Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
480962177_c6fd7c8917.jpgPelosi helps cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Muni's T-line. Photo: kitetoa/Flickr

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco claims she is committed to
public transit and reducing motor vehicle congestion. In a speech to the Regional Plan Association (RPA) last April she said her flagship issues as speaker are energy independence and reducing global warming.

"Our
infrastructure choices will help determine whether people can choose
alternatives to driving their cars," Pelosi told the RPA convention.
"In Congress, we
are leading by example with a ‘Green the Capitol’ initiative that will
make our complex a model of green infrastructure and environmental
stewardship."

If that's the case, why didn't Pelosi fight for public transit in the stimulus bill passed in the House yesterday,
instead of a meager $9 billion that only rose to the original $12
billion because of an amendment by Rep. Jerry Nadler? Why is
transportation spending so highway heavy at $30 billion? 

"This is not all we're going to do," said Pelosi's spokesman, Drew
Hammill. "We know we can’t do everything in one bill and there’s
restraints on what we can spend. She said we have to do something to
quickly turn around the economic situation. The number one priority
here is turning the economy around."

Hammill
actually said the $12 billion is "a huge step forward for public
transit." In California, under the stimulus bill, about $950 million
will be allocated as transit capital, compared to $2.7 billion for
highways and bridges.

"This is a bill about the future,"
Pelosi said today at a news conference with fellow Democrats. "It is a
bill that will guarantee that we will create jobs, that there will be
good paying green jobs that will transform our infrastructure,
transform our energy and how we use it and our dependence on foreign
oil."

Let's hope Pelosi really means what she
says about her commitment to fighting global warming and getting people
out of their cars when Congress takes up the re-authorization of the
Transportation Equity Act.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

How Climate Change Is Hurting Transit Ridership

Transit isn't only a key solution to confronting climate change; it's also one of its victims.

March 12, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines Are About Elon-ed Out

While President Trump tries to pump up Tesla stock prices, Elon Musk wants to privatize Amtrak.

March 12, 2025

U.S. DOT Orders Review of All Grants Related to Green Infrastructure, Bikes

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is coming for our bike lanes — and the time to act is now.

March 12, 2025

Cross-Bronx Cap ‘Potentially Feasible’ — But Expensive: Report

Here's a plan for a highway that isn't a scar. Now all we need is the money.

March 11, 2025

How Highways Rend Our Social Fabric — and the Challenge of Mending It

Roads are supposed to connect us. So why do so many highways tear our social networks apart?

March 11, 2025
See all posts