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Two recent reports released at the end of June have highlighted how investments in more sustainable transportation options can create good, domestic jobs that will help spur the economy while relieving American dependence on oil and providing more accessible mobility options for communities across the country.  First, a report by Duke University prepared for Surdna grantee the Apollo Alliance showed that the U.S. rail manufacturing industry--consisting of 249 manufacturing locations in 25 states--stands to undergo considerable growth in the coming years if lawmakers pass transportation bills currently being considered that call for significantly greater investments in public transit and rail.  The authors write that manufacture of passenger and transit railcars and locomotors already comprise an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 U.S. jobs, but that the job creation potential of the industry has been limited by lower investments in the industry than those of the nation's economic competitors.  With important policy changes and stronger investment policies, the industry stands poised for growth, especially in Midwest and Northeast industrial states, in which the current economic recession has created the severest job losses.

A second report released by the Economic Policy Institute and Surdna grantee Transportation for America (T4A) compared the job creation projects for two potential federal transportation bills: first, a continuation of the existing SAFETEA-LU legislation, and second, a proposal by Transportation for America focusing on maintenance and retrofits of existing infrastructure and completing the transportation network with adequate public transportation.  The study concluded that given an investment of $500 billion in both scenarios, the T4A proposal creates 400,000 more jobs over the life of the bill, for a total of 7.2 million.

“This study shows why America needs a new direction in our transportation policy,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “Cleaner and smarter transportation investments will create millions of good paying quality jobs and put our nation on a path to a lasting economic recovery."

• For more information about Duke University and Apollo Alliance report, please view the press release or the full report.
• For more information about the Economic Policy Institute and Transportation for America report, please view the press release or the full text.