“This is the right moment for a meaningful investment in transit that will help Americareduce its dependence on foreign oil and improve our environment at the same time,” Torrico said. “More people are relying on transit systems to meet their transportation needs.”
The members are asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to consider “increasing the investment in public transit and allowing greater flexibility in using funds to support transit operations. Public transit is vital for metropolitan areas and surrounding communities and there is no better time than now to invest in the nation’s transit systems.”
The legislators are requesting that the changes be made during the markup process.
“This letter shows that California is working to make a good bill great,” said Dan Jacobson, legislative director of Environment California. “With legislators urging Congress to put more money into public transportation, the stimulus package can create more green jobs and help reduce global warming.”
Public transit ridership shot up 7 percent last year, according to the American Public Transit Association. In California, the California Transit Association estimates that for every $1 billion invested in new transit capital projects, some 31,400 jobs are created and $3 billion in local economic activity is generated.
Transportation Authority of Monterey County Update:
January 30th, 2009
By Kristen Hoschouer
The Transportation Agency Board authorized a call for projects to program the potential federal infrastructure stimulus funds allocated to Transportation Agency for Monterey County. The timing and dollar amount of a potential federal infrastructure stimulus package is currently unknown. A ballpark estimate of Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s share of a stimulus package could range from $8 million to $20 million. The final stimulus package is expected to be signed into law by February 16, 2009. There is considerable urgency to be ready to proceed when a federal infrastructure stimulus package is finalized. The clock for short-term deadlines to start construction on projects such as 90 days or 150 days will start as soon as funds are allocated to the state.
The key criteria for selecting stimulus package projects include:
- Jurisdiction has approved Disadvantage Business Enterprise Program, Federal Master Agreement, and Quality Assurance Plan in accordance with Caltrans requirements;
- Ready to obligate within the 90 days, 120 days, 150 days, or by July 1, 2010 time limits set in the stimulus package,
- ability to meet federal and state project delivery requirements,
- geographic equity,
- multimodal benefits of the proposed project,
- regional benefits of the proposed project,
- job creation
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