Report: Good Transit and Good Jobs Go Hand in Hand
MARTA train in Atlanta, Georgia, where officials are studying the link between transit and job growth.How could federal job creation programs be greener? Making access to public transit a priority would be one way.
A report called "Uncle Sam's Rusty Toolkit," released today by Good
Jobs First, details the group's finding that federal job-creation
programs fail in several key ways to meet "best practices" standards
already used by states and cities — including locating work sites in
places accessible to public transit.
The group's press release stated, in part:
"The federal government can promote better jobs, protect taxpayers, andreduce greenhouse gas emissions by simply taking some lessons fromstates and cities," said Greg LeRoy, Executive Director of Good JobsFirst. "These well-established safeguards are consistent withPresident-elect Obama’s stated goal of reforming programs to make themmore transparent and cost-effective."
The study deals with five federal programs: the Department of Housing
and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program; the
Department of Labor’s Workforce Investment Act; the Department of
Commerce’s Public Works and Economic Development Program; Industrial
Revenue Bonds as allowed under the Internal Revenue Code; and the
Department of Agriculture’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans
Program.
The report, which could hardly be more relevant than it is today, may be downloaded here.
Photo: Michael Hinton/Flickr
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
What to Say When Someone Claims ‘No One Bikes or Walks in Bad Weather’
Yes, sustainable modes are more vulnerable to bad weather. But that's why we should invest more in them — not less.
NYC Transit’s New Operations Chief Wants To Fight ‘Ghost Buses’
One-time transit advocate and current MTA Paratransit VP Chris Pangilinan will oversee bus and subway operations for the whole city.
Friday’s Headlines: Gimme Bus Shelter Edition
The days of the Landmarks Preservation Commission reviewing every proposed bus shelter in landmarked districts may be no more. Plus more news.
Deal Reached: Hochul Says ‘Sammy’s Law’ Will Pass
The bill, though imperfect, has been four years in the making.
Komanoff: A ‘Noise Tax’ Can Ground NYC Helicopters
A proposed $400 “noise tax” on “nonessential” flights is a start — and it will work.
