An unprecedented coalition of 40 political leaders and advocacy groups from across Oregon are calling on Congress to make a historic investment in public transit.
“Public transit is the foundation of our communities and the economy.”
Their statement, sent in a letter on Earth Day to seven members of Oregon’s congressional delegation, illustrates two important things about the current state of transportation politics: A growing confidence in progressive reforms (thanks to a sympathetic US Department of Transportation) that has led to unprecedented asks; and that work to create broad coalitions that transcend transportation is starting to pay off.
The letter aims to influence ongoing negotiations about a reauthorization of America’s transportation bill and said that while federal relief funding has staved off the worst of the pandemic’s impacts, the pre-Covid status quo for transit is not OK.
Here’s an excerpt:
“… Biden’s plan says, “This is no time to just build back to the way things were before, with the old economy’s structural weaknesses and inequalities still in place. This is the moment to imagine and build a new American economy for our families and the next generation.” Public transit is the foundation of our communities and the economy. It must also be the scaffolding for the new economy we create.”
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And here’s who signed onto the letter:
The coalition’s case for transit is that it’s an economic engine, a “vehicle for racial equity”, and a way to reduce emissions from the transportation sector (the largest source of greenhouse gases in Oregon and the U.S.).
In the past, transportation advocacy groups have hoped for relatively small carve-outs of “highway bills” that have historically been heavily tilted toward highway expansion projects. This coalition reflects growing confidence nationwide that it’s time to equalize transit and highway funding. “We call on Congress to increase funding for transit to the same level as highways,” the letter states, “and to make necessary investments so that all Americans have access to high quality, safe, affordable, and reliable public transit service and transit-friendly communities.”
Beyond new transit infrastructure, they call on $20 billion in annual funding for operations and service, “to ensure the majority of Americans are within walking distance of frequent transit by 2030.” That date has added weight today because of Biden’s new commitment to halve America’s emissions by 2030.
The letter also calls for: annual investments of $12 billion for capital projects and $18 billion for maintenance, new requirements of zero emission transit fleets, more funding for bicycling and walking facilities that connect people to transit stops and stations, $7 billion for transit-oriented development (TOD), more accessibility for people with disabilities, and better pay and benefits for transit workers.
In related news, Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer told Willamette Week on April 10th that any new expansion of I-5 between Portland and Vancouver must include light rail. His comments were quickly controversial in Clark County where some elected officials bristled at Blumenauer’s stance.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Jonathan, this is great news…nationally!
BUT not to say that light rail will be an easy sell in Clark County, but to link to a blog article by Clark County Today is perhaps foolish if one intends to give a fair representation on what many residents in Clark County think…especially in Vancouver. Clark County Today is funded by David Madore, you remember him and his politics?! There is a “poll” of readers on Clark County Today seeking input on light rails so I would suggest BikePortland readers go out and vote!
That opinion piece on the CRC is complete nonsense. It wasn’t the fact that light rail was part of the project that killed CRC 1.0, it was the fact that it was $4 billion of mostly highway spending that both states hated. This is a catch-22 situation, where one side or the other is going to hate it regardless of the plan.
Delusional Washington residents think that any bridge project can happen with out tolls, and that just isn’t possible.
As for Clark County hating ‘freeway spending’, that may be going too far, but we agree on the “catch-22” aspects of the CRC1 & likely CRC2.
It is going to be a compromise project for both sides unless the Feds pay 100% of it OR Oregon annexes Vancouver into it…returning as part of the old Oregon Territory. 😉
The continued “freeway” no tolls mantra narrative is all too often being spread by our elected officials and business leaders on both sides of the Columbia River…so its easy to keep believing it…especially in the PNW with its ‘rugged libertarian individuality’…versus say “conservative” Texas that has lots of tolled facilities. Tolls worked well for our grandparents and great grandparents to build and maintain community facilities they valued.
Call it the Gorge-Vancouver Turnpike or the Bart Simpson Memorial Expressway…
This is great news on the whole! But I still believe that the largest impediment to good public transit in Portland is TriMet’s staggering incompetence. I have no confidence that any funding will be spent wisely, and fear we’re going to have a Southwest Corridor 2.0 fiasco rather than the much-needed local bus/aBRT/BRT investments.
I concur. TM has proven time and time again it is less interested in delivering good transit than good vibes. Make taxpayers feel less guilty about their Co2 emissions and income inequality.
Clackamas County doesn’t want MAX either but I think Milwaukie is glad to have it anyway. Last I knew, the inner suburb of Clark, ie Vancouver, was the same way.
It’s frustrating to watch people use selfish ideologies to stand in the way of other people’s progress.