The inauguration of Barak Obama, now less than two weeks away, promises to be a momentous occasion, not only because of its historical significance, but in the opportunity our elected leaders have in Obama’s job creation plan. The plan seeks to create jobs tied to various infrastructure projects that are ready to move forward with an injection of federal money. According to Obama these projects are not to be more of the same pork-barrel spending projects of years prior, but projects that signal a paradigm shift – green jobs aimed at lowering our dependence on foreign oil and addressing the impacts of climate change, among other imperatives. Local and regional governments across the country have been working hard to assemble projects ready to be funded in categories as diverse as energy infrastructure, airports, Amtrak, and schools.
Locally, the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County have assembled a list of more than $4.7 billion in projects ranging from “Collection and processing of yellow grease for use as biodiesel to power (est. jobs created: 30; est. cost: $500,000)” to “Construction of a new 6 lane roadway and improvements on NW 138 Street (est. jobs created: 89; est. cost: $17.4 million)”. In studying the lists optimism quickly gives way to confusion in some places, delight in others. Unlike the idyllic New Deal era projects highlighted in this Herald article, some of the projects listed are nothing more than embarrassing, with the Miami-Dade‘s transit list leading the way. Reading more like an overdo ‘to-do’ list than a wish list, entries such as “Cooling Fan Fuse installation on transit busses (Est. jobs created: 3, est. cost: $33,000)” lead to one of two conclusions: our leaders either submitted the list with the hope that Obama would follow through with his pledge of help, and thus allow them to move forward with a more rosy fiscal projection for the Orange Line, or they are just out to lunch (once again).
The City of Miami transit wish list is a happy contrast to the county’s bloated and vision-less list. Funds for the SEC railway, the Streetcar, and Metro-mover extensions are all to be applauded. Even the halfhearted attempt at providing transit to the future Marlins Orange Bowl park in the form of a Metro-mover is to be commended (even though the best case scenario is for the East/West segment of the Orange Line to take that responsibility.)
Either way – green job or road-building job – the name of the game is spending money job creation. Let’s hope Obama can tell the difference between the lechon and the pork
3 Responses to Wishlist lacks transit vision
Leave a Reply
Planetizen: The Urban Planning, Design, and Development Network- A New Federalism Needed to Support America's Modern Metropolitan-Oriented Economy June 18, 2013In an essay adapted from their new book, Jennifer Bradley and Bruce Katz examine America's traditional 'dual sovereignty' federalism. They argue that metropolitan areas should play a greater role in governance through a collaborative federalism. […]
- 'Rest Stop for the Urban Age' to Hit NYC Streets June 18, 2013How many times have you hunted in vain for a place to charge your phone for a few minutes while running between errands? Hunt no more. An experimental, and elegant, solar-powered cell phone charging station is set to hit the streets of New York. […]
- German Development Debacles Give Architecture a Bad Name June 18, 2013Architects Christoph Ingenhoven, Meinhard von Gerkan and Pierre de Meuron, designers of three of Germany's most disastrous developments speak about their troubled projects and the damage inflicted on the status of architecture in the country. […]
- Momentous Climate Plan Being Development by Obama June 18, 2013An historic plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions is being covertly developed by the Obama administration, reports Neela Banerjee. The plan could for the first time set limits on the country's biggest emitters: power plants. […]
- London’s Lived-In Look June 18, 2013London calling! PlaceMaker Hazel Borys fuses her passions for great cities, efficient transit, civic art and form-based coding into one lavishly documented examination of the English capital. Cheers, mates! […]
- Commuter Rail Lines Multiply, But Where Are the Riders? June 18, 2013Despite a flurry of new commuter rail lines in operation, ridership increased a mere .5% during a record year for transit. Worse yet, some of the newer lines saw the greatest decreases. The answer: increase service to attract riders. […]
- 'Best Square' in Paris Returned to the People June 18, 2013Over the weekend, the $30 million revamp of Paris's iconic Place de la République opened to the public. By transforming the square from a place for cars into a place for people, Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has earned a distinguished "anti-car" label. […]
- Who Deserves Blame for New York's Parks Disparity? June 18, 2013Many assume that the affluence of the surrounding neighborhood determines the health of New York City's parks. According to Lisa W. Foderaro, elected leadership, rather than location, determines which parks in the city are better maintained. […]
- America's Most Urban President Should Embrace Its Cities June 18, 2013While he cannot do much to rewrite the Constitution, which favors rural America, or reverse a century of history, which gave rise to the suburbs, Obama, the most urban president, can do more to embrace the city as an innovation incubator. […]
- Designing a Divorce? What It's Like to Work With a Spouse June 18, 2013Spurred by the simmering debate over whether Denise Scott Brown deserves recognition from the Pritzker Prize for her work with her husband Robert Venturi, Justin Davidson explores the nature of designing with your life partner. […]
- A New Federalism Needed to Support America's Modern Metropolitan-Oriented Economy June 18, 2013
And if 90% of transit money across the nation is spent on new road construction (as TM reported), do any real mass transit plans have a chance of getting the required funding? I signed that petition over at transit4america …what’s going on with that?
[...] Blog," they’re asking,"Does Earmark-Free Mean Pork-Free? Or Worthwhile?" Transit Miami has this to say on the subject: "Let’s hope Obama can tell the difference between the lechon [...]
[...] Blog," they’re asking,"Does Earmark-Free Mean Pork-Free? Or Worthwhile?" Transit Miami has this to say on the subject: "Let’s hope Obama can tell the difference between the lechon [...]