Recent Streetsblog SF posts about Federal Stimulus Plan

CBO Echoes Obama’s Candor on the Pitfalls of ‘Shovel-Readiness’

By Elana Schor | Jan 19, 2010 | No Comments

During last month’s White House jobs summit, President Obama carved out some common ground with critics of his first stimulus law’s $47 billion in infrastructure spending — which was distributed mainly by the book through state DOTs. "The term "shovel-ready," let’s be honest here, doesn’t always live up to its billing," he acknowledged. The CBO […]

Could a Green Bank Hitch a Ride on the Jobs Bill?

By Elana Schor | Jan 15, 2010 | No Comments

Fans of a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) that would help leverage private-sector funding for transportation projects are still hoping for Hill action after the House declined to add the idea to its $154 billion jobs bill. But the NIB isn’t the only new financing strategy on the table, as Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) reminded […]

Enviro Group Sees State DOTs’ Transport Predictions — and Raises Them

By Elana Schor | Jan 15, 2010 | No Comments

Just before New Year’s, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Washington voice for state DOTs that’s often dubbed the "road lobby," counted down 10 hot topics for 2010. Freight upgrades made EDF’s transport wish list for 2010. (Photo: TSA) Most items on AASHTO’s list are awaited with equal fervor by […]

LaHood Wants More TIGER Aid in the Congressional Jobs Bill

By Elana Schor | Jan 14, 2010 | No Comments

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made a splash yesterday by announcing that the U.S. DOT would look at the environmental and community-building benefits of transit projects, not just their adherence to a government cost-effectiveness standard. Washington D.C.’s proposed K Street transitway, pictured above, is one of many projects vying for TIGER money. (Photo: The City Fix) […]

White House and Congress Take Issue With AP’s Transport Stimulus Claims

By Elana Schor | Jan 11, 2010 | No Comments

The Associated Press published a piece today that, after putting "economists and statisticians" to work on analyzing $21 billion in federal stimulus money for transportation, reached a volatile conclusion: (Photo: WBEZ) Local unemployment rates rose and fell regardless of how much stimulus money Washington poured out for transportation, raising questions about Obama’s argument that more […]

Transit Jobs Nearly Twice as Cheap to Create as Roads — By Congress’ Math

By Elana Schor | Dec 17, 2009 | 1 Comment

During the first stimulus debate, House Democrats and the White House famously sparred over how quickly infrastructure money could be spent — with the data later proving that transit was just as "shovel-ready" as roads, if not more so. (Photo: DMI Blog) Now that transportation policymakers have turned to stemming the rising unemployment rate, three […]

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