Wisconsin Economic Recovery Now in Hands of Governor, DOT, MPOs
Media Contacts
WISPIRG Urges State officials to Focus on “Fix it First” & Transit Projects
WISPIRG
[Madison, WI] — As President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, WISPIRG called on Governor Doyle and state legislative leaders to ensure that the transportation portion revitalizes the Wisconsin economy, focusing on job creation by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and investing in much needed public transit.
During Wednesday’s town hall meeting in Ft. Myers, FL President Obama took an unequivocal stand in favor of a 21st Century transportation system including “energy efficient” investments such as “high speed rail” and “public transit”. Said President Obama: “Even when you’re in the middle of crisis, you’ve got to keep your eye on the future…The days where we’re just building sprawl forever, those days are over.”
“These funds offer state and local officials an unprecedented opportunity to create jobs that will build the strong communities the people of Wisconsin want to live in,” stated Bruce Speight, WISPIRG Advocate. “We’re calling on Governor Doyle, state DOT Secretary, Frank Busalacchi, state legislative leaders, and Metropolitan Planning Organization leaders to heed President Obama’s vision for change and urging them to spend these investments wisely.”
The bill signed today includes about $46 billion for transportation, including roughly $610,752,741 for Wisconsin for public transit, roads, and bicycle and pedestrian investments. (State shares of intercity and high speed rail funding in the new law have yet to be determined.) Wisconsin will receive the funds through programs that allow states broad discretion. “At this point, it is up to us to use this money to make our communities stronger,” noted Speight. Some of the helpful features of the legislation are listed below.
* $27.5 billion is allocated to the Surface Transportation Program (STP) that, as its name states, can be spent on the state’s most pressing surface transportation needs. Wisconsin’s $529,111,915 in STP funds could begin to restore our transportation networks to a state of good repair if state and local officials give priority to fix-it-first rather than unneeded new highways that encourage more congestion and oil dependence.
* Flexibility built into STP funds allows Wisconsin to invest in transit, road, rail, and bicycle and pedestrian projects that reduce oil dependence, traffic congestion, and vulnerability to gas price hikes.
* Just under 30% of STP funds will be directed (“suballocated”) to metropolitan decision makers, who will have the flexibility to use the money to meet the diverse transportation needs of their constituents while helping to foster the clean energy economy envisioned by the President.
* A substantial percentage of funding is explicitly dedicated to public transportation, to help meet growing demand. Wisconsin’s share of the $8.4 billion will be $81,640,826.
WISPIRG recognized that Congress provided no criteria to ensure that STP funds are prioritized towards fixing Wisconsin’s crumbling infrastructure and expanding public transit and bicycle and pedestrian routes. As a result, decisions about the kinds of jobs to create and projects to fund with federal stimulus funds are in the hands of state and local officials. WISPIRG urged these officials to use that flexibility to create the jobs that will both repair the system we have, and build a transportation system in Wisconsin that meets the needs of an energy-efficient 21st Century economy.
“Not all stimulus jobs are created equal,” stated Speight. “State and local officials need to choose the projects that not only stimulate the economy now, but also fix our infrastructure, reduce our reliance on oil, and build a robust economy for decades to come.”
“We must seize this moment, rebuild Wisconsin for our children and grandchildren, and put our communities on a clean-energy, high-speed track to the future,” added Speight.
