Rep. Hansen Clarke Helps Secure $10 Million for Detroit [VIDEO]

I am delighted to announce that the Link Detroit! project has been awarded $10 million from the TIGER Discretionary Grants Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Link Detroit! Project will create jobs and provide better transportation options for metro Detroit residents.

 I firmly believe that affordable and reliable transportation is essential to a vibrant metro Detroit. That is why I am a champion of the Link Detroit! project and the TIGER grant program. Last year, I urged Secretary LaHood to support the Link Detroit! project and I sincerely thank him for his work on behalf of metro Detroit. I also requested funding for the TIGER grant program in fiscal year 2013, and I am an original cosponsor of the TIGER Grants for Job Creation Act. The Link Detroit! project is a crucial step toward a more sustainable and livable community.” –Rep. Clarke

The TIGER Grants for Job Creation Act was introduced yesterday as HR 5976. Rep. Hansen Clarke is an original cosponsor.

Here is Rep. Waters’ press release:

 Congresswoman Waters Introduces the TIGER Grants for Job Creation Act

Calls for a $1 Billion Investment in Transportation Infrastructure

Washington, Jun 20 -Today on Capitol Hill, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced the TIGER Grants for Job Creation Act.  This bill will provide an emergency supplemental appropriation of one billion dollars over the next two years for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, which creates jobs by funding investments in transportation infrastructure.  The bill is cosponsored by 36 of her colleagues.

“The economy is struggling to recover from the recession,” said Congresswoman Waters.  “The unemployment rate has remained above 8 percent nationally for 40 straight months and is even higher in minority communities and in many areas of the country.  Moreover, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure estimated that there is a $549.5 billion shortfall in investments in roads and bridges and an additional $190.1 billion shortfall in investments in transit.”

TIGER could finance a wide variety of innovative highway, bridge and transit projects in urban and rural communities across the country, provided there is sufficient funding.  One such project is the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor in Los Angeles County, a light rail project that will run through Congresswoman Waters’ district.  TIGER grants could be used to finance stations along this corridor in the communities of Leimert Park and Westchester, thereby ensuring that these communities have access to light rail.  Projects like this reduce gridlock and create safe, affordable, convenient, and environmentally sustainable transportation choices.

“I call upon my colleagues to pass the TIGER Grants for Job Creation Act, invest in our crumbling infrastructure, and create good jobs in communities across the United States,” said Congresswoman Waters.

TIGER received an appropriation of $500 million in fiscal year (FY) 2012, and the President requested $500 million in FY 2013.  However, the House Appropriations Committee, which marked up the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill yesterday, did not include any funding for TIGER.  Meanwhile, negotiations between House and Senate conferees over the surface transportation bill have stalled.

“It is especially unfortunate that House appropriators would defund TIGER while other transportation programs are in danger of losing their authorization,” said Congresswoman Waters.