Transportation Funding

Obama Calls For $50 Billion Transportation Stimulus

Calling it an investment plan in job growth in the transportation sector, the President in a Labor Day speech outlined a six-year plan for investment in road, rail, and airports to be paid for by eliminating tax breaks and subsidies from big oil.

September 9, 2010 - The New York Times - Politics

Why is Transit So Expensive to Build?

Glen Bottoms at The American Conservative attempts to answer the question.

September 2, 2010 - The American Conservative

The Tangibility and Viability of L.A.'s 30/10 Plan

The Brookings Institution's Robert Puentes reports back on a recent discussion about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's 30/10 plan -- the idea to cram 30 years worth of transit investments into 10.

August 28, 2010 - The New Republic

Paying the Bill for High Speed Rail in California

The prospect of a high speed rail line connecting California's major cities has been appealing to many in the state. But with less than a quarter of the money needed for the project, the risks are hard to ignore.

August 18, 2010 - San Jose Mercury News

Atlanta's Regional Transportation Sales Tax Rankles Cities

Cities in Metropolitan Atlanta are rallying against a regional sales tax increase aimed at raising money for the area's transportation needs.

August 16, 2010 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Infrastructure Investment Stimulating Job Creation in Southern California

Major hubs of transportation and logistics are planning major capital investments in Southern California over the next several years.

August 9, 2010 - The Planning Report

LaHood Repeats Vow: No New Fuel Taxes & No VMT Fee

While acknowledging that the 18.4 cent gas tax is insufficient to meet today's and tomorrow's transportation needs, LaHood said that increasing fuel taxes now would jeopardize the economic recovery.

August 3, 2010 - The Journal of Commerce

Depaving Rural American Roads-Literally

Rather than being part of a car liberation or permeable pavement movement, poorly maintained county roads are having their asphalt ground into gravel as a cost-cutting measure to avoid costly road reconstruction. Lack of funding is the cause.

July 19, 2010 - Wall Street Journal - U.S.

Senate Climate Bill To Fund Transportation And Affect Fuel Markets

The American Power Act sets limits on greenhouse gas emissions, creates a cap, trade, and dividend program that rebates funds to energy bill payers, directs $6 billion yearly to targeted transportation programs, and curtails EPA's climate authority.

May 14, 2010 - Kansas City Star

Ceding Local Control to Highway Planners

Roger Valdez looks back at the history of highways, and the switch from local control to state and federal control due to the burden of financing and maintaining roads.

May 12, 2010 - Sightline Daily

How to Fix the Highway System

Two major reports released in the last couple of weeks detail very different approaches to fixing the highway system in the U.S. At the National Journal, experts weigh in on who has the right approach.

May 8, 2010 - National Journal Online

Billions in Transportation Funding Needed in PA, Says Panel

Pennsylvania's Transportation Advisory Committee says the state desperately needs to boost its budget for transit, roads and especially bridges by $3 billion.

May 4, 2010 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Houston's Light Rail Funding Woes

Too much, too fast, is the analysis from The Transport Politic. Based on a voter-approved, Nov, 2003 plan funded by a one-cent sales tax, the transit plus HOV/HOT conversion plan has run into funding problems. This article focuses on LRT expansion.

March 18, 2010 - the transport politic

Biking The TIGER

Bicycling and walking advocates should also be happy about the new TIGER grants - almost half of the funded projects included funding for bike and ped infrastructure.

February 19, 2010 - Sierra Club Compass blog

Dallas Streetcar is 1 of 51 Projects to Receive Federal Funding

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced $1.5 billion in transportation grants this morning, including $23 million towards a streetcar project in Dallas.

February 17, 2010 - The Dallas Morning News

Schwarzenegger's Budget Fix: Reduce Gas Tax & Cut Transit

As incredible as it sounds, it's true. CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's scheme is to convert the sales tax on gas to an excise tax partly to circumvent a June court ruling that he had illegally diverted public transit funds to balance the state budget

January 13, 2010 - The Sacramento Bee

Initiative Launched To Protect CA Transportation Funds

CA's chronic budget deficit has taken its toll on transportation funding, be it public transit operations or fixing potholes. An initiative has been launched to prevent diversion of transportation funds just as the Gov. proposed another scheme.

January 6, 2010 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Federal Bills To Provide Billions For Transportation Working Through Congress

The jobs and defense bills - both of which will provide much needed money for transportation projects while extending the current transportation authorization law (SAFETEA-LU) through Sept. 2010, are working there way to the President's desk.

December 23, 2009 - Transportation for America

$70b in Freeway Funding Comes From Non-Users

A new study by Subsidyscope shows that between 1982 and 2007, federal highway revenue derived from non-users of the highway system has doubled.

November 26, 2009 - WorldChanging

Raided CA Transit Funding May Return

The California Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that funding for bus and train service could not be taken for other uses.

October 5, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

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