States Would Shortchange Vital Infrastructure for the Future Says 19-State Study
President Obama’s stated intention to use investment in infrastructure to modernize the economy and reduce oil consumption could be undermined if states spend transportation stimulus funds the way they have suggested in wish lists to Congress. According to a 19-state study that examines obtained or disclosed state documents, the project lists in most states would be a step away from future priorities.
“It is wrongheaded, in an era when public transportation is booming and bridges need repair, for state wish lists to be skewed toward building new highways,” said Ilicia Balaban of the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group (ConnPIRG).
ConnPIRG’s national advocacy office, U.S. PIRG, obtained wish lists from 19 state departments of transportation. Those lists for “ready-to-go” projects reveal that:
• In spite of hundreds of billions of dollars in backlogged maintenance and repair for crumbling infrastructure, more than half of transportation funds would be diverted to highway projects to build new or wider highways. A third of states would spend less than a quarter of road funds to protect and restore existing bridges and roads. According to the Road Information Program, 34% of Connecticut’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
• Despite increasing transit ridership nationwide, on average, the states would spend only seventeen percent of funds on public transit or intercity rail projects. Seven of the sixteen states would allocate 1 percent or less to transit or intercity rail, including four that would allocate nothing at all.
• Most states, including Connecticut, have not disclosed their transportation wish lists for public scrutiny, leaving most citizens in the dark about how their tax dollars might be spent.
It is particularly troubling that the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s wish list remains undisclosed. The public has a right to know what projects are being prioritized with their tax dollars. “Without full transparency from ConnDOT, we can only assume that they plan to spend the majority of the stimulus building new roads and expanding our highways. Federal dollars should instead be used to repair our structurally deficient bridges, crumbling roads and increase the capacity of our states public transportation system,” continued Balaban.
According to state Representative David McCluskey, “We have an opportunity to use stimulus dollars to provide the people of Connecticut with the transportation alternatives they need for the future. We need to focus on regional and state-wide projects that will allow Connecticut to grow economically and in an environmentally conscientious manner. The new Congress and President need to put their foot down if they will deliver on the forward-looking Green recovery they’ve promised.”
“We call on the Connecticut Department of Transportation to disclose the list of transportation projects being considered for receipt of stimulus funds. American taxpayers will have to foot the bill eventually and we should know what state officials are asking us to pay for” said Balaban. The report also called for stimulus funds to support operations for transit agencies struggling to accommodate booming ridership.
State Senator Jonathon Harris said, “We must focus any federal stimulus dollars first on improving our public transportation infrastructure. These dollars must be invested not on unrelated "pet" projects, but in a way that is consistent with a larger vision and plan that moves people and goods in a convenient, efficient, cost-effective and green manner and creates ripples of economic development and job creation. The heyday of the highway is over and DOT must plan accordingly.”
All reports indicate that transit ridership in Connecticut is at an all time high, yet the state is threatening to decrease service on Metro-North. Stimulus spending must invest in the trends of the future and include funding for transit projects that will allow for increased capacity and support operating costs.
“President-elect Obama has likened his economic recovery plan to the scope of President Eisenhower’s vision in the 1950s to create an Interstate Highway System” said Balaban, “but these project lists would be more like spending billions for a network of horse-drawn carriage paths. It would be a lot more of what doesn’t solve America’s transportation problems.”
ConnPIRG-Economic-Stimulus-Report.pdf