Transportation Bill Could Jump-Start Long-Term Economic Recovery
August 5, 2009
Contact
Katie Eukel
651-767-0298 x115
(SAINT PAUL). Congressman Jim Oberstar will be in room 125 of the State Capitol today at 2:45 p.m. (Wednesday, August 5th) to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, often known as the stimulus package.
Undoubtedly, he will also talk about the potentially transformative,
775-page federal transportation bill he introduced this June and hopes
to pass by September 30th.
Although the challenge of funding this transportation bill has created
some obstacles to quick and easy passage, Chairman Oberstar’s influence
on the legislation gives Minnesotans a chance to have extraordinary
influence over the direction of our nation’s transportation system.
“Congressman
Oberstar’s bill presents an extraordinary opportunity for a ‘second
stimulus’ that could rebuild our economy, revitalize our smallest towns
and biggest cities, and jumpstart a long-term recovery with smart
investments in 21st century infrastructure,” says Dave Van
Hattum, Policy and Advocacy Program Manager for Transit for Livable
Communities, an organizational member of Transportation for America’s
Minnesota coalition.
Congressman
Oberstar’s bill would move America forward: it focuses on improving
metropolitan and rural mobility, addresses a chronic maintenance
backlog, and establishes a national plan for our transportation system
before spending vast new sums of money. Bottom line: it underscores the
need for a serious overhaul of our federal transportation program.
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ABOUT TRANSIT FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
Transit
for Livable Communities is a nonprofit organization working to reform
Minnesota's transportation system. Through advocacy, organizing, and
research, we promote a balanced transportation system that encourages
transit, walking, bicycling, and thoughtful development. www.tlcminnesota.org
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICA
Transportation
for America is a broad coalition of housing, environmental, equal
opportunity, public health, business, transportation and other
organizations focused on creating a 21st century national
transportation program. The coalition’s goal is to build a modernized
transportation system and healthy communities where people can live,
work and play by aligning national, state, and local transportation
policies with an array of issues like economic opportunity, climate
change, energy security, health, housing and community development. www.T4America.org
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