Earlier today the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) released a report, The Labor Market Impact of Transportation for America’s Jobs Plan, which models Transportation for America’s (T4's) jobs proposal. The $34.3 billion proposal, focusing predominately on Fix-it-First transportation infrastructure repair and public transportation, would create 480,000 jobs.

These jobs would help out Americans who need it most. Low-wage workers, including workers without college or high school degrees, would benefit the most from this jobs package. In fact, 70% of these jobs would help Americans without college degrees.

 T4’s proposal calls for the following funding split:

• $8 billion in Fix-it-First bridge repair and interstate highway maintenance
• $16 billion for transit (split between rehabilitation, new starts projects, intercity bus routes, and capital funding, which could be flexed for operations)
• $1.3 billion for Amtrak
• $2 billion for clean air and technology
• $2.5 billion for High Speed Rail
• $3 billion for TIGER performance-based grants (split between new roads, transit, and technology)
• $1.5 billion for Fix-it-for-All: Livability and bicycle/pedestrian improvements

These jobs are immediate. And no one region benefits- these jobs are located across the U.S., in both rural and urban areas.  

EPI’s report shows us that prioritizing transit, Fix-it-First, and funding transit operations creates immediate, good jobs for all Americans and benefits the environment. The Senate is drafting its version of a jobs bill. This report should be recommended reading for these bill drafters.