Rail Takes Back Seat as States Target Obama Stimulus for Roads
Bloomberg, December 24, 2008

While many states are keeping their project lists secret, plans that have surfaced show why environmentalists and some development experts say much of the stimulus spending may promote urban sprawl while
scrimping on more green-friendly rail and mass transit.

"It's a lot of more of the same," said Robert Puentes, a metropolitan growth and development expert at the Brookings Institution in Washington who is tracking the legislation. "You build a lot of new highways, continue to decentralize" urban and suburban communities and "pull resources away from transit."

Top Democrat Aims to Boost Mass Transit's Funding Share
Wall Street Journal, December 20, 2008

A leading House Democrat wants to change a longstanding federal practice that favors highway construction over mass transit and rail networks, an indication of how the incoming Obama administration may shake up U.S. transportation policy.

Rep. James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat who is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is proposing a shift toward more spending on transit projects in the economic-stimulus plan emerging from Congress and President-elect Barack Obama. He is suggesting Congress steer $30 billion to highways and bridges and $12 billion to transit – part of $85 billion being discussed for transportation spending in the stimulus plan.

These figures may change, but it would be a significant policy shift if Congress were to pass a bill that provides mass-transit funding equal to 40% of the total spent on highways. For years, Congress has funded public-transportation projects at 25% of the level that has gone to highways, which is currently about $42 billion a year.Environmental advocates have long fought to boost mass transit's share, emphasizing the need to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, decrease congestion and reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil. Highway advocates argue gas-tax revenue should mostly be spent on road projects.

A Pitch for Mass Transit
New York Times Editorial, January 4, 2009

Unlike President Bush, Barack Obama is going to enter office with a clear appreciation of the urgent problems of climate change and America's growing dependency on foreign oil – and a strong commitment to address both. One way he can do this is to give mass transit – trains, buses, commuter rails – the priority it deserves and the full financial and technological help it needs and has long been denied.

Jumpstarting the Transit Space Race
Reconnecting America, December 2008

Keep the Stimulus Clean
Friends of the Earth, December 26, 2008

Transportation in the U.S. is responsible for 30 percent of our global warming pollution and 70 percent of our oil consumption. We cannot solve the energy and climate challenge without making our transportation system far cleaner and more efficient. President-elect Obama and the congressional leadership are moving quickly to pass an economic stimulus package that creates green jobs with a new, clean energy infrastructure. Public transportation, smart growth and green transportation alternatives are a crucial part of this effort. Send Congress this simple message: New roads = new pollution. Keep the stimulus clean.