CALPIRG Blog

Last week the House of Representatives introduced an economic recovery package that marked 75 percent of transportation funding to roads, and only 25 percent to public transportation projects. 

What an old, out-dated way of funding transportation. 

By the weekend more than 1,300 CALPIRG activists asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi to increase funding for public transit. And on Sunday she was seen on "This Week"  touting the package as “rebuilding in a green way, a new, innovative way, our infrastructure.” We want to make sure the package truly lives up to her description. 

And the good news is that there are lawmakers who agree with us. In fact, we just got word that tomorrow Rep. DeFazio (D-OR) and Rep. Nadler (D-NY) plan on asking the House Rules Committee to allow a vote on two amendments to the Recovery Act to add $14 billion in funding for building new bus, rail and other transit projects and funding for transit services.We hope Speaker Pelosi supports that vote.

We know that President Obama should be with us. After all, investing in public transportation was at the core of the transportation vision he advocated for during his campaign.

Furthermore, today the Obama Administration announced that they would reverse course from the Bush Administration and allow California and a dozen other states to adopt strict tailpipe pollution standards for cars.We're thrilled with that announcement. Transportation is the largest source of global warming emissions in California.

But if we are going to reduce global warming pollution, it doesn't make sense to require cleaner cars, and then invest in transportation options that encourage more driving.

This is a huge opportunity to reinvest in our transportation systems in a way that cut our oil dependence, cut traffic on the roads and reduce pollution. I hope Congress doesn't squander it.