President's Budget Includes $1.82 Billion for 27 Major Transit Construction Projects Across the Nation |
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02-02-10
Contact: Paul Griffo
Telephone: (202) 366-4064
FTA 08-10
On Monday, President Obama proposed $1.82 billion in funding for 27 major transit construction projects that will create jobs and increase transportation options throughout the United States. A complete list of projects – which are located in metropolitan areas across the nation – is available here.
"These projects, planned and developed at the state and local level, are crucial investments that will boost economic vitality in cities and towns across the country," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "From New York City to Honolulu and areas in between, these projects will create jobs, diversify local transit options for consumers, and stimulate economic activity at a critical juncture in our continuing recovery."
The spending plan included in President Obama's Budget submitted to Congress yesterday announces recommendations to invest $834.6 million in 19 new transit construction projects — 10 of which are new funding recommendations in FY 2011, and 9 of which have been recommended for funding in previous years, but still await construction grant agreements. The plan also provides $924.6 million for the continued funding of eight projects already under construction in New York, Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Northern Virginia.
"Projects like these are at the very heart of President Obama's agenda to clean up our environment, reduce our dependence on oil from overseas, and put people back to work" said Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. "They will give our citizens a way out of punishing traffic jams and improve their quality of life."
FTA's Annual Report on Funding Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2011 also provides information and ratings for all projects in the New Starts and Small Starts programs.
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The Port of Los Angeles said that total air pollution emissions from port operations were down 16 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, and down 23 percent compared to 2005.
The data was part of the port's latest annual air inventory report– covering the year 2008– that was released last week.
The report, available on the port's website, said that diesel particulate matter– often seen as tailpipe or smokestack soot– dropped 12 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year. Diesel particulate matter, according to the port, also fell 31 percent between 2005 and 2008.
The port, along with the neighboring Port of Long Beach, which issues its own air inventory reports, first began issuing annual reports in 2005. Subsequent studies use the 2005 report as a baseline of comparison.
The LA report also said that oxides of nitrogen, or NOx, a smog-forming emission, also fell in 2008 by 18 percent compared to 2007. NOx declined in 2008 by 20 percent compared to the 2005 numbers.
Emissions of oxides of sulfur, or SOx, another smog-forming component, increased in 2008 by 5 percent compared to 2007 but was down 32 percent compared to the baseline year of 2005.
All told, the Port of Los Angeles-generated emissions accounted for about 7 percent of the total Southern California air basin pollution in 2008, a 2 percent drop from 2007 according to the port figures.
It is worth noting that from 2007 to 2008, cargo volume through the port fell by 7 percent while increasing 5 percent from 2005 to 2008.
