Economic Stimulus

A thoughtful stimulus bill will revive the economy, and be good for public health and the environment. The following four steps will eventually create jobs by building a smarter, more efficient transportation and infrastructure system that America will need in the 21st century.

1) Prioritize the Next Generation of Transit: Investments in hybrid buses, light rail stops, depots, bike lanes and sidewalks -- as well as fixing our existing roads and bridges -- all can create more jobs per dollar spent, right now, than just building new roads. Lists compiled by the American Public Transit Association to the US Conference of Mayors show billions of dollars in ready-to-go transit projects. And across the country, transit agencies of all sizes have even more. From manufacturing buses and rail cars to pouring concrete and providing steel for depots and stations, from hiring bus drivers to maintenance workers -- transit is a powerful economic engine. And transit gives every one of us something we desperately need: an affordable ride to work.

2) Give Local Governments a Seat at the Table: Across the country, Americans are turning to transit like never before, but county and city transit agencies are starved for resources. Instead of embracing the demand, they are cutting service and cutting jobs. They need help. There is a risk that cities, counties and metropolitan areas will be shortchanged in federal stimulus spending. Local transit agencies buy the buses, build the light rail, sidewalks, and bike paths, and hire the transit operators. They need to be key funding partners.

3) Be Transparent and Accountable: Spend money in ways the public can see and understand. To date, only 16 states have publicly released their lists of transportation projects submitted to Congress. Of these, at least nine proposals would spend 10 percent or less of stimulus funding on public transportation. Three-quarters of proposed spending on these lists would go towards expansion, not repair and restoration, of highways and bridges. Congress should oppose efforts to weaken core environmental laws -- projects that fail to protect the environment don't deserve a free pass. There are plenty of good projects ready to go.

4) Offer Rebates for American Made Energy-Efficiency Products: Congress should provide strong rebates for purchase of energy-efficiency technology made by U.S. workers. Products that create U.S. manufacturing jobs while helping reduce energy use include: anti-idling equipment for trucks; energy-efficient windows for homes; high-efficiency boilers and water heaters for schools and commercial buildings; and energy-saving smart controls for older home boilers.