{"id":146656391,"date":"2009-08-25T09:53:11","date_gmt":"2009-08-25T09:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=146656391"},"modified":"2009-08-25T09:53:11","modified_gmt":"2009-08-25T09:53:11","slug":"tough-times-should-not-stop-innovation-in-transportation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=146656391","title":{"rendered":"Tough times should not stop innovation in transportation"},"content":{"rendered":"

State Senator Creigh Deeds and River \u2018Car Less Brit\u2018 Laker discuss mass transit, intermodal (roads-to-rails) and urban bike culture
\nBy 2010, all federal and state transportation dollars will be needed to maintain our crumbling highways and closed rest areas leaving precious few funds for transportation improvements elsewhere in the Commonwealth. In fact, the Commonwealth may actually lose federal dollars because the General Assembly can\u2019t provide required matching funds.
\nBoth candidates for governor tout Virginia as the best place in the United States to do business and yet portions of the state\u2019s transportation infrastructure are rapidly deteriorating and agencies lack funding necessary to attract new industry.
\nFor example, Maersk Sealand, which just built a new container terminal on Craney Island in Portsmouth, needs help to increase road or rail capacity to serve the total build-out planned by Maersk. But Virginia cannot offer that help.
\nLast month, we sent 8 very specific questions regarding the sorry state of Virginia\u2019s transportation infrastructure to both campaigns.
\nUntil last weekend, we had not heard from either campaign; however, during a whirlwind tour through the Roanoke and New River Valleys on Saturday, State Senator Deeds gave SCH\u2019s foreign correspondent River \u2018Car Less Brit\u2019 Laker about 10 minutes of face-time to address some of our transportation questions.
\nWhy do conservatives loathe bikes and public transit?
\nRush Limbaugh says, \u201cFrankly, if the door opens into a bicycle rider I won\u2019t care. I think they ought to be off the streets[.]\u201d
\nThe Virginia Bicycling Federation has called Congressman Eric Cantor on the carpet for his vehement opposition to bike-ped: \u201cCantor also added the expansion of the Smart Bike program- the first bike-sharing system of its kind in North America- as an additional example of wasteful stimulus spending\u201d (source: LAB).
\nAnd FoxNews reports that Congressional Republicans have taken aim at funding in the Recovery Act specifically earmarked for alternative transportation, including increased bike paths as part of the Safe Routes to School program.
\nTo his credit, and given the immense popularity of the Roanoke Valley Greenway system, Representative Bob Goodlatte has broken with Congressional conservatives to provide additional funding to complete the Roanoke River Greenway.
\nThe League of American Bicyclists has reported that
\n It has been proven that dollar for dollar, bike infrastructure has a higher return on investment than road expansion. In fact, for every $1 million invested in an FHWA-approved paved bicycle or multi-use trail, the local economy gains 65 jobs. The modest expansion of the Smart Bike system will not only reduce co2 emissions by 1.5 tons every day (based on current usage rates), it will stimulate job growth. In addition to the numerous construction jobs created, the system expansion will not only create 20 new full-time jobs, they\u2019ll also be green jobs that contribute to a healthier, more environmentally sound Washington. Another tourist-heavy area saw a 9 to 1 return on its investment in bike related infrastructure.
\nDeeds: Investments in our transportation infrastructure, from bike paths to intermodal (road to rail), make economic sense
\n
\n.
\nWhile reproductive rights dominate campaign conversation this week in Virginia\u2019s race to the Governor\u2019s Mansion, many Virginians are growing increasingly frustrated by either gubernatorial campaign when it comes to the crucial political issue of transportation.
\nState Senator Creigh Deeds has suggested raising the gas tax among other methods to fund improvements state-wide in transportation.
\nBy contrast, former Attorney General and Republican candidate Bob McDonnell says he would privatize Virginia\u2019s ABC stores and draw from the general coffers to fund transportation improvements, which critics say may impact school budgets across the Commonwealth.
\nThe Deeds campaign arrived at Lakewood Park in the Star City on Saturday beneath a torrent of rain. About two dozen people braved the weather for a chance to speak with the Senator.
\nAfter a mad dash to the Senator\u2019s caravan and a tour down rain-pelted Brandon Avenue with Deeds\u2019 press secretary cramped in the Harbinger Mobile, River Laker caught up with Mr. Deeds at Towers Shopping Center outside the Kroger supermarket\u2014a fitting backdrop for an issue which impacts nearly every aspect of our lives from our food budgets to our air quality.
\nhttps:\/\/starcityharbinger.com\/2009\/08\/24\/deeds-tough-times-should-not-stop-innovation-in-transportation\/<\/a>oldId.20090825095311140<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

State Senator Creigh Deeds and River \u2018Car Less Brit\u2018 Laker discuss mass transit, intermodal (roads-to-rails) and urban bike culture By 2010, all federal and state transportation dollars will be needed to maintain our crumbling highways and closed rest areas leaving precious few funds for transportation improvements elsewhere in the Commonwealth. In fact, the Commonwealth may … <\/p>\n

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