Cacciotti Calls for Transportation Plan

The following is a press release from Cacciotti for Assembly 2012. All inquiries should be directed to Eric Hogensen at (323) 761-9514.

With California planning more than $500 billion on transportation infrastructure in the coming decade, South Pasadena Mayor, and candidate for the 41st Assembly District, Michael Cacciotti called on labor unions, community leaders, and lawmakers to carefully weigh how the investments can create jobs and prepare the state for a return to economic prosperity.

“Investments in light-rail, bus-ways, and rail for freight can drive our economy forward and create more jobs than building new freeways,” said Cacciotti. “Public transit gets us off foreign oil, out of traffic jams, and cleans up our air pollution too.”  He cited the Gold Line extension from Pasadena to Azusa as an example.

“Growing experience with investments in public transit and freight rail systems show how they point the way to a better economic future,” said Cacciotti, promising to outshine freeways in the coming decades and their legacy of gridlock, grime, traffic accidents, and ill health.

The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation estimates the Gold Line extension project will generate 6,900 jobs and inject $930 million into the economy, while it provides $39 million in new revenue for state and local government. About 2,600 of the jobs will be in the building trades.

Cacciotti said the light-rail extension—with a further leg planned into San Bernardino County—echoes a recent study on the number of jobs created by $26.6 billion in transportation spending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Smart Growth America released the review earlier this month.

Researchers there, he noted, found that spending on repairing existing roads and bridges and building public transit facilities created far more jobs than spending on new freeways and highways. Public transit investment created 31 percent more jobs than new freeways and repair of existing roads and bridges created 16 percent more jobs.

The report further found that economic returns on repairing existing roads and building new public transit facilities are generating higher economic returns. New transit lines, for instance, stimulate investment around stations because they keep existing communities vibrant, Cacciotti said.

“Transit investment creates both construction and long-term jobs,” added Cacciotti, citing data from the Surface Transportation Policy Project. “For every $10 million invested in transit, 314 jobs are created on average, as well as $30 million in sales.” Counting construction, every $10 million invested in public transit creates 570 jobs, according to the Project.

Cacciotti is running in the upcoming June primary for the new 41st California Assembly District. It stretches through the communities of South Pasadena, Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, the San Gabriel Mountains, San Dimas, La Verne, Claremont, Upland, and Rancho Cucamonga. For more on his campaign, go to www.MichaelCacciotti.com.