President Obama Proposes Major Funding Increases, Reorganization for Nation’s Transport

[marmar]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6wcUW7PCqLU/SVUb8JE2wwI/AAAAAAAAAe8/BRFvYskAqPE/s400/zzValley+Metro+Lightrail.jpg


from the Transport Politic blog:




Today, the White House Office of Management and Budget released the President’s proposed FY 2012 budget, announcing a major increase in funding for the nation’s transportation infrastructure, both this year and over the next six.

The President, if his wishes are endorsed by the Congress, would increase federal support for transportation to $128 billion in 2012, compared to $77 billion in 2010. The Administration will begin pushing for a $556 billion six-year transportation bill, almost doubling what was approved in SAFETEA-LU, the last — and now expired — piece of transportation legislation. Though the White House has yet to demonstrate where it would find the funding to support these measures, the President has argued that any increased spending be compensated through reduced spending elsewhere or revenue increases.

Funding would apparently come from a “bipartisan financing for the transportation trust fund,” though no such agreement on what that means yet exists.

.....(snip).....

Though the Administration would increase funding for roads construction from $41 billion in the previous budget to $70 billion, that increase is dwarfed in percentage by proposed spending on transit, which would more than double from $8 billion annually currently to $22 billion. Over six years, spending on capital improvements for public transportation would add up to $119 billion. Some reorganization of the Department of Transportation would occur, as 55 overlapping highway grant programs would be morphed into just five, easing accountability and management. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2011/02/14/president-obama-proposes-major-funding-increases-reorganization-for-nations-transport/

[nxylas]

1. And it looks like this includes urban transit, not just high-speed rail

Good news indeed.

[txlibdem]

2. $775 Million for more buses -- what a waste!

PRT is far cheaper, reaches many times more riders, is more convenient, does not suffer the traffic problems that buses do, costs only 40% as much to operate and maintain, and costs 1/3rd as much to install.

Why is our President mentally stuck in the era of the horse and buggy?!?