Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Streetsblog USA

US House of Reps Poised to Vote for Cuts to TIGER, Amtrak, Transit

Tampa's popular Roverwalk was recently completed with help from TIGER funding. The House appropriations measure would slash funding for the program by 80 percent. Photo: Tampa Riverwalk
Tampa's popular Riverwalk was recently completed with help from TIGER funding. The House appropriations measure would slash funding for the program by 80 percent. Photo: Tampa Riverwalk
false

Debate began yesterday on a House appropriations measure that substantially cuts transit, rail, and the TIGER program, but of course doesn't touch highway spending. American democracy in action!

Stephen Lee Davis at Transportation for America has the ugly details:

The programs targeted by the House for cuts are precisely the ones that cities, towns and metro regions of all sizes throughout the country are depending on to help them stay economically competitive and bring their ambitious transportation plans to fruition.

Specifically, this bill would:

  • Cut $200 million for all new transit construction. This comes at a time when public transportation ridership is booming and cities of all sizes are looking to invest in new bus, rail transit, and bikeshare projects to help them stay economically competitive. This program is what Indianapolis is currently using to kick-start their ambitious bus rapid transit network, and scores of other communities are hoping to do the same.
  • Slash the TIGER competitive grant program by 80 percent from last year’s level down to just $100 million. We’re now six rounds into the popular TIGER program, and it’s clearly inadequate to fulfill the huge demand throughout the country. The program has funded innovative projects in communities of all sizes in all 50 states — and in districts both red and blue.
  • Cut Amtrak’s budget by $250 million just a few weeks after the tragic Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia, and at a time when ridership has never been higher.

To put TIGER funding in perspective, last year's round of grants funded about 50 local projects and cost 18 percent of what was spent widening a single Texas highway where traffic now moves slower than it did before. This is penny wise and pound foolish budgeting.

T4A is asking supporters to email their representatives and ask them to vote against spending cuts.

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Chicago Bike Advocate reports that skateboarding is still, in fact, a crime in large parts of Chicago. A View from the Cycle Path explains how to design road crossings to give bicyclists priority over cars: very carefully. And Biking Toronto celebrates Ontario's new tougher distracted driving laws.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Tuesday’s Headlines

Riding public transit for pleasure; How to increase the numbers organizing for street safety; Don't "turn down the rhetoric"; More

July 16, 2024

Incomplete Streets Part 1: How Caltrans Shortchanges Pedestrians

Caltrans has a history of failing to follow its own policies around Complete Streets.

July 15, 2024

Sustainable Transportation Advocates Need to Talk About Sustainable Urban Design

A new book hopes to act as a "magic decoder ring" to our built environment — and a powerful tool to understand how sustainable transportation networks can fit within them.

July 15, 2024

Long Beach Leads in Traffic Circles

Traffic circles aren't quite ubiquitous in Long Beach, but they're around. Riding and walking through the city one encounters circles in neighborhoods rich and poor, new and old.

July 15, 2024
See all posts