Green Job Creation At Risk in Indiana

Although millions of dollars in federal stimulus money is being allocated to Indiana, our own state legislature may missing a major opportunity for creation of green jobs and infrastructure investment in public transit.

With votes happening possibly this week, if you are interested in seeing Indiana build infrastructure using federal and state dollars for public and mass transit, please contact your legislators regarding the following House and Senate bills.

With only days remaining in the legislative session, legislation that is critical to funding our future public transit needs is still in play.
 
Please contact your state senator and state representative Monday morning and urge them to support public transit funding.  Votes in the House and Senate will occur as soon as Monday, April 13th. 
 
What you can do:
In the Senate, tell your senator to support an amendment to HB 1607 to allow communities statewide to establish regional transportation districts to build, operate, and fund public transit systems, including buses, trolleys and light rail.   The amendment incorporates the language of HB 1660, which passed the House but never received a hearing in the Senate.  HB 1607, the target of the amendment, only provides transit funding authority for four northwest Indiana counties. 
 
In the House, tell your representative to support SB 374.  It contains the regional transportation district language from HB 1660, and  also appropriates $53 million for three public transit systems—South Shore commuter railroad, IndyGo bus system, and the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority’s proposed light rail line. 
 
Need your legislator’s contact information? 
Visit us at http://www.hecweb.org/content.cfm?n=legislate2009 .     
 
Why we need your help:
Expanding public transit in Indiana will create green jobs, help revive our urban centers, save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Among public transit’s benefits are:
Workforce mobility- cities and towns are more desirable by offering cost-effective ways of getting to and from their workplaces and community services.
Neighborhood redevelopment - walkable urban neighborhoods are the fastest growing real estate sector.
Energy savings -  public transit use in America saves the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline each year.
Public health - public transit takes vehicles off the roads, reducing air pollution.   
 
Remember to remind your legislator:
Americans are seeking real transportation choices.   Public transit ridership is up nationwide, and in Indiana.  Several local bus systems saw double digit increases in ridership last year, including Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Gary.   The Indiana Department of Transportation’s recent mass transit study found strong demand statewide for more public transit, as did the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce’s opinion poll finding that 87% of central Indiana residents wanted more transit options in metro Indy.  
 
For more information on public transit and how to contact your state legislator, go tohttp://www.hecweb.org/content.cfm?n=legislate2009 .      

Creation of regional transportation districts along with funding for commuter rail, metro bus system expansion, and Central Indiana's proposed light rail would lead to creation of hundreds of jobs throughout Indiana.  These jobs would help many of those currently out of work.  But, these new jobs would also require retraining and recruiting of some people.  However, it is not known if construction of a light rail line would require custom recruiting solutions or a talent acquisition strategy focused on recruiting personnel nationally for Indiana positions or if the new jobs would increase Indiana employment opportunities for workers already residing here.