to really bail out the economy.

November 3, 2008 - International Herald Tribune

If a group of bipartisan governors from some of the nation's largest states have their way, the $168 billion economic stimulus package will include $30 billion to repair the nation's infrastructure, including road, rail, and bridges.

February 28, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle