**Mass Transit 1ac 1ac – economy advantage
Sprawl – Group Interaction
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- Road focus denies agency to many groups who cannot drive everywhere
- **Solvency**
- Federal funding for capital expenditures for mass transit is best
- Federal funding key to capital expenditures for mass transit – matching state funds through grants is the best solution
- Federal funding for mass transit streamlines US transportation infrastructure
- Empirically federal competitive grants can successfully revitalize mass transit infrastructure
Sprawl – Group InteractionMass transit creates a public space in which different groups can interactArizona PIRG Education Fund, 2009 “a federation of independent, state-based, citizen-funded organizations that advocate for the public interest.”(“Why and How to Fund Public Transportation”, march 2009, http://www.uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/Why-and-How-to-Fund-Public-Transportation.pdf)//DD One virtue sometimes extolled by transit advocates is the benefits of public transit in providing public spaces for citizens to interact with one another instead of being isolated in their cars or homes. Trains, buses and their stations can ideally create spaces where people become familiar with citizens of other races, income groups, and backgrounds than themselves. Road focus denies agency to many groups who cannot drive everywherePollard, 4’ – Senior Attorney and Director, Land and Community Program at Southern Environmental Law Center (Trip, “Article: Follow the money: transportation investments for smarter growth,” Temple Environmental Law & Technology Journal, Spring, 2004, 22 Temp. Envtl. L. & Tech. J. 155)//AWV Many communities have been harmed as a result of transportation projects. Highways have demolished and divided neighborhoods, and made them less livable by generating noise, pollution, and pedestrian hazards. Road projects also have reduced the cost of living on the fringes of developed areas, drawing residents and businesses away from cities, towns, and older suburbs. There also are serious inequities in transportation infrastructure funding patterns. The majority of highway spending typically has gone to wealthier suburban areas, the "favored quarter" of metropolitan regions. n26 These skewed investment patterns have helped certain suburbs attract a larger share of the jobs and wealth in a region, feeding economic polarization among different areas and making it increasingly difficult and costly for low income [*163] individuals residing in the central city to find and to reach work. n27 Further, when transportation systems are planned on the mistaken assumption that everyone can drive everywhere, the activities of children, the elderly, disabled individuals, and others unable to drive are limited. n28 In addition, time spent commuting and stuck in traffic can reduce time spent in family and community activities. **Solvency**USFG Key – GeneralFederal funding key to save mass transit systems and change road focusGordon, 11 – Economic Analyst at Charles River Associates (Michael, “Funding Urban Mass Transit in the United States”, Boston College Economics Honor’s Thesis, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2007981, p. 10, 3-23-11)//AWV The federal government must apportion a significant amount of resources to help sustain urban mass transit systems. Yet according to Transportation for America, only 18% of the federal transportation budget goes to public mass transportation, while the government gives the other 82% to roads.13 This serves as a clear reminder of how the American public utilizes automobile transportation significantly more than urban mass transit. Often, the federal government simply gives money to fix roads in disrepair, but many public transit systems find themselves in a state of disrepair and do not receive similar funding.14 As former MBTA General Manager Dan Grabauskas noted, “Mass transit and public transportation has been held to a much higher standard to demonstrate value. We don’t do the same thing if a new road is built or paved and say what is the ridership benefit?”15 The federal government disproportionately favors auto transportation over urban mass transit in this sense. An increased emphasis on urban mass transit could certainly shift these apportionments in its favor. This could in turn reduce deficits and even increase the service and functionality of urban mass transit systems, which could then increase ridership and decrease auto congestion. A decrease in federal funding for roads could become a concern in the automobile-dependent American society, but this would simply encourage greater usage of urban mass transit or force the government to increase tolls to reflect the true values of road usage. Federal funding for capital expenditures for mass transit is bestGordon, 11 – Economic Analyst at Charles River Associates (Michael, “Funding Urban Mass Transit in the United States”, Boston College Economics Honor’s Thesis, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2007981, p. 47, 3-23-11)//AWV First of all, a correlations test determines that local operating sources are not correlated with total expenses. This result may imply that it does not matter how the local government raises funds to give to urban mass transit operations. As such, this study lumps local operating sources back into a single category of total local funding for operating expenses. Similarly, it keeps total funding for capital expenses, since federal governments may be more equipped to give capital assistance while state governments give operating assistance. Federal funding key to capital expenditures for mass transit – matching state funds through grants is the best solutionGordon, 11 – Economic Analyst at Charles River Associates (Michael, “Funding Urban Mass Transit in the United States”, Boston College Economics Honor’s Thesis, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2007981, p. 52-53, 3-23-11)//AWV The federal government should continue to fund capital projects. After all, state and local governments would have trouble raising funds to entirely fund larger capital investments. Although state and local governments raise funds more effectively for operating expenses, there is little difference if any between the effectiveness of different levels of government in raising funds for capital expenses.150 Federal funds are important to the urban mass transit industry, and appear to be best suited for capital purposes. Currently, federal funds do focus on capital projects; however, it is worth considering changing the structure of federal funding. Since local and state governments are more effective giving operating funding, it may be worthwhile to create a matching program between state or local government funding and federal funding. Often, federal funding does require matching funding; however, a permanent percentage for any project is one strategy to consider. For example, the federal government could fund x% of any capital project, with state and local governments and the agencies themselves contributing the rest. This would leave decision making closer to the projects, and this could improve the system finances according to the Theory of Clubs and this study’s regressions. The x% could vary annually to fit the federal budget, but should stay within a relatively small range for planning purposes. Future research can determine what an appropriate range would be. This x% must be large enough for the federal government to assume a substantial portion of capital costs, but small enough so that agencies do not undertake unnecessary projects simply because the federal government will pay for them. There must be some accountability for the agencies and the state and local governments. Federal funding for mass transit streamlines US transportation infrastructureWhitehouse.gov, 12 (“Winning the Future for Cities and Metropolitan Areas”, www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/.../2012CitiesFactSheet.pdf)//AWV Modernize Urban Mass Transit. In order to spur job creation and lay a foundation for future economic growth through greater and safer transportation choices for Americans and increased business development in communities, the Budget proposes an additional upfront boost of $50 billion in transportation infrastructure investment, as part of its 6-year proposal for surface transportation reauthorization. More than 20 percent of this funding will go to supplement urban mass transit programs, traditionally funded by surface transportation authorization legislation. Consistent with the Administration’s commitment to mass transit, the Budget includes increases in several Department of Transportation (DOT) grant programs dedicated to mass transit investment, including Transit Formula Grants, Bus and Rail State of Good Repair Grants, Transit New Starts Capital Grants, and Greenhouse Gas/Energy Reduction Grants. These investments will increase transportation options, cut commuting time, ease congestion, reduce oil consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and expand access to job opportunities and housing that’s affordable. In addition, the Administration’s reauthorization proposal will adopt a ―Fix-It-First‖ approach, to emphasize the importance of preserving and improving the condition of existing transportation infrastructure. Empirically federal competitive grants can successfully revitalize mass transit infrastructureSEPTA, 11 (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, “With Much Fanfare, SEPTA Moves Forward on Long-Needed Improvements”, http://www.septa.org/media/short/2011/05-02.html, 5-2-11)//AWV With the assistance of two competitive grants from the Federal Transit Adminstration, SEPTA is moving forward with renovations to the Wayne Junction Station and a new location and facility for the Parkside Bus Loop. "If we're going to hold onto riders and attract new riders, we need to reinvest in our core assets," FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff said during an April 28, 2011 visit to Wayne Junction Station. Rogoff stopped by to present SEPTA with a $3.98 FTA competitive livability grant for the station renovation project. The 110-year-old station - a candidate for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places - is a critical part of the transit system, and a centerpiece of the Germantown/Nicetown community. Unfortunately, it has fallen into a state of disrepair, and SEPTA's renovation plans have been delayed due to funding cuts. Now, however, thanks in part to help from the FTA, this transit hub will be restored to its former glory - with the addition of modern customer amenities - under an extensive $30 million overhaul project. "It is a happy day!" said Pennsylvania State Senator Shirley Kitchen, whose district includes Wayne Junction Station. U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah noted the project's importance to the community: "This project is smart use of our federal dollars for infrastructure, job creation and improving mass transit that is so critical to Philadelphia and our other major urban areas." SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey expressed a similar vision for the new Wayne Junction Station. "We hope that the project will serve as a catalyst for further community revitalization in the area surrounding Wayne Junction Station," Casey said. Fattah also joined SEPTA on April 26, 2011 to break ground on the Parkside Bus Loop Relocation Project. Like Wayne Junction Station, the Parkside Loop initiative is moving forward with help from the FTA. SEPTA received a $2.2 million competitive FTA grant for the loop project, which will result in a new, state-of-the-art facility on North 50th Street. While only a short distance from the current facility, the new loop's location represents a major step forward for SEPTA and the community. It will be located near the heart of recent development, including the Park West Town Center, and will bring safety enhancements by improving traffic flow around the loop, which serves bus routes 40, 43, 64 and 52. Directory: files files -> Answer True False 2 points Question 2 files -> Integer programming and game theory files -> 4 Integer Programming files -> Bpa vehicle Window Repair Scenario #1 task: Procure vehicle window relacement. Objective files -> Pop Warner History files -> North Carolina Inclusion Initiative Mapping Where Children with ieps are Being Served Purpose files -> Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Program Data: Standard 1 Exhibit 4d files -> Hanban – asia society confucius classrooms network 2010 request for proposal files -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations Download 0.91 Mb. Share with your friends:
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