Stimulus TIGER Grants Signal New Direction for Transportation
02/18/2010
For Immediate Release:
February 17th, 2010
Contact:
Hilary Reeves
Transit for Livable Communities
651-767-0298 x115 (cell: 612-554-1795)
St. Paul, MN — Today’s announcement of
$1.5 billion in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants
again highlighted a new direction for transportation in the United States. “The TIGER funding of $35 million for a Union
Depot transit hub marks a significant step forward in developing an integrated
transit system that connects people from all parts of our metropolitan area,
east and west,” said Dan Hoxworth, executive Director for Transit for Livable
Communities.
The
Union Depot project will be the hub of an east metro system that includes interstate
high speed rail, the Central Corridor Light Rail project, Red Rock commuter
rail from Hastings, the Rush Line rail/bus rapid transit line from Forest Lake,
an extension of the Northstar commuter rail to St. Paul and improved local and
regional bus and bike connections.
“On
a larger scale, the TIGER investments signal a shift in federal policies such
that all types of transportation investments compete under the same
criteria—criteria that reward livability, environmental protection, and
economic development in addition to cost-effectiveness, whatever the
community—urban, suburban, or rural,” Hoxworth said. “We congratulate the Obama Administration on this new approach,” Hoxworth
said.
Few traditional highway
expansion projects made the list of TIGER-funded projects: 26% went to transit,
25% to freight rail, 23% to highway, 19% to multi-modal/other, and 8% ports. TLC, which administers the
Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program known as Bike Walk Twin Cities, was
pleased to see funding for similar efforts in Indianapolis and Philadelphia as
well as a TIGER grant for a Complete Street project for our neighbors in
Dubuque, Iowa.
“This funding pattern is good
for jobs,” Hoxworth said, citing a recent study by USPIRG and Smart Growth
America indicating that spending on transit projects creates more jobs than
spending on roads. “These TIGER investments will help maintain our nation’s infrastructure
in good condition and provide more options for moving people and goods.”
Neither of the two major
highway expansion projects proposed by the Minnesota Department of
Transportation – the $201 million expansion of the I-494/TH-169 interchange in
the southwest metro and the $582 million new bridge proposed over the St. Croix
River south of Stillwater received any funding. Two other freight rail projects
and a port project proposed by MnDOT, and projects proposed by other cities and
counties also did not receive funding.
“Given
this new federal direction, it is incumbent on the Twin Cities region and the
state to adjust our plans and investment strategies accordingly,” Hoxworth
said. “A good next step would be approval of the state GO bonding bill with the
maximum amount for transit-way and trail projects and approving the state-wide
Complete Streets legislation. For too many years Minnesota has lost out in the
competition for federal transit dollars. A state-wide commitment to a more
multi-modal future – as in the Union Depot project – will ensure that the
federal government will be our funding partner.”
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Transit for Livable Communities is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization working to reform Minnesota’s transportation system. Through advocacy, organizing, and research, Transit for Livable Communities promotes a balanced transportation system that encourages transit, walking, biking, and transit-oriented development. www.tlcminnesota.org
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