Transit & 'Fixing it First' Offer Greatest Job Gains 
posted January 28, 2004

Tell Congress To Fund Transit and ‘Fix it First’ Policy for Greatest Job Gains  

With the Senate starting floor debate on TEA-21 renewal early next week, STPP is releasing a new analysis that shows the greatest job gains for each transportation dollar result from investments in public transportation, safety and road repairs.  This brief report responds to the recurring public debate that TEA-21 renewal is a jobs bill.  It shows that road and bridge repair creates 9 percent more jobs per dollar than building new roads or bridges, and public transportation spending creates 19 percent more jobs.  Further, the analysis reveals that the oft-cited figure that an investment of $1billion creates 47,500 jobs fails to account for a mandatory 20 percent state match, meaning that a public investment of $1.25 billion would be required to create those jobs.  For more details, visit www.transact.org for the full text of the Decoder.

A link to the Senate transportation bill (S. 1072) may be found below.  As of today, House Transportation Committee action on their version of the bill scheduled for February 3 has been postponed.

ACTION NEEDED:

Fax a letter to your Congressional delegation urging them to support balanced investment in public transportation and ‘fix it first’ policy.  Find contact info at www.congress.org.

SAMPLE LETTER TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS:

Include a copy of the two-page Decoder, “Setting the Record Straight” online at www.transact.org

To the Hon. [Name]:

I am writing on behalf of [Local Organization or Coalition], representing X members in [State].  No doubt two of the issues you hear most about from constituents like me are concerns about our transportation infrastructure and the need for more job creation. 

As Congress begins debate on TEA-21, I wanted to make you and your staff aware of a recent report by the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP), Setting the Record Straight:  Transit, Fixing Roads and Bridges, Offer Greatest Jobs Gains.  The report offers some policy recommendations on how to maximize job creation as the nation’s surface transportation law, TEA-21, is renewed this spring.

The STPP report found that investments in road and bridge repair create 9 percent more jobs per dollar than building new roads or bridges.  For public transportation, that figure jumps to 19 percent.   The study also found further evidence that additional investment in public transportation and repairing existing bridges and roads will create more jobs per dollar invested include:

• Investments in public transportation create nearly 51,300 jobs for every $1.25 billion invested, compared to 43,200 jobs for the same amount spent on new road and bridge projects.

• Road and bridge repair and maintenance create just over 47,000 jobs for every $1.25 billion invested.  Contrast that with 43,200 jobs created when $1.25 billion is spent on new road or bridge capacity.

• Safety projects create 48,300 jobs for every $1.25 billion spent. Spending on “environment-related” transportation projects including wetland mitigation, noise barrier construction, and air quality programs generate the greatest number of jobs at 51,200 for every $1.25 billion spent. 

Give Local Examples - In [State], the [Public Transportation (eg a New Starts project)] awaits the commitment of federal funds to put local residents to work and relieve traffic congestion.  [State] was ranked Xth by STPP for [road repairs] [bridge repairs], meaning our state would not only see more jobs resulting from a ‘fix it first’ policy prioritizing repair work, but would make much needed progress on improving the condition of our roads and bridges.  For example, [Local Road or Bridge] is in such poor condition it is causing wear on local cars and trucks.  Road and bridge repairs also improve the safety of our existing system.

The STPP study clearly proves that the right investments get more Americans back to work.  I respectfully request that you and your staff embrace the attached report and use it to guide your involvement in the debate over TEA-21 renewal.  [Local Organization or Coalition] urges you to support amendments that seek more balanced investment in public transportation, prioritization of road/bridge repair and safety improvements.

Sincerely,

[Your Name and Address]

SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Dear Editor:

Congress will soon begin debate on TEA-21 renewal, the federal surface transportation law that will guide more than $300 billion in investment over the six years.  With legislation renewing TEA-21 being looked to as a way to stimulate job growth, a recent report by the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP), Setting the Record Straight:  Transit, Fixing Roads and Bridges, Offer Greatest Jobs Gains, makes the case that investments in public transportation and repair of roads and bridges offer more job gains than new highway construction.

The STPP report found that road and bridge repair create 9 percent more jobs per dollar than building new roads or bridges.  For public transportation, that figure jumps to 19 percent.   The study shows the number jobs per dollar that are created for different investment choices:

• Investments in public transportation create nearly 51,300 jobs for every $1.25 billion invested, compared to 43,200 jobs for the same amount spent on new road and bridge projects.

• Road and bridge repair and maintenance create just over 47,000 jobs for every $1.25 billion invested.  Contrast that with 43,200 jobs created when $1.25 billion is spent on new road or bridge capacity.

• Safety projects create 48,300 jobs for every $1.25 billion spent. Spending on “environment-related” transportation projects including wetland mitigation, noise barrier construction, and air quality programs generate the greatest number of jobs at 51,200 for every $1.25 billion spent. 

The STPP study clearly proves that a policy of balanced investment –  fixing what we have, improving safety and adding to our public transportation systems – is a wise choice for getting more Americans back to work. 

Sincerely,

[Your Name and Address]

RESOURCES:

State-specific statistics on road and bridge conditions and spending of federal funds from STPP’s report on federal spending under ISTEA & TEA-21, “The $300 Billion Question”, online at http://www.transact.org/report.asp?id=223.  (see pull-down menu for your state)

See the text of the Senate TEA-21 renewal bill, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (S. 1072), as passed by the Environment & Public Works Committee in November, 2003, online at Tea3.

Find the updates on TEA-21 renewal and links to key Congressional committees at Tea3.

Join the ANTC coalition to receive updates and find other groups in your state, along with other state-specific statistics, at http://www.transact.org/states/default.asp.

TO REPORT BACK OR For More Information:

Contact Andrea Broaddus at the Surface Transportation Policy Project at 202-466-2636.