Last fall, voters approved funding for a high speed rail line
connecting California’s cities. The high speed rail line will cut the
number of cars on the road by millions, dramatically reduce air
pollution, and is cheaper to build then the airport and freeway
expansions we will otherwise need. We're dedicated to building the
train right as we get the train on tracks. More.
America needs to invest more in public transportation, including light rail and bus systems. Our current system is outdated with traffic congestion resulting in billions of additional hours each year wasted behind the wheel. The overwhelming majority of our national transportation budget goes to road construction. Congress will be deciding how to divvy the $500 billion budget. We say: double the spending on public transportation. More.
California’s
roadways must be operated for the long-term public interest. Across the state,
cash-strapped governments struggle to balance gaping budgets and growing demands
for improved transportation. Road privatization offers a hard-to-resist “quick
fix” for this challenge but are full of hidden problems. More.
Overview
Most of us live miles from our daily trips for work, school, or other responsibilities. Unfortunately, our current transportation system has many of us stuck endlessly waiting in traffic, with pollution spewing from tailpipes and worsening global warming. The overseas oil burned costs us dearly, and not just from our wallets. There has got to be a better way.
Sure, most Californians will never give up their cars altogether. But with the right improvements, more commuters will want to choose public transit over gridlock. For example, last year rail use increased by six percent in Los Angeles. Public transportation is the wave of the future but we need more convenient, efficient public transportation systems so people can get out of their cars.
The road construction industry has a long
history of determining how our transit system was built. Our transportation
networks need to be built and operated in the public interest, and that means
letting Californians decide how to travel, instead of the road construction
industry. California currently spends less than one-fifth of statewide
transportation funds on public transit, and transit funding is vulnerable to
frequent budget cuts.
Without big changes, California's transportation problems will severely worsen as our
population is expected to grow by thirteen million people by 2030. Light rail,
modern streetcars, and other public transit should play a greater part in California's transportation future. CALPIRG is working for more
and better transit by organizing public support for new projects and improved
service. As we work to maintain and expand transportation networks, we must
also ensure that roadways continue to be operated for the public interest
rather than for private profit.
CALPIRG
is teaming up with environmental groups, transit riders and workers,
and local officials to convince the Legislature that public transit
funding must be a priority for the state in order to reduce traffic
congestion, cut pollution, and improve our quality of life.
