FLAIT

This is a letter I wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood earlier this month.

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We have the biggest, strongest and most productive economy in the world, despite wasting millions of “man hours” sitting in traffic every day. Imagine what the country’s productivity would be if we moved people and cargo faster, cheaper and greener.

Mr. Secretary, I’m writing this letter because I couldn’t believe that there’s not nearly enough money, commitment or leadership for mass transit in the stimulus package. I understand there aren’t that many “shovel ready” projects, but as you’ll see, we can do a lot without a shovel.

We can “stimulate” the economy all we want, but if we can’t go from point A to point B quickly, cheaply and efficiently – five, 10 and 20 years out – what good will it do? Because if we don’t act boldly, traffic (and pollution) will only get worse. So if we’re going to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on a “stimulus” package, then we should spend it on the following:

• Modernize our airports, railroads and depots.
• Add more buses and expand local service.
• Add more “park and ride” facilities.
• Add “green” buses.
• Add additional rail lines and coordinate them within cities, suburbs, states and regions.
• Ship more goods by rail (I’m thinking 20% more).

  This will not go over well with the trucking industry. But politicians have to stop doing the wrong things for the wrong reasons (see ethanol). That’s why the country’s in the shape it’s in. If it’s more practical to ship by rail then truck, so be it.

  The “free market,” lack of government involvement and cheap gas is what shifted cargo from rail to truck over the last two generations. It’s up to the government to figure out if it’s more practical to shift more of it back to rail.

• Increase the gas tax (at least) five cents a year for the next five years (at least). This will provide even more money for our transportation and infrastructure needs.

  I know taxes should not be increased during a recession, but most people will get it back, and then some, in the tax cuts that are in the stimulus package.

  Gas has to remain artificially “high” to force the long-term commitment to conservation, mass transit and fuel efficient cars, trucks and buses.

• Cut public transportation fares across the board – locally, statewide and Amtrak – tomorrow (yea, really). I’m thinking at least 25%.

  This will put “more money into people’s pockets.”

• Pump Wi-Fi (and cell phone signals) into every plane, train, bus, airport and depot.
• Update the air traffic control system now.

Since Mayors and Governors have proven they can not do this in piecemeal, with little money and no direction from Washington, it’s no wonder our transportation infrastructure is in the shape it’s in. Therefore…

• Provide leadership at the national level.

If we can get more people our of their cars and into trains and buses, and shift more cargo from trucks and onto the rails, it not only saves fuel and is better for the environment, but most important, will lessen traffic.

If we can cut the average commute or monthly business trip – whether it’s 5 miles, 50 miles or 500 miles – by five, ten or even 20 minutes each way (door to door), that time, which is now spent sitting in traffic, can be used more productively. What would you do with an extra 40 or 200 minutes a month?

This is win + win + win + win + maximizing “bang for the buck” = higher productivity and higher G.D.P. And that’s exactly the type of “investment” and “stimulus” we’re looking for. Heck, it’ll do a lot more then paving a highway.

This is why throwing $900 million at Amtrak and calling it a day won’t cut it. We need massive investment, especially in high speed rail; and not the 20th century Acela (which we’re barely using) because the Europeans and Asians are traveling at a faster pace. We’re in a global economic competition after all.

Bringing public transportation into the 21st century will be expensive. That’s why the federal government has to share most of the financial burden and partner with the cities and states. But it can not be a money grab. States such as Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa may not get “their fair share.” So they have to be reminded that they get more then “their fair share” when it comes to farm subsidies.

Yes, give them money to lower fares, add service and repair their bridges. But we have to be sensible and make sure most of the money goes where gridlock is the worst.

No, I don’t run a railroad and I don’t have any financial interest in any transportation entity. And I don’t even use public transportation. But as one of the few “good government” types left, I know that 1) our transportation infrastructure is old, broken and at its breaking point, 2) will continue to deteriorate – and take the country’s productivity with it – if we fail to make it a national priority, and 3) you can’t ask for a better national public works investment.

When it comes to mass transit, we need to be smart and practical (for a change). We need a bold, long term plan (for a change). We need the commitment (for a change). And we need leadership at the national level (for a change).

With about $1 trillion available in “stimulus,” everyone has their hand out. Food stamps, Medicaid, unemployment benefits, aid to the states, the banks, and home owners should be first in line. But when this recession is finally over, we must have something of great value to show for it. And that’s the best and most efficient public transportation system in the world.

By the way. I just heard that St. Louis is not only cutting bus routes, but raising fares. That’s not a step in the wrong direction, that’s a sprint in the wrong direction. These days, cities and states should be cutting fares, not raising them, and hiring workers (in all sectors), not laying them off (see Franklin Roosevelt’s W.P.A.).

I hope my “stimulating” ideas are given the attention they deserve.

January, 2010 insert: Investing in public transportation creates more jobs then paving a highway.