Earlier today the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) released a report, The Labor Market Impact of Transportation for America’s Jobs Plan, which models Transportation for America’s (T4's) jobs proposal. The $34.3 billion proposal, focusing predominately on Fix-it-First transportation infrastructure repair and public transportation, would create 480,000 jobs.
These jobs would help out Americans who need it most. Low-wage workers, including workers without college or high school degrees, would benefit the most from this jobs package. In fact, 70% of these jobs would help Americans without college degrees.
T4’s proposal calls for the following funding split:
- $8 billion in Fix-it-First bridge repair and interstate highway maintenance
- $16 billion for transit (split between rehabilitation, new starts projects, intercity bus routes, and capital funding, which could be flexed for operations)
- $1.3 billion for Amtrak
- $2 billion for clean air and technology
- $2.5 billion for High Speed Rail
- $3 billion for TIGER performance-based grants (split between new roads, transit, and technology)
- $1.5 billion for Fix-it-for-All: Livability and bicycle/pedestrian improvements
These jobs are immediate. And no one region benefits- these jobs are located across the U.S., in both rural and urban areas.
EPI’s report shows us that prioritizing transit, Fix-it-First, and funding transit operations creates immediate, good jobs for all Americans and benefits the environment. The Senate is drafting its version of a jobs bill. This report should be recommended reading for these bill drafters.