President proposes new jobs, renewed infrastructure

Yesterday I had the great honor of joining President Obama in Milwaukee to celebrate Labor Day. And it was a pleasure hearing his historic announcement of $50 billion in job-creating transportation infrastructure investments.

Infrastructure investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have already shown terrific results, and it makes good sense to continue.

Now, when this Administration took office, America was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Times today are still tough--we know that--and unemployment remains stubbornly high.

But I hate to think how much worse life would be if we had not passed the Recovery Act at the start of this presidency and begun implementing the most significant jobs and infrastructure plan since the New Deal.

You've seen the results across the country this summer: 33,000 miles of road improvements, enough to criss-cross the nation a dozen times. And even as those miles of roadwork are paving the way for a 21st century economy, they are also employing thousands of American workers.

Watching President Obama and the crowd from the side of the stage

In the 19 months since joining this Administration, I have traveled to more than 90 cities in 30 states. And everywhere I visit, people can't wait to tell me, “Thank you,” for getting them back to work. Or “thank you” for the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have a reason to put on their work boots in the morning.

In fact, as the President told the audience in Milwaukee, "Because of these investments, and the tens of thousands of projects they spurred all across the country, the battered construction sector grew last month for the first time in a very long time."

But we know there is much more to do over the long term. A 21st century economy is going to need a transportation infrastructure that can move its goods. Recovery Act investments have shown that transportation work benefits America from safety to efficiency to growth and--yes--to the jobs needed for the work we have too long deferred.

Courtesy Megan McCormick, Badger Herald

That’s why President Obama and this Administration want to revamp our approach to transportation and put more people back to work on more projects that will support our economy for years to come:

"It doesn’t do anybody any good when so many hardworking Americans have been idled, yet so much of America needs rebuilding. That’s why I am announcing a new plan for rebuilding and modernizing America’s roads and rails and runways for the long term.

Over the next six years we are going to rebuild 150,000 miles of our roads--enough to circle the world six times. We’re going to lay and maintain 4,000 miles of our railways--enough to stretch coast to coast. We’re going to restore 150 miles of runways and advance a next-generation air-traffic control system to reduce flight-times and delays for American travelers.

We used to have the best infrastructure in the world. We can have it again. We're going to make it happen. This will create jobs and make our economy run better over the long haul."

The President also pointed out that the $50 billion transportation infrastructure program will not add to the deficit over time: "This is a plan that will be fully paid for. We’re going to work with Congress to see to that."

New jobs, renewed infrastructure, and a new model for transportation investments--it sounds like a lot of work to me. And I, for one, am ready.

Comments

[Greg Cohen]

The President also indicated he supported immediate action on a six-year reauthorization bill. But we're all still waiting to hear how that will be funded and to get DOT's policy principles. We would really like to work with you to get this bill (and our highways) moving!

[mike siffer]

What would have been historic is a push from the White House to get a reauthorization bill passed that is fully funded. This is just another bandaid. All of Washington needs to get their head out of the sand and raise the gas tax

[Wally]

Will any part of this funding support bicycle and pedestrian facilities that will help make communities more livable?

[TruckerDesiree]

I would like to know why nothing is mentioned about safe trucker parking being included in any roads projects when the bill HR 2156 and companion S971 called Jason's Law has been sitting in committee stalled for months.

Truckers are sitting ducks from high crime and this bill was written because of the senseless murder of fellow trucker Jason Rivenburg who was murdered when his wife was pregnant with twins just days after his body was found.

He was killed while waiting to deliver Milk for a measley $7 and our own trucking representation have done little more than hold this bill up for membership drives for themselves or to sell their trucking magazines but have not put much lobby power to push this bill forward.

Not even NATSO, the National Association of Truck Stop Owners has put any support forward and it is the high level of criminal activity they permit , the lack of suitable spaces and the disrepair that makes us seek parking elsewhere in many cases.

We keep store shelves stocked for everyone else but working 24/7 thru each and every holiday and we are left to fend for ourselves like sitting ducks.

Jason's Law is supposed to be drawn from the Highway Trust Fund which is funded from Fuel taxes but where is that money? Where is it? Nothing is done to provide safe parking for America's Backbone and this wrong.

[Roger A. Shope]

We are ready to go in Ohio!
Responsible Investment in America's Foundation provides opportunity for our children to build a Clean and sustainable future. Connecting Ohio's college's and Universities will lower costs to families and strengthen Institutional collaboration and sustainability.
Top priorities for Ohio Higher Education.
www.ohern.org

[Willis Montgomery III]

add some bicycle lanes. Not all of us use a car to get to work.

[Tony Pelliccio]

Yes I'm seeing evidence of stimulus money where I live. Roadway improvements that enhance safety for both motor vehicles and pedestrians. This means moving islands out of some places and into others. It means installation of the ITS style walk signals with countdown timers.

Also seeing some action on repaving, and best of all public transit. The station in Warwick, RI is about to open and they've now broken ground on a station in Wickford with proposals for stations in East Greenwich, Cranston, and a host of other places in the state.

So yes, it's visible. And yes a long time coming.

[Otis Jolly]

Safe Truck Parking Should be a Priority as Part of the 50 Billion dollar Infrastructure Program

[Michael Everett]

Everyone is against drunk, but your commercial "Sir have you been drinking today" is blatantly sexist. Why is every drunk driving suspect a middle aged Caucasian male. Can you imagine the outcry if every suspect was African American or Latino? Think before you drink, but think before you put out a racist commercial like this! I am seriously considering suing the Department of Transportation.

[Carroll]

It's about time. The infra structure of the US has been on the declined for many years. I'm just afraid it will sputter like all the rest of the President's policies.

Put some bakbone into it....get it fully funded.