Comments on: Obama Ally Breaks With White House on Timing of New Transport Bill http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/14/obama-ally-breaks-with-white-house-on-timing-of-new-transport-bill/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fritz http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/14/obama-ally-breaks-with-white-house-on-timing-of-new-transport-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-135261 Fritz Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:12:07 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=69301#comment-135261 Chris, the Federal gas tax is currently 18.4 cents with states averaging in the high 20s. I know many of us would love to have $1 per gallon dedicated funding but we need to look for solutions that could pass congress. An increase of 50 cents with 10 cents per year over the next 5 years with the issue to be revisited later, perhaps. But, we need to be hearing out Congressional leaders on how to do this. The Transportation Subcommittee on Rail (and lots of other things) asked if dedicated funding would be necessary for HSR and the answer from the panel was an unequivocal yes. So, go to your Congressman and ask for dedicated funding source for intercity rail (and perhaps transit). Tell them you want them to get working on the Surface Transportation Authorization Act. Tell them that you support CLEAN-TEA for the cap and trade system which is a decent shot at dedicated funding for rail. Your Congress(wo)men need to hear from you. Go to their office and talk to their staffers, send them mail, phone them. It may feel awkward at first but it doesn't take much time. Chris, the Federal gas tax is currently 18.4 cents with states averaging in the high 20s. I know many of us would love to have $1 per gallon dedicated funding but we need to look for solutions that could pass congress. An increase of 50 cents with 10 cents per year over the next 5 years with the issue to be revisited later, perhaps. But, we need to be hearing out Congressional leaders on how to do this. The Transportation Subcommittee on Rail (and lots of other things) asked if dedicated funding would be necessary for HSR and the answer from the panel was an unequivocal yes. So, go to your Congressman and ask for dedicated funding source for intercity rail (and perhaps transit). Tell them you want them to get working on the Surface Transportation Authorization Act. Tell them that you support CLEAN-TEA for the cap and trade system which is a decent shot at dedicated funding for rail.

Your Congress(wo)men need to hear from you. Go to their office and talk to their staffers, send them mail, phone them. It may feel awkward at first but it doesn’t take much time.

]]> By: Chris http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/14/obama-ally-breaks-with-white-house-on-timing-of-new-transport-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-134841 Chris Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:43:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=69301#comment-134841 $1 increase in the tax per gallon. Right now. Lets go. Get it done. $1 increase in the tax per gallon. Right now. Lets go. Get it done.

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