DOT officials take message on the road: Building for tomorrow, creating jobs today

In his State of the Union address two weeks ago, President Obama reminded us that to win the future, we must dream big and build big.  To secure long-term economic prosperity for future generations, we must--once again--build the best roadways, railways, and runways in the world.

This week, officials from the Department of Transportation will join me in taking that message on the road in the best possible way: by celebrating the communities that are already making that happen and the people who are getting America back on track to economic growth, opportunity, and competitiveness.

Stepping off the train with Vice President Biden, courtesy Reuters, Larry Downing

This morning, for example, Vice President Biden and I took the train to Philadelphia's 30th Street Station where we'll announce a comprehensive plan to continue construction of a national high-speed and intercity passenger rail network. High-speed rail will not only revolutionize transportation in America, it will reinvigorate our manufacturing sector, create jobs, and enable economic development all along its corridors.

Capital Area Transit facility takes shape; this photo and below courtesy goodnightraleigh.com

And this morning, Deputy Secretary John Porcari and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff will be in Raleigh, NC, touring the exciting new Capital Area Transit operations and bus maintenance center. This facility expands CAT's bus maintenance capacity from 50 up to a possible 200 buses, accommodating the region's growing transit network.

"Our investment in projects like this," says FTA Administrator Rogoff, "puts skilled workers on the payroll today accommodating transit growth for years to come."

The new center also incorporates a number of green features, including geothermal heating and cooling, cisterns for collecting water, and a design that promotes natural light for work spaces. It also uses recycled and rapidly renewed materials.

As Deputy Secretary Porcari says, "We’re proving there's no conflict between economic growth and sustainability."

The new CAT facility is only one of the federally funded projects demonstrating that America can out-build our competition, sparking private investment and creating jobs. This Administration is committed to continuing to repair our existing infrastructure while also building new ways to move people and goods. That's how we strengthen our communities and our economy.

Other communities we'll visit this week include Daytona Beach, Dayton, Fort Pierce, Cleveland, and Wichita. In these cities, we'll see exciting projects building new roadways and reconstructing others; creating intermodal terminals and upgrading transit stations; and stimulating expanded manufacturing in general aviation.

In all of these locations, Americans can see the federal government in partnership with states, communities, and private businesses to invest in tomorrow while creating jobs today.

That's what happens when we out-build the rest of the world. That's what happens when we set out to win the future.

 

Comments

[David E Anderson]

Now is the time to implement high speed rail at the pace of “light speed” (to use a space technology term) . The conditions are right, given that air traffic has been so devastated with security issues and our other infrastructure assets related to transportation are crumbling. Take it from me, many, many people have vowed not to fly because of security issues and the economy. By the way, if you don't implement robust anti-hijacking systems in high speed rail, you’re making a serious mistake, the same ones that were made by the airlines. Costs should never outweigh safety. If it’s not viewed as safe, people will not use it and you’ll never recoup the costs, no matter how meager they were. They won’t fly, but they wouldn’t think twice about taking a safe, affordable high speed rail train or a series of trains to reach their destinations.

I’m pleased to see that you are visiting Daytona Beach and Fort Pierce along Florida’s east coast. I’m a federal retiree with over 25 years of safety engineering expertise, my hometown is along Florida’s east coast and I’d be extremely gratified if you took me along with you on those trips. I’m willing to help champion and add engineering, innovation and process expertise to aid in improving those projects. To begin to win the future, we need to go very fast on high speed rail now.

[Christopher A. Miofsky]

This is absolutely an amazing annoucement! For too long the U.S. has been behind other countries in the area of infrastructure, especially rail travel. This annoucement is finally a step in the right direction for us to "walk the walk" when we say are the top nation in the World.

On a personal note...I will never forget my first time riding the train. I was 11 and I rode it with my mother from St. Louis to Chicago. It was a nearly magical experience. She pointed out to me what was what in Central Illinois and the rail line actually ran past a farm she used to live on with my grandparents. She said "See that house way in the distance? That's where I used to live." It was such a great experience and to this day is one of my favorite memories I have with her.

I am so happy to see this is happening.

Way to go, Mr. President, Vice President Biden and Secretary LaHood. Thank you.

[Torsten Adair]

So where can we read the rail proposal?

[Patrick]

Great to hear an even bigger investment in high speed rail. Infrastructure leads to jobs now and jobs in the future. We have to keep up with China and Europe in terms of infrastructure investment.

[Walter]

I work for the frieght railroads and think that high speed railroads should have already been a part of our infrastructure for 20-30 years now. It is unfortunate that at a time where railroads are making record profits they choose to attack their employess rather than share the good fortune with them. With all this public money being put in, who's going to profit? It would seem that it would be better to make sure it's a matched investment that would be repaid out of future profits, or that the public gets a partail ownership that can collect those profits or be sold to recoup the investment. America should be tired of paying so the 'good old boys' can get richer.