Comment from Julie Dailey
January 28th, 2009 at 10:10 pm

We need to continue to move in this direction away from the "almight car," in order to save our environment and ourselves.

Comment from Deborah
January 28th, 2009 at 10:12 pm

woo hoo! Very thankful for the environmental defense fund and their last minute email campaign. I wouldn't have known about this amendment without their email!

Comment from June Muller
January 28th, 2009 at 10:14 pm

I am fortunate to live on the island of Manhattan, in the City of New York. We have a remarkable public transportation system, which needs repair and upgrading.

Although I love to drive, using our public transportation system is so much more efficient that that's how I travel.

Public transportation throughout the U.S. would improve transit efficiency AND reduce greenhouse emissions AND save private and public money. What could be better?

Comment from Dr Ed Feraco
January 28th, 2009 at 10:15 pm

Wasteful spending of taz payer's $$$.

Comment from Maddie
January 28th, 2009 at 10:15 pm

This IS huge! And we need more… keep it up.

Comment from Terry King
January 28th, 2009 at 10:16 pm

A victory is a victory but 3 billion for transit is a drop in the bucket.

Comment from Marsha Penner
January 28th, 2009 at 10:18 pm

Let's just hope that all that money doesn't only go into more of the same, but creates real solutions for transit problems. We need an overview to design better working systems with well-planned links and parking lots and upgraded transport. How about an urban maglev, and a high speed maglev where needed, too?

Pingback from easyVegan.info » Blog Archive » easyVegan Link Sanctuary, 2009-01-28
January 28th, 2009 at 10:19 pm

[...] Environmental Defense: Huge Victory for Transit Funding "Today, the U.S. House passed an amendment to the stimulus bill that will increase transit funding by $3 billion (+33%). This is a huge win. It offers Americans a chance to save and create jobs, get people to work and to reduce air and global warming pollution." [...]

Comment from Mary F-T
January 28th, 2009 at 10:22 pm

There is hope! Especially with all this snow suddenly, I can't but think how much easier our lives would be if we had dependable PUBLIC transportation and how many people could find jobs keeping it reliable and comfortable. It used to be such a pleasure to take Amtrack across the country even in the winter (and it was even occasionally on time!)!

Comment from P Fox MD
January 28th, 2009 at 10:25 pm

This may be a good project but none of these type projects belong in this bill. A universal decrease in payroll taxes should be used and the Banks should be nationalized if only temporarily to encourage lending. Spending projects should be vetted through the normal committee process. These projects will not stop the loss of jobs in the private sector.

Comment from Dale Sadler
January 28th, 2009 at 10:26 pm

Unless these additions and and materials used in them use American Citizens for both production an installation, there will be little to gain from these projects except for major profits for contractors.

Comment from cynical
January 28th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

I like to clog up people's minds with facts and here goes. We have to do anything and everythign to quit using oil products. Using oil is the reason the whole world is in a recession including the USA.

Comment from freethinker
January 28th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

You people just love wasting money on worthless projects. When will you wake up and smell the coffee? This added spending will do nothing for you now or in the future. Personally I will fight you ignorant leftist all the way to my grave. I highly doubt any of you have the skills or will power to live without government assistance.

Comment from Elaine Brown
January 28th, 2009 at 10:37 pm

Let us hope that these monies are used with clarity, honesty, and reason. In Los Angeles City officials are owned by the developers and development around the transit sites as required by the Smart Growth advocates is often the engine that drives the location of sites for transit rather than the need.

Comment from Dave Kisor
January 28th, 2009 at 10:41 pm

The real crux of the problem is that many if not most newer cities are designed around the concept of the car, especially west of the Mississippi. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) was supposed to keep the bankers working in SF, CA, but they left anyway. Maybe they didn’t want to ride a train to and from work. It would take some doing to get the hoity toity to ride the same bus as Joe Schmuckatelli, as he heads off to work in the guano mines. The stigma of riding the bus is legendary.

Comment from Alexander Healy
January 28th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

Lets help our communities to grow. Keep up the great work. The world is watching desperately. We need to start becoming more green. Every day we stop is one more day that our nation sinks deeper into depression. Our whole economy will eventually collapse due to its inherent insustainability. However, we can chose to create a better and new economy that may again lead to prosperity despite a distinctly different outward appearance. COMMUNITY CONNECTION IS KEY.

Comment from sherrie
January 28th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone responsible for getting this passed. A big Congratulations to you all.

Comment from Ana Taylor PhD
January 28th, 2009 at 10:50 pm

Contrary to the 'ignorant leftist' foolish comment above, public transport has been used by free-thinking AND conservative societies for a long time. As a minimum, it contributes to a much better quality of life than we currently have here. You might want to (a) check the definition of free thinker before using it, (b) grow up enough to respect other people's opinions, and (c) do a bit of looking and travelling outside the bubble you seem to be trapped in. Its a BIG DIVERSE world out there.

Comment from Mike
January 28th, 2009 at 10:50 pm

This is what happens when the american people come together. The more people that want to make a difference can. Another acomplisment for the american people. Yes more transportation and more jobs. Excellent work.

Comment from jtc1450
January 28th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

Good News, I just hope some of the money makes it to Salem to restore bus service on Saturdays.

Comment from sherrie
January 28th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

Comment to "Freethinker": Yours is an interesting message. Do you live without govt assistance? Do you rely on firefighters and police to render assistance when needed? Do you have children in public school? Will you reject your social security benefits if and when you become eligible to receive them? If you answer No, then you have a point.

Comment from mary anne
January 28th, 2009 at 10:59 pm

EDF you have been with me all along–even when it was not popular. Thanks for letting me know about the important sub-paragraph in the bill. I am glad it passed and you called it to our attention so we could act. Thanks always

Comment from sherrie
January 28th, 2009 at 10:59 pm

Oh, and "Freethinker": Speaking of "government assistance," would we be the United States of America without the "government assistance" of our armed forces? I doubt you have the skills and will power to live without such government assistance.

Comment from Helga
January 28th, 2009 at 11:06 pm

Unfortunately, it's all new capital spending, and it won't help with the operating expense crises a lot of mass transit systems are facing. Even with this spending, they might still have to cut back.

Comment from cdcmtotr
January 28th, 2009 at 11:13 pm

Great that this passed and thanks to the Environmental Defense Fund. My only regret was that Obama let the Republicans in the House have more tax cuts which took away from more needed infrastructure and Mass Transit which we need. We have to make sure that the Senate, when they work on the Economic Stimulus Bill, removes the tax cuts that the Republicans in the House pushed for and put money back into Infrastructure and Mass Transit areas to better help our environment where it belongs.

Comment from Carol
January 28th, 2009 at 11:14 pm

Kudos to EDF for constantly keeping us informed and on the right track. It's so easy to travel in Europe with public transportation. The US is way behind. Let's hope this is a start to a new future for us.

Comment from Sandra Holt
January 28th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

The House Republican Party insisted that items be removed from the bill that would actually stimulate the economy in favor of their preferred tax cuts and then voted no on the bill.

How about creating a letter that we can all sign to send to our senators asking them to remove the tax breaks that the Republicans stuck in the bill and putting that into mass transit infrastructure.

We really shouldn't let their moribund ideas take center
stage after the massive problems those ideas have created in the country. They shouldn't be rewarded. The tansit system should.

Comment from Russell Novkov
January 28th, 2009 at 11:29 pm

Thanks for a huge victory, it will not only create jobs, but cut down on greenhouse gases.

Comment from Helen
January 28th, 2009 at 11:32 pm

Another bail-out. Transit CEO's will get a huge raise.

Comment from Tracey
January 28th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

I think its great that so many people come together for a vote. I would like to take a moment to explore a motion for a stimulus package. I vote that everyone who filed taxes last year should recieve 20,000 $ this would promote spending and help people pay for morgages or a car. With all the Billions in that package thier should be some for the ones footing the bill.

Comment from Charles Weber
January 28th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

I would like to see some of the funds go toward a wide gauge express railroad. Such a railroad with a gauge of, say, thirty or forty feet, would be much more efficient and fuel efficient for moving freight across country, especially piggy back truck freight, than existing systems. This would also be marvelous for moving cars and even bicycles across country inexpensive of fuel and time, and safely. You may see this discussed in detail in http://charles_w.tripod.com/widerr.html

Comment from Jacques Graber
January 28th, 2009 at 11:38 pm

I want to see our economy revitalized, BUT I want to see it done where the PEOPLE benefit, not corporate CEO's

I have an idea that would jump start and help PEOPLE.

Get America off CARS. Revitalize MANY companies. Stimulate State budgets and economies. Get the Economy moving on a GREEN track.

Start by revitalizing the "car companies" BUT get them into making public transit FIRST and cars SECOND. Also get STEEL and CONSTRUCTION back to work with this same objective.

Provide the $350 billion funding to retool the car factories and also to inject funds into associated industries and trades for TRANSIT, which I will outline.

But First, get the STATES the budget moneys they need, don't focus on failed mortgages. . Those home buyers made their bets and lost. Responsible homebuyers aren't getting a "break". Dump the bank saving plan, it's not working

Re-tool the car companies to make TRANSIT BUSES, STREET CARS, LIGHT RAIL AND HIGH SPEED TRAINS. A small portion for high mileage PRACTICAL CARS.

Get these vehicles into production, simultaneously, take from the 700 billion dollars and direct it to STATES to cancel their DEFICITS. This money would go toward TRANSIT PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

Funnel some of the money to STEEL works. Get them to making RAILS, BRIDGE COMPONENTS, TRAIN STATION COMPONENTS AND OTHER TRANSIT and infrastructure projects. WPA time!

The states would use some of their Federal moneys to build the transit projects: buy buses, streetcars, light rail and, in cases, high speed train lines as well as cancel their deficits.

The moneys could be used to employ concrete workers, steel workers, building workers and all aspects of construction from rail lines, and structures to buildings, bus stops and landscaping.

These multi-facet projects would get a broad spectrum of trades and skills from Architects, to Bridge Designers, Geologists and Engineers, office support staff, other construction trades and, as I mentioned, even landscaping companies to work.

These projects would get people WORKING right away. It would pull states out of debt, and kick-start their economies.

But the main thing also is it would get AFFORDABLE TRANSIT to the PEOPLE who could use it and depend less on CARS, thus cutting carbon impacts and reducing global warming.

Comment from Peter Harnik
January 28th, 2009 at 11:39 pm

Congratulations, Michael, this is a fantastic victory. Keep it up.
-Peter Harnik

Comment from Bob Cecil
January 28th, 2009 at 11:51 pm

Sad how it always seems to take a serious crash (case at bar, pun intended) before we all begin to realize the seriousness of the issues at hand.

Clearly, our infrastructure in its absolute most broad sense is long long over due major over haul and rebuilding in every quadrant.

Governmental Transportation underwriting seems to have previously stopped with a few rail lines primarily in metro areas(that would be Amtrack).

All the while, there were ongoing capitol infusion to hold up the airline industry. It now has become inarguably clear that money alone can not, nor has not assured viability, or the capability of the industry to stand alone absent the referenced ongoing government capitol infusion.

While the status of the airline and banking industries SHOULD have served as an examples of how NOT to do it, by that I mean giving money to the industry over and over while the receipient industries makes no changes to better themselves, and the money appears now according to new reporting,to have simply lined pockets of upper management.

Comes now the banking industry:

The infusion of billions upon billions of tax dollars in a fiscal scale unimagined previously, were apparently given to failing banks and lending industry absent customary strings, e.g.; contractual reporting requirements, and/or quantifiable objectives to ensure how these billions of our tax dollars were going to be used.

These dollars were and,I fear will continue to be passed out seemingly in a total void of fiscal propriety.we would have and most certainly SHOULD have expected more control thanwhat appears to have been the case.

Tax dollars that were according to President Oboma to have been given out only when the reciepients demonstrate sound fiscal planning, and busines ethics. Passed out for the purpose of enhancement and stability of the receipient. Money expected to hearld in a new stability and viability of the banking industry.

We now hear that no one has been watching, and how these billions of dollars are failing to achieve expectations.

Are we now one more time, going to pour BILLIONS into the Cmmerce and industry (this time the Automobile industry) Without firm management objectives? Absent quantifiable objectives tracked on an ongoing basis by third party governmental overviewers?

Please, please, please; infusion of capitol will never make the expected status-quo improvements unless there is a great deal more "big brother" visability. Governmental
oversight holding each reciepient busines to proper standards, making certain all whom accept OUR dollars must first realize this is NOT a hand out, and that each dollar carries contractual directives specifing how these monies are to be utalized as well as the end result expectations of the new stock holders, the people of the United States.

This is not a windfall that carries no duty or responsibility. These dollars in all actuality,represent
change in corporate ownership of whom ever receives these infusion dollars.

Most importantly: It MUST be contractually expressed that accepting this money from the people of the United States is nothing less than federalization of the receipint industry. That these monies clearly and inarguably carry with them the on-going oversight by the U.S. Government to ensure business practice will be done to the contractual standards expressed and agreed upon, with the receipt of federal money.

Thanks for hearing me.

Bob Cecil

Comment from Derrida
January 28th, 2009 at 11:51 pm

Yes this is good but can end up being wastefull like the Incredible amount that was just wasted on redesigning the main street in downtown Cleveland. Absolutely unecessary. It had to be one of those, if you don't spend it you don't get it deals. These are a waste. It's got to be if you don't come up with proof of need, you don't get the money.

Comment from Craig
January 29th, 2009 at 12:01 am

Money for more and bigger roads has got to come out of the package, or be diverted to public transport or projects that enhance the environment. Here in Kansas City, virtually the whole wish list is for new and bigger roads in the undeveloped areas of the city — rural even. State dept. of transportation is thinking the same way.

Let's lobby for money only for road repair. New roads, or widening roads need to wait and be paid for on the local dime.

It looks like the stimulus bill will just validate and continue the auto-dependent model of development. No amount of "green jobs" added to the bill can reverse that.

Comment from 4odd6
January 29th, 2009 at 12:07 am

That's great (I think). I called and e-mailed my Representative because ED endorsed the bill and asked me to do so, and I trust that ED researched the fine points of the bill as I did not. When oil/gas prices were high, many were urging for more drilling, more capacity, but as we consistently saw, prices only went down when demand went down. So, more public transportation giving more options to people can help keep prices and the cost of living low. On the other hand, high prices keep people from driving. So, HIGHER GAS TAX FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NOW! and more bike lanes!

Comment from Dorian C.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:11 am

That's great but what about the disabled who can't step up to the bus or train entrance? Can bus steps be adjusted for the disabled?
And what about having wait areas with police protection? Imagine how tempting for criminals is someone with a walker who obviously cannot walk or run, waiting alone for transportation after dark?
Has this even been considered, or are the disabled supposed to be the invisibles of society?

Comment from George C. Brown
January 29th, 2009 at 12:41 am

This is a good beginning to the many tasks that need attention – - just keep moving on this kind of positive programming, including a good solid economic recovery program whether the Republicans come along or not – - they've been given a chance to help, but choose to obstruct instead: more infrastructure work and forget the tax cuts for the wealthy and get the money flowing to those who need it!

Comment from pendaler
January 29th, 2009 at 12:47 am

I think this is a good start. However, Amtrak passenger service will continue to present problems for long-distance passengers as long as the freight companies own the track and require Amtrak passenger trains to wait for freight trains to pass.

In addition, long-distance passengers cannot always check their baggage to their final stop, requiring them to retrieve their luggage and lug it onto the train themselves to their last stop.

Comment from gmainkc
January 29th, 2009 at 12:57 am

I believe this the first of many good starts. We should never have gone so far away from public transit. I know it is still very viable in the really large cities…..here is KC it has not the following and it is too bad. Hopefully this will help to get more done and even more people will supplement or even switch entirely to public transportation.

Comment from huskybear58
January 29th, 2009 at 1:05 am

This is a great victory for all of us, let's hope President Obama will see to it that it gets done, as I think he will.

Comment from wetouchedthesun
January 29th, 2009 at 1:08 am

People don't take public transportation seriously enough. Especially politicians. And this victory makes me even more hopeful that politics can be more green.

Comment from frenchie
January 29th, 2009 at 1:45 am

What is $3 billions?… A drop in the bucket?… More like a drop in the ocean while we waste and enrich the elite in this country with $10 billion a month on wars, $billions on corporate welfare, $billions on the very rich farmers, $billions on tax loopholes benefitting the few in power, $billions for the laughable War on Terror, $billions for the biggest boondoggle a.k.a. the War on Drugs, $billions on Homeland Security (making sure that no one goes too far in investigating the REAL culprits of 9/11), $billions in building and maintaining a very lucrative prison system (with 80% of the prisoners incarcerated for non-victim crimes like drug use), $billions for bailing out the big wigs while millions "volunteer" their hard earned wages/salaries toward the non-obligatory Income Tax (show me the law!). FYI… Not one red cent goes toward any Federal program that would benefit the populace. It all goes toward a very private bank known as the Federal Reserve, an unconstitutional act. Google is a wonderful search engine. Check out the facts!
In the meantime as long as you keep paying out your taxes/fees, etc… and keep your mouth shut, everything will be hunky-dory!… Now "go shopping" as our politicians like to suggest!

Comment from Emily Vaill Pfaff
January 29th, 2009 at 1:47 am

Hooray! Maybe now our Milwaukee bus drivers will be better funded and protected—SAFER as they do this important work.

Comment from William Thwaites
January 29th, 2009 at 2:00 am

What a breath of fresh air! Right now crude oil selling for around $40 per barrel. Usually this would be interpreted to mean that public transit was no longer needed. But at last Congress is showing foresight. The price of oil will climb again, but next time we will be better prepared to meet the challenge and get around without it.

Comment from normajean9
January 29th, 2009 at 2:38 am

New York City is considering FREE public Transportation…imagine that, no more expensive upgrades for turnstiles and fare rate cards and tokens, no more cop salaries to chase down fare-evaders, and tragic mistakes and million dollar settlements when trigger-happy transit cops kill patrons to keep the fare-gates fed!
A free nationwide transit grid would certainly offer a REAL alternative to driving, and concession-stands selling candy, gum, newspapers, beverages, schedules and maps could rent the space allotted at every station, and parking lots and other venues supply some funds, as well as offer business and employment opportunities.

Comment from V Campbell
January 29th, 2009 at 2:39 am

Congratulations… I am so excited to move away from oil and help set up the infrastructure that we will need in the future.

Comment from Jean Mc Donald
January 29th, 2009 at 2:53 am

Congratulations – good job – thanks.

Comment from joannek
January 29th, 2009 at 3:14 am

Thank you for alerting everyone about this important legislation and it's great that it passed. When deciding about projects a couple of things should be considered and they are infastructure for bicyclists(it's called complete streets) in all city projects to get people out of their polluting vehicles and also work towards forcing passenger trains (Amtrak) to accept bicycles on all of their routes. With just a little inovation and very little investment a couple of seats could be removed to make way for bikes. The time has come. We don't all drive cars but we do all pay taxes. Give us a break, we're trying to do the right thing by not burning fossil fuel.

Comment from Joachim Mueller
January 29th, 2009 at 3:47 am

Any additional money for public transportation is welcome. Nevertheless, 3 billion means nothing compared to the waste of adding lanes to roads that are crowded 10 minutes a day. If a mind change does not happen even this money is wasted. The local politicians have to understand that public transportation returns some money whereas private transportation does not return a thing unless there is a local gasoline tax.

Look at Europe for good public transportation. Mr. Cheney laughed at the "old" world. But they get it right and the US can learn a lesson.

Comment from Joseph A. Mungai
January 29th, 2009 at 4:31 am

Money allocated for public transportation must lead to using renewable energy sources.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology could be used to power city buses. When enough cities have fueling stations coast to coast travel is possible. Maybe then cars and trucks could also use the technology.

Comment from Bryan Matsumoto
January 29th, 2009 at 4:32 am

Hooray! It's a start. Thanks for the heads up EDF.

Comment from penknife
January 29th, 2009 at 4:59 am

I agree with some of the comments posted above. The victory can only be counted when: We know which projects got the money, the project is proceeding at a reasonable pace and the cities have not just banked the money or used it elsewhere, cities actively promote rapid transit rather than give it lip service while building government owned parking facilities like here in Chicago and successful projects are given good publicity to build public acceptance of mass transit over driving everywhere.

Comment from Kasim Saleh brisam
January 29th, 2009 at 5:32 am

Complete and finale solution for the global warming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvD3KGo79gA

Dear Sir

The two links above one shows the text and the other shows the graphic for the finale solution for the global warming so please look at them and see this good low cost solution for the global warming

If you want to discus the solution with me please send Email at one of these Emails below.

brysam2@yahoo.co.uk

brysam2@gmail.com

Thank you very much

Yours faithfully

Kasim Saleh brisam

Mobile: +971 50 8668762

This site contains all the 4 videos http://www.youtube.com/user/brysam2

Comment from A B
January 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am

DO NOT pour more money into failing banks that only take the tax payer dollars and turn around and pay their CEO's.

Get the STATES the budget monies they need, don't focus on failed mortgages. . Those home buyers made their bets and lost. Responsible homebuyers aren't getting a "break". Dump the bank saving plan, it's not working

Re-tool the car companies to make TRANSIT BUSES, STREET CARS, LIGHT RAIL AND HIGH SPEED TRAINS. A small portion for high mileage PRACTICAL CARS.

Get these vehicles into production, simultaneously, take from the 700 billion dollars and direct it to STATES to cancel their DEFICITS. This money would go toward TRANSIT PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

Funnel some of the money to STEEL works. Get them to making RAILS, BRIDGE COMPONENTS, TRAIN STATION COMPONENTS AND OTHER TRANSIT and infrastructure projects. WPA time!

The states would use some of their Federal monies to build the transit projects: buy buses, streetcars, light rail and, in cases, high speed train lines as well as cancel their deficits.

The moneys could be used to employ concrete workers, steel workers, building workers and all aspects of construction from rail lines, and structures to buildings, bus stops and landscaping.

These multi-facet projects would get a broad spectrum of trades and skills from Architects, to Bridge Designers, Geologists and Engineers, office support staff, other construction trades and, as I mentioned, even landscaping companies to work.

Comment from Howard
January 29th, 2009 at 9:10 am

The taxpaying public are the ones that need bailing out, not Wall Stret, not Detroit, not the bankers, or the brokers or the politicians. Put Americans to work, penalize the companies who outsource there work overseas. Penalize any company that makes windfall profits. Stop the government waste at all levels, federal, states & cities. Put the politicians in jail who accept bribes, payoffs and gifts from any source. Get our country back on track before we try to solve the ills of the rest of the world.

Comment from Dwain Wilder
January 29th, 2009 at 10:15 am

This is a wonderful win for the country. I have a vision of a network of passenger rail service for both the east and west coasts, similar to that of Europe. A reliable, timely and frequent schedule of transport to large, medium sized cities and small towns is something that only Greyhound/Trailways services now.

A rail system would get many cars off the road. As CSX says in their advertisement, a ton of load can be moved 453 miles on only one gallon of fuel, using rail!

Comment from Kathy VanderHeijden
January 29th, 2009 at 10:36 am

Thank you, ED, for informing us about this amendment so that we continue participate in this democracy. The $3 billion increased the amount going to transit funding, as the WSJ article explained. For this, we are grateful. Every victory extends the scope of possibilities, staying focused on working toward the ideal. Thank you for everything you do!

Comment from Elaine Starr
January 29th, 2009 at 11:27 am

Yeah, I am looking forward to the time when the majority of my travel, in city and out of city, is done by train. A train from Dallas to Austin, San Antonio Or Houston, Texas would be sweet. We have only just begun, hold on.

Comment from Kris B.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:38 am

Thank you for the heads-up, and your report of the results!
I have e-mailed my thanks to my congressman, and asked him to lend his voice to persuade our senators to vote Yes, next week. They probably do not need nudging, but every little bit helps.

Comment from Karen Koch
January 29th, 2009 at 11:51 am

It's about time – the US is so far behind other countries with regards to transit. Even in major cities, the transit is way too limited.

Thank you.

Comment from t logan
January 29th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

Want an insight into the road $$ shenanigans in Texas? Our governor "toll road" Perry a/k/a Bush-lite represents all we voted against – that is lobby influence and using the legislature to conduct private business deals. He refered to those who oppose toll roads as too stupid to understand his plan. Really? Texas has been redrawn (remember Tom DeLay?)to remain in the grip of greedy developers and politicans to the point to destroying the environment and natural resources. We citizens are very nrevous about misuse of stimulus money for infrastructure in Texas because protective ordinances have been systematically stripped, and lasw manipulated to advance Perry's TTC and toll roads agendas. I attended the CAMPO meeting last night, mostly to testify that it is not in keeping with the spirit or even the letter of the bylaws for the CAMPO board to refuse to allow testimony on an agenda item posted for action (as they did at the CAMPO meeting last month). An interesting aside is that they could not adopt the December minutes allegedly because they stripped all mention of this episode from the draft minutes and someone caught it. The minutes will be rewritten and submitted at the next CAMPO board meeting.

In regards to the stimulus funds, Senator Watson gave an update as he see it, or at least as he is wanting the CAMPO board to see it. I did not exactly understand what he was saying because he gave different sums for the Texas House and Texas Senate for the amounts the CAMPO region will receive. I guess these will have to be negotiated and not added! But he said the Texas House may apportion to the CAMPO region about 72 million dollars and the Texas Senate, about 86.4 million. There are differing criteria regarding the spending of this money between the two houses, but in general, half would have to be spent in 150 or 180 days ( or at least the project would have to be rolling to spend it) and the other half in a year or two. Separately, mass transit will receive either 30 million maybe. Senator Watson does not believe the Red or Green lines (rail) would qualify for funds.

There is a mad rush to decide which projects CAMPO will request. (Their list is for about 2 billion in projects!) There will be some mechanism for "citizen input".

On a very interesting and separate note, TXDOT will receive money directly form the state directed by the State Transportation Commission as to which specific projects will be built. I assume we will see only big tolled projects come through the state. I would be very surprised if the Trans Texas Corridor pieces that are not called the Trans Texas Corridor (salt by any other name is still salt!) don't get funded by the State Transportation Commission. Also, we may see other toll roads in the Austin area, but I believe 290 W is not far enough along in the SEIS process to start putting it on the ground. (A good thing as well because traffic is flat at the Y and has been for 3 years according to TxDot's own data.) Also, so you are not confused, there are some TxDOT projects on the CAMPO wish list, but these are TxDOT projects that would be funded through CAMPO and not through the State.

Hooray for our County Commissioner, Karen Huber, who replaces Gerald Daugherty on the CAMPO board! A funny thing though, Senator Watson is keeping Gerald Daugherty on a CAMPO advisory board for his "viewpoint". I don't think he invited any environmental conservative or anti-toller for their viewpoint, but I am willing to serve!

Comment from KC in Houston
January 29th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

That's great. Now I hope they did a better job of control and tracking the money with this bill than they did with the banking system bailout billions.

What is lunacy to me is that Republicans jumped on the Bush plan to pour billions into the banking system without demanding the power to see who's pockets our money is winding up in. How laughably foolish and irresponsible.

I am very disappointed that there was not more partisan support for this bill. This party line vote just shows how self-centered our congress is even in an emergency.

In one word: Disgraceful

Comment from Donna
January 29th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

This is great news!!!! So happy that we have President Obama and we are changing The United States for the better.

Comment from SMB
January 29th, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Where I live, the public trasnportation is almost nonexistent. While I am able to afford to buy a car and maintain it, there has been times when I needed to go to work and the car was broken, leaving me scrambling for alternative transportation. Also, I think if more people can take a train or bus, it can give them time to do homework, work on work projects or decompress , rather than getting stressed out from driving long distances.

Comment from Sandip Dasverma
January 29th, 2009 at 5:37 pm

It has been my perpetual observation, when ever due to oil price rise or some other reason, the commuters start using more of public transport, there is immediately a move to raise the ticket price, in the pretext of getting a higher percentage of reimbursement of transport of expenses. I don't know if my lingering suspicion is true but it seemed always counterproductive. It results in people going back to their cars – to the traffic Jams.

It always reminds me the scandal, how auto industry supporters got elected into board of Governor of transit agencies of Los Angeles area and sabotaged from within the public transport in the area, to force people in to cars. And create a permanent mess in that megalopolis.

Comment from Denis Eirikis
January 29th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

As a transit advocate, I am deeply disappointed in this stimulus bill and have little idea why people here are complacently cheering rather than demanding that the senate add more transit funding.

A single light rail project can cost billions. The feds get requests for federal transit funding from hundreds of local/state governments a year and currently funds about half a dozen. This extra three billion now means they will fund about a couple more a year out of hundreds of identifued but unmet needs.

Comment from jfkedf
January 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

comment from jfk
January 29th, 2009 at 3:53

Comment to "Freethinker": Regarding your views about all the helpless blood sucking liberals out there, let me add to what Sherry said above: not only are we all inter-dependent vulnerable beings in many many ways that we all need to recognize,but regardless of which side of the fence we are on,why continue to perpetuate the 'hate machinery' which our new President is trying so hard to change? Instead, why don't you just 'chill' and try prying open some of those rusty cans of imagination in your head– you might become more interesting!

Comment from Ruth G. Sherman
January 29th, 2009 at 10:24 pm

An essential step that will do many things… improve our ability to get around our cities, states and country, put people to work, reduce the need for fuel and thereby aid the economy..; We have a bad transportation system compared to many in the industrialized world… we should not allow ourselves to be in such a position.

Comment from weatherdude
January 29th, 2009 at 11:03 pm

This says it all:
http://media.kusi.com/documents/Comments+on+Global+Warming02.pdf

I agree 100%! If Al Gore wants to argue, I will give him an argument!

Comment from Jerry Flach
January 29th, 2009 at 11:25 pm

The people have spoken and their reps have listened ; let's continue to also sustain engagement.

Comment from bigdaddy
January 30th, 2009 at 4:28 am

I hope that the money will be spent on truly clean, renewable transportation and fuels, like compressed air, solar, wind, electric and NOT just to put more stinking, deafening, filthy, traffic clogging diesel buses on the road and building lots of steel and concrete parking spot stealing bus shelters.
Hail rail and bike travel.

Comment from Chris
January 30th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

I'm an architect with an interest in regional planning. There's little doubt that this nation needs a widespread investment in mass transit. We can pull tholusands of cars off of the road and improve the quality of life in this nation considerably. It's sad to me when I see that France has developed a train which 350 miles per hour on non fossil fuels while I was riding NJ Transit trains to work in Jersey City that I know I road 30 years ago when I was in college.

Comment from weatherdude
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_britain_weather;_ylt=AiXgsabWnQX8h61Dn8pCWWsFO7gF

Bye, Bye GW! And Al Gore your going to have to find some more excuses for this!!