Though I think it is unrealistic to shift much stimulus money to transit, it does make sense to concentrate on fixing existing roads rather than building new ones.

The federal program that provides aid to states for highway construction and transit expenses expires on Sept. 30. The current program was funded at $286 billion over five years. Its cost is mainly underwritten by the federal 18.4 cents-per-gallon gas tax, but revenues have failed to keep up with obligations.

Last January, a blue-ribbon transportation commission recommended increasing the gas tax as much as 40 cents a gallon over five years. The additional money would help cover the federal share of an estimated $225 billion the commission says is needed each year to upgrade transportation systems.

Boosting the gas tax carries political risks. The last time it was raised, a backlash against Democrats in the 1994 elections helped Republicans capture control of the House and Senate. Obama has expressed concern about raising taxes in the current economic climate.

Even without an increase, Obama will have to deal with environmentalists who want to undo a bargain struck during the Reagan administration that funnels roughly 80 percent of gas tax revenue to highway projects and 15 percent to transit. They want to redirect money away from highways to alternatives such as transit and intercity passenger trains.

Obama’s energy plan calls for saving as much oil as the U.S. currently imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 years, which is about 3.5 million barrels a day.

“That’s going to require a pretty robust program to save oil, which means not just better vehicle technology and not just alternative fuels.
…
Something will have to be done about transportation policy,” said Deron Lovaas of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“The question is, does it make sense if energy security is an overarching national commitment to stick to … a 25-year-old deal?” Lovaas said. “I think the answer is, ‘No.’ That’s going to be an enormous fight.”

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgif=/n/a/2008/12/12/national/w094032S84.DTL

It is quite odd that transit agencies are not being more aggressive in their requests.

I’d like to see the MTA implement fare control on the commuter railroads. A combination of a smart card entry/exit with cameras and motion sensors to identify anyone trying to walk on the track and then hop on the platform to avoid the fare. That could save a boatload of money.

Perhaps smartcards could be installed on the buses as well, speeding entry relative to the existing metrocard machines.

Station rehabs are a good use of stimulus, because your typical construction workers who are laid off from private projects could do the work. No so for other subway projects. If we really want stimulus, we should be willing to endure line shutdowns to speed the work.

Here is one that would probably be clogged up politically. In more dense areas of the city, remove on-street two parking spaces at each intersection to both improve visiblilty and install bike racks. At the top of my block, one space at the corner was made no-parking because of a series of crashes caused by poor visibility. Lots of young folks could be trained to mix and pour cement.

This money could be spent really quickly, since the production facilities already exist, and the buses would lower the operating expenses for transit systems that are short on cash.