Protecting the transportation needs in our communities

With President Obama’s budget scheduled to be released on Monday, I am eager to hear his views of our nation’s priorities. As Congress moves forward with the budget process, it is important to focus on the needs of our communities and constituents. While unemployment has dropped to the lowest rate since 2009, we must create a budget that rides on the coattails of this success by continuing to fuel employment opportunities. There is no better way to create jobs than through infrastructure investment which also improves economic opportunities in surrounding communities.

As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and a representative from the most densely populated state in the nation, I am most concerned about providing adequate funding for transportation and infrastructure expansion. Transportation affects every facet of everyone’s life, and it is important that our nation improve and strengthen the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our transportation system. Next week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 7, the America Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. While a multiyear surface transportation authorization bill is sorely needed, H.R. 7 is not the comprehensive solution that our country needs.  H.R. 7 blatantly ignores the transportation needs of Americans by cutting funding and eliminating jobs. Sufficient funding for mass transit, Amtrak, and competitive grants such as the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program are necessary to meet the transportation needs of our constituents.

Public transportation in particular helps those without access to cars to travel to work, pick up groceries, go to doctor’s appointments, visit loved ones, and conduct daily activities. In cities large and small, mass transit serves as a vital resource for all of our constituents, and particularly those who are low-income. Transportation is often the second highest household expense, and in addition to working to keep transit costs from rising, we need to ensure that services are not cut. While ridership for public transportation has increased, budget cuts have forced many transit agencies across the country to cut services which forces all of our constituents to find other methods to meet their transportation needs. A solution to this problem is to provide flexibility to transit systems to use federal funding to preserve service and jobs. Unfortunately, an amendment to include this language in H.R. 7 failed during Committee markup.

Similarly, Amtrak must receive sufficient funding. In 1970, Congress created Amtrak to provide our nation with intercity passenger railroad service. Despite the recent increase in ridership levels on the Northeast Corridor, funding for Amtrak has consistently been targeted throughout the years.  Amtrak plays a vital role in the Northeast Corridor, which includes my communities and the towns and cities between Washington, DC and Boston, MA. This region is fraught with congestion that is a waste of not only time, but money. Amtrak provides another option for commuters while also creating environmental benefits by cutting down on air pollution. Service along the Northeast Corridor illustrates our country’s potential to have true high speed rail service.

Competitive grants that are based on their innovation and performance have proven to be successful at taking the politics out of the funding equation.  Like many of my colleagues, my district was fortunate to receive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. In 2010, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission received a grant to use new technologies to ease congestion along highways in Bergen and Hudson counties.  Under this grant, modernized signal systems to current traffic conditions and result in reduced delays, and fuel emissions. Also in 2010, the Canal Crossing project was awarded a TIGER grant to transform a 111 acre site that was previously an industrial site. The project will create a transit-oriented development that will connect residents to the light rail, bus, bicycle, and pedestrian walkways. Linking transportation opportunities to affordable housing will allow residents to get to work more easily. Additionally, I believe that a dedicated freight competitive grant program would go a long way in making the goods movement more efficient.  With freight expected to double by 2035, our nation’s transportation system must be prepared. The future success of our economy is closely tied to an efficient system of moving goods.

Americans must be given the opportunity to get back to work and better our nation. They are waiting for Congress to act. Investing in infrastructure gives us the opportunity to not only create immediate jobs, but to also create a lasting economic impact in communities across the nation.

Rep. Sires (D-N.J.) is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

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