Washington DC – The following statement was issued today by Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), in reaction to the Administration’s release of a $302 billion surface transportation bill:
“America’s economy and ailing surface transportation system received a much needed shot in the arm with the White House’s unveiling of a long-term plan to direct billions in new investments to the surface transportation arteries of our economy.
“The Administration’s $302 billion investment plan gives us renewed hope that a multi-year bill can be completed this year and that we can get moving on rebuilding and expanding our surface transportation system. As we are witnessing in Seattle and in many parts of America, budget-stressed public transit systems continue to cut service and jobs, and raise fares. And our highway and bridge network is falling apart evidenced, by Monday’s collapse of yet another bridge structure, this time in Moncks Corner, SC.
“We commend the President and the Secretary of Transportation for advancing a serious proposal to close a massive surface transportation investment gap that is threatening to crater our economy, idle millions of good jobs and harm America’s competitiveness.
“Now lawmakers in both parties need to move swiftly on a bold, bipartisan bill that finally ends the neglect of our surface transportation system and puts millions of Americans to work. Flat-line funding levels and short-term legislative extensions of existing programs will no longer cut it.”
CONTACT: Alison Omens, aomens@outreachstrategies.com, 202-507-4843