Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Gas Tax

Clinton Pledges to Make a Big Infrastructure Push in Her First 100 Days

The industry groups behind last week's "Infrastructure Week" campaign got exciting news today when presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton announced she's going to make a big $275 billion "infrastructure" push in her first 100 days.

Photo: Gabe Skidmore via Flickr
Photo: Gabe Skidmore via Flickr
Photo: Gabe Skidmore via Flickr

An anonymous Clinton aide told the Washington Post:

This proposal would represent the most significant increase in infrastructure investment since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System.

Streetsblog took a look at Clinton's infrastructure proposal when she introduced it in December, and there wasn't much more to it than a large dollar figure. Her proposal calls for spending $275 billion on top of the $300 billion for surface transportation already on the books for the next five years. It doesn't, however, call for raising the gas tax, a mileage fee, or even the barrel of oil tax recently proposed by President Obama.

Instead, Clinton 's proposal envisions additional funding from a vague "business tax reform." Whatever that turns out to mean in practice, it sounds a lot like the funding gimmicks that Washington has increasingly come to rely on to subsidize roads.

On the bright side, Clinton did call for more investment in transit, biking, and walking; for more accountability for state DOTs; and for greater use of "merit-based" project selection, rather than just shoveling money at states to pour into expensive highway projects, no questions asked.

Overall, Clinton's infrastructure plan falls short compared to what Obama called for in his final budget proposal. That Obama blueprint would substantially raise transit funding without increasing the allocation for highways. It would have been a real policy shift, rather than the "more of everything" approach Clinton seems to favor. Congress, however, would not even dignify the Obama proposal with a formal hearing.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Thursday’s Headlines Can’t Afford a Car

High car prices (and loan default rates) are a sign of a K-shaped economy where the wealthy thrive and the lower classes struggle, CNBC reports.

October 16, 2025

In the Era of Mass Deportations, Traffic Reform is More Important Than Ever

"We have tried criminalizing our way out of systemic problems before; it has not worked, and it has harmed the very communities we claim to support."

October 16, 2025

Trump’s Electrification Cuts are Short-Sighted: Report

EV infrastructure is far more valuable to the nation's prosperity and jobs market than the White House believes, according to a new report.

October 15, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines Hurry Up and Wait

As cities save lives by slowing down traffic, every 5-miles-per-hour increase on interstates increases the chances of death by 8.5 percent.

October 15, 2025

The Audacious Idea to Connect America With Trails Is More Necessary Now Than Ever

Seattle's bike blogger takes a ride on some of Washington's best rail trails — and makes the case for extending the "Great American Rail Trail" across the country.

October 15, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Are on Fire

Withholding funding for mass transit is just one aspect of the Trump administration's cheerleading for climate change.

October 14, 2025
See all posts