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STIMULUS PLAN * USA - Analysis & Comments
* Senate vs. House Stimulus Spending on Transportation Infrastructure
Washington,DC,USA -PBS, by Thomas R. McNamara -10 Feb 2009: -- Both the Senate and House versions of President Obama's economic stimulus bill include plenty of spending on transportation infrastructure projects, although the details differ. For example, the Senate version contains $45.47 billion in transportation funding, including $8.4 billion in transit funding, while the House version contains $46.12 billion in transportation funding, including $12 billion in transit funding. The transit funding includes urbanized area formula grants ($5.96 billion in the Senate version, $6.75 billion in the House version) and Rural Area Formula Grants ($840 million in the Senate version, $750 million in the House version). Other transit funding include $1.6 billion in Growing States and High Density Formula Grants in the Senate version and $2 billion in Fixed Guideway Modernization combined with $2.5 billion in Capital Investment Grants (New Starts) in the House version. Funding for total intercity and high speed rail funding is $3.1 billion in the Senate version and $1.1 billion in the House version. Other spending in the Senate version includes $5.5 billion in Supplemental Discretionary Grants for a National Transportation System Program (Multi-Modal); no such provision is in the House version...
* Nearly 800 Public Transit Projects Identified; Ready-To-Go Within 90 Days of Federal Funding
Washington,DC,USA -American Public Transportation Association (PR) -9 Feb 2009: -- American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William W. Millar has urged Congress to take immediate action to include billions for public transit projects as part of the economic recovery legislation. "The public transportation industry is ready to help America get back on its feet and help people get to work this spring," he said. "With nearly 800 public transportation projects that are ready-to-go within 90 days of federal funding, jobs will be created at a rapid pace"... Public-transit investment helps the economy and job creation as well as promoting energy independence and fighting climate change, he said. Public transportation saves 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by keeping people from having to use private cars. In 2007, public transit ridership hit a 50-year high of 10.3 billion trips, but state and local funding has fallen due to lower revenues amid an economic downturn, leading to 85 percent of public transit systems experiencing capacity problems last summer...
* Smart Tech: Where's Our Stimulus?
Washington,DC,USA -Business Week, by Steve Hamm -3 Feb 2009: -- As Congress continues to craft a proposed economic stimulus package, currently work over $800 billion, technology experts say the government may be missing out on a substantial opportunity to invest in "smart" technologies... As much as 25 percent of the current proposed stimulus package would be put to use updating the nation's infrastructure. Most of that funding is said to be earmarked for traditional "shovel-ready" road and bridge projects... However, studies show some of that money may be better spent on smart technology applications such as video cameras and sensors to monitor traffic patterns and prevent congestion; computer chips designed to monitor bridges for needed repairs; and wireless technology to track city-wide energy usage... According to the Intelligent Transportation Society of America these types of technologies could significantly improve job opportunities offered as part of the stimulus package when compared to traditional construction projects... The organization's conclusion is based largely on a recent U.S. Transportation Department report that showed the average smart technology project spends 50 percent on direct labor as opposed to highway or bridge construction, which only spends 20 percent. Furthermore, the report indicates that smart technology projects are more likely to employ workers from different sectors- providing high-tech and environmental jobs as well as traditional construction positions...
Labels: Obama's Administration
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