Federal Transportation Bill

2009 Economic Recovery Bill

Members of Congress and the new administration are working on an economic recovery plan that could direct hundreds of bilions of dollars toward infrastructure that will help put Americans to work, get our economy moving, and rebuild our roads, bridges, and mass transit systems. If these funds are spent strategically, we should get:

• a revitalized economy well-positioned for long-term economic health
• reduced dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels
• a reduction in global warming pollution

TransForm is one of California's local partners in the national Transportation for America campaign that aims to ensure a strategic economic recovery bill.

Sign up for Transportation for America's updates on the economic recovery bill.

Read Transportation for America's recommendations for Economic Recovery Legislation. 

View a list of "shovel ready" transit projects and bike/ped projects. 

Shifting Funding Towards Transit and Smart Growth 

In the fall of 2009, current federal funding for transportation will run out and Congress and the new administration will adopt a new 6-year transportation program. There is a tremendous opportunity to shift the next transportation bill away from its current funding formulas, which give 80% to roads and highways. We have the opportunity to instead ensure that transportation funding meets broader policy goals. Transportation funding can be a mechanism to support climate change and energy independence goals, and it can support economic development and create new green jobs.

The Bay Area and California as a whole is positioned to play a key role in the next federal transportation program. TransForm is working with our partners in the Transportation For America campaign to ensure that:

• The Bay Area's innovations serve as models for the rest of the country
• We look at how funding is allocated plus expanding how much transportation funding there is
• Our local Congressional leaders are partners in these efforts

Read Transportation for America's platform for the federal transportation authorization.

To learn more about how to get involved in TransForm's work to impact the federal transportation bill, contact Carli Paine.