Research Confirms President Obama's SOTU Remarks: Smart Transportation Spending Creates Jobs, Grows the Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2011

Susan Merrow, Chair, 1000 Friends of Connecticut 860-367-1687, amerrow@snet.net Kirsten Griebel, CTLCV Education Fund 860-670-0621, 860-236-5442, kirsten.griebel@ctlcv.org Alex Goldschmidt, Smart Growth America 202-207-3355 x112, agoldschmidt@smartgrowthamerica.org

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CT Ranks First in report that shows investing in repair and maintenance projects and public transportation can help Connecticut revitalize America's transportation system and rebuild the economy.

Connecticut, February 4, 2011 - A new report released by Smart Growth America (SGA) provides Connecticut with a roadmap to pursue President Obama's call to repair our crumbling roads and bridges and invest in public transportation to jumpstart the economy. The report, which highlights how well states created jobs using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) flexible transportation dollars, provides Governor Malloy, the Department of Transportation, and the legislature with a smart investment strategy to get more jobs from the same number of transportation dollars and help rebuild the economy effectively.

Connecticut ranked first, based on how well we used our portion of the $26.6 billion in flexible ARRA transportation dollars to create jobs. The report was released two years after the passage of ARRA and a week after President Obama's State of the Union Address and his clarion call to rebuild America and create jobs.

"Smart Growth America commends Connecticut for using its federal stimulus funding to maximize job creation," Geoff Anderson, President/CEO of Smart Growth America said. "Connecticut should continue on this same path of smart, fiscally responsible transportation policies when it considers its 2011 transportation budget. If Connecticut continues to allocate the majority of its transportation dollars in its new budget to the repair and maintenance of roads and bridges, and expanding access to public transportation, the state can save money and put people back to work."

Connecticut leaders understand that rebuilding our economy is the most significant challenge of our generation. As the President said in his address, "To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods and information...America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities and constructed the interstate highway system. The jobs created by these projects didn't just come from laying down tracks or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town's new train station or the new off-ramp." This report analyzes state-reported ARRA data and finds that wise spending of transportation dollars produces immediate results in terms of jobs.

The states that made the best use of funds invested in public transportation projects and maintained and repaired existing roads and bridges. The states that ranked poorly focused on building new roads and bridges.

Connecticut spent 100 percent of its ARRA transportation funds on repairing and maintaining roads and bridges; nothing on building new ones; and 9.1 percent on public transportation and non-motorized projects such as trails, bicycle projects and pedestrian projects.

"We're proud that Connecticut "fixed it first" and created jobs critical to our state's recovery. We urge even greater emphasis on mass transit funding, which has a triple benefit: it creates jobs, gets people to their jobs, and improves the quality of life for all of us," said 1000 Friends of Connecticut Chair and CTLCV Director Susan Merrow.

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"We have seen a gradual shift in Connecticut toward investments in public transit where we get the biggest bang for the buck - dollar for dollar, public transportation projects create the highest percentage of jobs. These investments are good for both the economy and the environment," added Lori Brown, Executive Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters.

SGA determined its rankings by assessing how states invested their ARRA flexible transportation dollars, as reported by the states themselves to Congress.

Historically, repair work on roads and bridges generates 16 percent more jobs per dollar than new bridge and road construction. Repair and maintenance projects spend money faster and create jobs more quickly than building new roads because they employ more kinds of workers, spend less money on land and more on wages, and spend less time on plans and permits.

Additionally, historical investments in public transportation have generated 31 percent more jobs per dollar than new construction of roads and bridges. SGA's analysis of ARRA spending shows that even more jobs were created with public transportation spending - these projects generated 70 percent more jobs per dollar than new highway construction.

"Our new administration in Hartford and new leadership at Department Of Transportation have a chance now to build on this good news and firmly establish the connection between wise spending on transit, fixing existing infrastructure, and growing smart," Merrow concluded.

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For the complete report, go to http://smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/lessons-from-the-stimulus.pdf.

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Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transit or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information, please visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.

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A Fiscal Conservative, Congressional Transportation Committee Chair Mica Sees Transit as Efficient Investment

Could the tides be turning on high speed rail?

Our partner, Transportation for America, reports that Florida Republican John Mica could be a key ally on high-speed rail.

T4America turned up this impressive 2009 statement from Mica:

“If you’re on the Transportation Committee long enough, even if you’re a fiscal conservative, which I consider myself to be, you quickly see the benefits of transportation investment. Simply, I became a mass transit fan because it’s so much more cost effective than building a highway. Also, it’s good for energy, it’s good for the environment – and that’s why I like it.”

Read the full T4America article here:  Florida Republican John Mica could be a key ally on high-speed rail.

Because of its impact on climate change, greenhouse gas pollution, energy security, sprawl, public health and the nascent green jobs sector, promoting sustainable transportation options is one of CTLCV’s current focus areas.

Talk It Up! Make Your Support for the Community Green Fund Bill Heard

– contact David Bingham for more details

Could your town use some work on its:

• Energy conservation and efficiency?
• Storm sewers?
• Brownfield remediation and redevelopment?
• Air and water quality?
• Alternative Energy production?
• Historic preservation?
• Open space preservation?

If so, you should be interested in SB 834, An Act Concerning Municipal Open Space Priorities and Funding for the Purchase of Such Properties.  That’s a bill that would give cities and towns the authority, if they so choose, to enact a conveyance fee of 1% on real estate buyers.  The collected fees would be placed in the town’s dedicated fund for conservation purposes, such as OPEN SPACE AND FARMLAND PURCHASE.  The fees could also be used to fund projects FOR CONSERVATION OF AIR, WATER, ENERGY AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.

Funding for such local initiatives tends to get delayed indefinitely while the environment suffers. Funding such projects is essential for sustainable communities.  And it means green jobs.

Some well-financed interest groups, such as realtors and builders, that are expected to call their legislators and fight this bill, even though the evidence in other states is that "green communities" help sustain land and development values. 

To counteract opposition, it will be critical for constituents to let their legislators know about conservation projects in their districts that could use seed money from a Community Conservation Fund if enabled by SB 834.

SB 834 was raised for a hearing on 1/31/11 by the Environment Committee.  Now the committee needs to vote to move the bill forward.  The wording of the bill currently vague, but is expected to be tightened up before a vote in the Environment Committee.

Those interested in helping get local funding for such projects should let their legislative representatives and senator know with a brief email or call that they wish this bill to be passed. Members of the Environment Committee are listed below.  Their individual contact information is available here.

• Sen Meyer, Edward S-12
• Sen Maynard, Andrew S-18
• Sen Roraback, Andrew S-30
• Rep Roy, Richard 119
• Rep Davis, Paul 117
• Rep Chapin, Clark 067
• Rep Backer, Terry 121
• Rep Camillo, Fred 151
• Rep Greene, Leonard 105
• Rep Hennessey, John 127
• Rep Hurlburt, Bryan 053
• Rep Hwang, Tony 134
• Rep Luxenberg, Geoff 012
• Rep Megna, Robert 097
• Rep Miller, Lawrence 122
• Rep Miner, Craig 066
• Rep Moukawsher, Edward 040
• Rep Mushinski, Mary 085
• Rep Piscopo, John 076
• Rep Rose, Kim 118
• Rep Ryan, Kevin 139
• Rep Shaban, John 135
• Rep Urban, Diana 143
• Rep Willis, Roberta 064
• Rep Wood, Terri 141
• Rep Wright, Christopher 077
• Wright, Elissa 041

You may also submit comments to the Environment Committee care of jason.bowsza@cga.ct.gov.

For more information on the Community Green Fund bill, please contact CTLCV Co-Chair David Bingham at dbbingham@sbcglobal.net.