Congressional Budget Allocates Much More Money for Transit
If it’s up to Congress, transit projects will receive a significant funding boost in the Congressional spending bill. According to Curbed, “The Community Development Block Grant program, which many local governments have used to fund streetscaping, cycling, and pedestrian-friendly projects, would receive a significant boost, rising to $3.3 billion from the $3 billion allocated in 2017.” Further, “the bill includes more money for Capital Investment Grants, which help pay for transit projects, increasing spending from $2.4 to $2.6 billion, and would allocate $1.5 billion for the TIGER Grant program, tripling the $500 million spent on the program in 2017,” as well as $540 million to upgrade Amtrak’s Northwest Corridor. The budget may even include money for the Gateway Tunnel Project linking New York and New Jersey—with perhaps $30 million of the funds slated for Amtrak.
However, President Trump has threatened to veto any spending bill which would allocate funds to the Gateway Tunnel Project. Trump’s initial budget had eliminated the Community Development Block Grant program, and the original $52 billion in transit cuts Trump had proposed would have impacted the Capital Investment Grants and the TIGER Grant programs as well. APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas said, “the president’s proposed cuts would endanger 53 projects in the pipeline across the nation, putting 500,000 jobs at risk, including both general construction and related manufacturing jobs.”
Given the considerable differences between Trump’s proposals and the actual Congressional spending bill, a veto—and government shutdown—may seem inevitable. With past Republican Presidents, a spending bill from a Republican Congress would have been a sure thing, Trump has shown a willingness, however, to fight almost as much with his own party as with the Democrats. All we can do is wait and see what happens.
Latest
Adapting the SLR Magic of Anamorphic Filmmaking to the Panasonic Lumix Ecosystem Creates Endless Filmmaking Possibilities
The Panasonic Lumix System revolutionized independent filmmaking through the convergence of a handheld DSLR style body, larger than video camera sensors for a narrow depth of field, and the versatility and utility of interchangeable lenses. By being mirrorless and with the use of adapters, a broad gamut of vintage and modern lenses became available for […]
AV is Bridging the Gap Between the Real World and the Metaverse at Industry Conferences
How is AV helping bridge the gap between the real world and the metaverse? Some of the best examples can be seen in the midst of large-scale trade shows and industry events. For example, ETHDenver, an annual blockchain conference held in Denver, Colorado, hosts more than 20,000 technologists every year to innovate and develop […]
Why Authentic Content Should Be at the Forefront of Your Company’s Marketing Strategy
Media today is the most powerful it’s ever been, and with the introduction of new channels to consume it daily, the consumer can become easily overwhelmed with a plethora of choices. How does your channel stand out? Authentic media might be the clickbait. With the likes of TikTok, YouTube, and streaming services like Spotify, […]