Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Infrastructure

GOP ‘Streamlining’ Plan Threatens to Clear a Path for Highways and Pollution

By Tanya Snyder | Jul 20, 2011 | 8 Comments

The summary of the House Transportation Committee’s reauthorization bill – no legislative text has been released yet – includes several provisions for “streamlining” project delivery. While on its face, a little streamlining could help reduce excessive delays and bring costs in line, environmentalists are concerned that underlying the “streamlining” provision is a desire to gut […]

The Dangers of Touting the Job-Creation Benefits of Transpo Investment

By Tanya Snyder | Jul 1, 2011 | 3 Comments

Earlier this week, President Obama spoke to reporters at the White House. Fully aware of the growing concern in the country over the “jobless recovery,” Obama led off by talking about jobs – and pushing Congress to pass a transportation reauthorization. But was he using the wrong talking point? “Right now, Congress could send me […]

Fmr. Comptroller General: We Can’t Solve Our Problems With Spending Cuts

By Tanya Snyder | Jun 3, 2011 | No Comments

In an op-ed in this morning’s New York Times, Laura D’Andrea Tyson argues for increased investment in infrastructure, pointing out that the nation’s infrastructure will deteriorate quickly if spending is not increased. Tyson chaired the Council of Economic Advisers under President Clinton and currently serves on President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. “Infrastructure spending, […]

Sen. Kerry on Transportation Funding: “We’re in a Crazy Place Right Now”

By Tanya Snyder | May 17, 2011 | 14 Comments

As the House and Senate get closer to unveiling their respective transportation proposals, it’s crunch time for figuring out how to pay for infrastructure investment moving forward. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), who has let slip that he’s in favor of a two-year reauthorization because of current funding constraints, chaired a hearing in the Finance Committee […]

Mayors Rebel Against State-Controlled Highway Expansion, Fight For Transit

By Tanya Snyder | May 3, 2011 | 6 Comments

If your roads are congested, your bus lines are getting cut, and money is flowing to brand-new roads to nowhere, don’t blame your mayor. Chances are, he or she is as mad about it as you are. Mayors are speaking out against ineffective transportation funding mechanisms that direct scarce resources to sprawling highways and away […]

The U.S. Wants to “Borrow” From Transit to Pay for Highways

By Aaron Naparstek | Jul 29, 2008 | 16 Comments

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said yesterday that due to declining gas tax revenues, the Highway Trust Fund would need to borrow money from its mass transit account to pay for road projects. Today’s big news story was buried at the bottom of page A17 in the New York Times: Gasoline tax revenue is falling […]

Show More Stories