Comments on: Transportation Policy Becomes the Proverbial Tree Falling in the Forest http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/28/transportation-policy-becomes-the-proverbial-tree-falling-in-the-forest/ 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: Clutch J http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/28/transportation-policy-becomes-the-proverbial-tree-falling-in-the-forest/comment-page-1/#comment-145371 Clutch J Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:58:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=79611#comment-145371 Joe, Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your perspective. If enacted, the Oberstar proposal would indeed be the best federal transportation bill ever. But for livable communities advocates that's like being the best tasting castor oil. The Metropolitan areas program is very encouraging, as it's vital to shift power from state DOTs to regional agencies. The nonmotorized programs are great, and I also appreciate his enthusiasm for increasing gas taxes and user fees. I pledge to look at the proposal again and see if it is in fact transformational or merely puts much pretty lipstick on the pig. Joe,

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your perspective.

If enacted, the Oberstar proposal would indeed be the best federal transportation bill ever. But for livable communities advocates that’s like being the best tasting castor oil.

The Metropolitan areas program is very encouraging, as it’s vital to shift power from state DOTs to regional agencies.

The nonmotorized programs are great, and I also appreciate his enthusiasm for increasing gas taxes and user fees.

I pledge to look at the proposal again and see if it is in fact transformational or merely puts much pretty lipstick on the pig.

]]> By: Joe Radosevich http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/28/transportation-policy-becomes-the-proverbial-tree-falling-in-the-forest/comment-page-1/#comment-144971 Joe Radosevich Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:01:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=79611#comment-144971 Clutch, Oberstar's bill would be a dramatic transformation of how federal transportation dollars are spent. New highway projects would no longer be given priority, and transit, infrastructure repairs, road safety, and pedestrian and bicycle projects would have a fair shot at federal funding. He's also criticized the CEI formula and is responsible for the largest federal investment in biking and pedestrian transportation infrastructure ever. The safe-routes-to-schools program ($612 million) and the non-motorized transportation pilot program ($100 million) awarded federal grant money to expand biking and pedestrian infrastructure was included in the 2005 bill because of him. Oberstar's bill gets us exactly where we need to be. Poncho, Republicans on the committee, while divided over the funding mechanism for the legislation, are actually fairly supportive. It received a strong vote of bi-partisan support from the full committee. Clutch,

Oberstar’s bill would be a dramatic transformation of how federal transportation dollars are spent. New highway projects would no longer be given priority, and transit, infrastructure repairs, road safety, and pedestrian and bicycle projects would have a fair shot at federal funding.

He’s also criticized the CEI formula and is responsible for the largest federal investment in biking and pedestrian transportation infrastructure ever. The safe-routes-to-schools program ($612 million) and the non-motorized transportation pilot program ($100 million) awarded federal grant money to expand biking and pedestrian infrastructure was included in the 2005 bill because of him. Oberstar’s bill gets us exactly where we need to be.

Poncho,

Republicans on the committee, while divided over the funding mechanism for the legislation, are actually fairly supportive. It received a strong vote of bi-partisan support from the full committee.

]]> By: poncho http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/28/transportation-policy-becomes-the-proverbial-tree-falling-in-the-forest/comment-page-1/#comment-144661 poncho Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:02:01 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=79611#comment-144661 i see the republicans have found yet another thing to obstruct. i see the republicans have found yet another thing to obstruct.

]]> By: Clutch J http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/28/transportation-policy-becomes-the-proverbial-tree-falling-in-the-forest/comment-page-1/#comment-144631 Clutch J Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:20:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=79611#comment-144631 I would think the Streetsblog crowd would be much more interested in the content of the federal bill over its timing. I can wait a year or three for rauthorization if the end result is a federal transportation program with dramatically new priorities. I don't think Oberstar's bill gets us there. Do you? I would think the Streetsblog crowd would be much more interested in the content of the federal bill over its timing. I can wait a year or three for rauthorization if the end result is a federal transportation program with dramatically new priorities. I don’t think Oberstar’s bill gets us there. Do you?

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/28/transportation-policy-becomes-the-proverbial-tree-falling-in-the-forest/comment-page-1/#comment-144601 Mark Walker Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:53:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=79611#comment-144601 How many of NYC's electeds were standing alongside Oberstar? Too few, I guess. How many of NYC’s electeds were standing alongside Oberstar? Too few, I guess.

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