Our path to the future requires 21st Century transportation

Transcription

1 U n i t e d S t a t e s Department of Transportation previous next JAN 21 Posted by Our path to the future requires 21st Century transportation Anthony Foxx The economic news from President Obama's State of the Union address last night is good: "Our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999." In fact, over the past five years, American businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs. That 58 month streak of job creation is the longest on record, and since 2010, we have put more people back to work than all of the advanced economies of the world combined. The economic growth reported for the 3rd quarter of 2014? The strongest in more than a decade. And our federal deficit? Cut by two thirds. As the President said, "The verdict is clear. Middle class economics works. Expanding opportunity works." path future requires 21st century transportation 1/6

2 Good news indeed, but no one at DOT is confusing that good news as a sign that we can afford to rest. Because we cannot; we can't rest on transportation, and we can't rest on opportunity. As President Obama pointed out, "No one knows for certain which industries will generate the jobs of the future. But we do know we want them here in America." If we want to continue building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire, then we need a transportation system that can keep pace. We need to re build America's existing infrastructure fixing our roads and bridges, getting our aging transit systems into a state of good repair and we need to build the transportation tomorrow's growing economy will need. As President Obama said: "21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure modern ports, stronger bridges, faster trains, and faster internet... So let s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Let s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than thirty times as many jobs per year, and make this country stronger for decades to come." path future requires 21st century transportation 2/6

3 Now, the President also talked about fairness last night, saying we must, "Restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American." And in this Department, we know that better transportation can be a ladder of opportunity, improving access to jobs, education, and even basic services that might be out of reach for many Americans. We've been working hard to build those ladders in communities across the Nation, but we have more work ahead to make sure everyone gets a fair shot. path future requires 21st century transportation 3/6

4 So, yes, the economic news is good. But this Department isn't just concerned with today's news I'm not just concerned with today's news. Part of our mission requires thinking about tomorrow, thinking beyond the next election cycle. "These policies will continue to work," the President said, "as long as politics don t get in the way." And they shouldn't get in the way. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on infrastructure. If they ever agreed on anything, they agreed that this Nation needs roads, rails, and runways that work. That people need to be able to get to work or to a doctor. That American businesses need their freight to move efficiently. So let's not let politics get in the way. Let's roll up our sleeves together you, me, DOT, path future requires 21st century transportation 4/6

5 Congress, transit agencies, road builders, safety advocates, shipwrights, automakers, railroaders, airport operators, mariners all of us. Let's make sure that, instead of viewing the considerable challenge this year of reauthorizing our highways, transit, rail, aviation, and pipeline systems as a perfect storm, we see it as a perfect opportunity to give our robust Nation the robust transportation network it needs. Let's start the work right now...together. Post new comment Your name * Your Website Comment * Submit path future requires 21st century transportation 5/6