More transportation choices means more mobility; Seattle gets it

Yesterday, I came to Seattle, a city that succeeds in promoting growth and opportunity while limiting sprawl, congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions. The Obama Administration wants to help more communities across the U.S. enjoy the easy access to jobs, homes, schools, and transit that cities like Seattle offer.

And, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), this Administration is investing in more than 5,700 good transportation projects all over the country that do just that. We’ve made more than $20 billion available, with much more to come. By rebuilding and improving transit systems, bike paths, walking trails, roads, and bridges, this Administration is using stimulus funds to create jobs and achieve a new American mobility.

I've repeated that message on these blog pages many times because it's so important. In Seattle yesterday, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire made the same point.

In Seattle, $23 million in recovery dollars will help purchase new hybrid buses, additional bike lockers and other transit needs.

In addition, we’re investing $44 million of stimulus money to accelerate work on the University Link light rail system. This important project will connect the three largest urban centers in the state--Capitol Hill, Downtown Seattle, and the University of Washington.

This project will create good jobs, will see 70,000 daily boardings, and will cement Seattle’s reputation as one of the most transit-friendly and livable cities in America.

This Administration understands that it’s important to invest in America’s cities to keep them vibrant and economically healthy. And, a diverse and efficient transportation system is an essential part of that effort.

That’s why one of our top priorities at DOT is to invest in projects in communities like Seattle--to help them become more livable and sustainable by reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and providing access to good public transportation options, employment, and housing.

Folks, it's really very simple: More transportation choices means more mobility. Seattle gets it. Portland gets it. The Obama Administration gets it.

Comments

[Jim Culp]

Some Washington State Dept of Transportation photos of the Bremerton celebration have been posted at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157620463952137/

[Petra Todorovich]

And Secretary LaHood gets it too! Great to see these connections being made at the highest levels.

[rotem]

Great to see these connections and great to see that everything is possible.

[Cliff J. Kirchmer]

Maybe Seattle "gets it" that more transportation choices are needed, but Washington State does not "get it" on the stimulus funding to improve ferry service. Washington State has the largest ferry system in the nation and applied for $56 million in grants, putting an emphasis on projects that could be completed in two years or less, but was allocated only $750,000, 18th among 19 states receiving federal stimulus money for ferry transit.

This does not seem to make any sense, and I request that Secretary Ray LaHood complete as soon as possible the promised "expedited review" of how the money was allocated and promptly make public the results of that review.

[ron]

Great to see these connections that spread and helped people, it is just matter of good willing.

[ben]

As rotem says and i fully agree if we want to do something everything is possible. keep up with the good work.

[Jarryd]

Traffic is still a huge thing in Seattle it takes more than one hour to reach different parts of the city, I really hope they fix this soon.