Recent Streetsblog SF posts about Federal Stimulus Plan

New Report: Minority-Owned Businesses Left Out of Transport Stimulus

By Elana Schor | Dec 15, 2009 | 1 Comment

Women and minorities are getting shortchanged in the chase for transportation stimulus contracts, according to a report released today by the Transportation Equity Network (TEN) and Good Jobs First. (Photo: WBEZ) Using federal procurement data — which, the two advocacy groups acknowledged, represents just a slice of the White House’s economic recovery pie — the […]

The Footnote to All Those Complaints About Tax Cuts as Stimulus

By Elana Schor | Dec 15, 2009 | No Comments

Transportation reformers and status quo-lovers alike smacked their foreheads in frustration when the White House’s first stimulus plan lowballed infrastructure to make room for tax breaks that had little demonstrable effect on job creation — particularly the $70 billion adjustment of the alternative minimum tax (AMT). HOT lanes on Virginia’s I-495 are one of seven […]

Congressional Black Caucus Calls for Bypassing States on New Jobs Bill

By Elana Schor | Dec 11, 2009 | 1 Comment

As the $787 billion stimulus law nears its one-year anniversary, Congress’ choice to route the lion’s share of recovery funds through state capitals — including state DOTs where misplaced priorities are all too common — remains a sore spot for mayors and urban advocates. CBC Chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) (Photo: AP) Today the Congressional […]

McCain & Coburn: Inadvertent Transportation Reformers?

By Elana Schor | Dec 9, 2009 | No Comments

Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) are no fans of dedicated federal spending on cleaner transportation. From bike and pedestrian safety to local transit funds, the duo has made a habit of attacking non-road projects as wasteful "pork." Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (Composite Photo: City-Data.com) And yesterday was no exception, as McCain and […]

Wall Street Bailout Money For Infrastructure? Maybe Not

By Elana Schor | Dec 8, 2009 | No Comments

President Obama will deliver a speech on job creation this morning in Washington, but one tactic that has won over quite a few Democrats of late — redirecting unspent money from last year’s financial bailout to transportation — may not be as possible as lawmakers had thought. White House economic adviser Larry Summers promised earlier […]

NY and CA: How Did They Spend Transportation Stimulus Money?

By Elana Schor | Dec 7, 2009 | 1 Comment

In an economic recovery report released today by New York Gov. David Paterson (D), the state broke down its plans for the estimated $31 billion it received as part of the Obama administration’s first stimulus law. New York spent more than half of its transport stimulus money on transit. (Photo: PlanetWare) A chart of New […]

Show More Stories