“Congress FINDS” – WHY S.1619 Legislation

A section on findings is included in the legislation which is intended to support the necessity of the legislation: The legislation indicates a need for cooperation in LAND USE PLANNING and the development of housing and transportation. You be the judge. Does Congress make the case to spend $4,000,000,000?

 

1. US population will grow 40% over the next 40 years to 439,000,000

 

2. The demographic group most likely to use public transportation is projected to increase the most from 2009 to 2025.

 

3. In the next 15-years, 1 in 5 people will be 65 years of age or older

 

4. From 1980 to 2000, the largest 99 SMSA’s consumed 16,000,000 acres of rural land

 

As stated in the legislation – about 1 acre for every new household

5. In 2007, TRAFFIC CONGESTION causes people:

• To waste 4,200,000,000 hours in traffic
• Purchase an extra 2,800,000,000 gallons of fuel
• This represents a congestion cost of $87,200,000,000
• The findings indicate that the congestion cost has increased 500% since 1982.

6. DOE forecasts that driving will increase 59% between 2005 and 2030
Far outpacing the projected 23% increase in population during this period

 

7. Census Bureau states that ONLY 54% of households have access to public transportation

8. In 2008, local ballot initiatives supported public transportation 79% of the time

9. Demographers ESTIMATE
30% of housing demand is for housing in dense, walkable, mixed-use communities and ONLY 2% of NEW housing is located in these areas

10. Average household spends 19% of its budget on transportation and very low-income households spend around 55%
Households with access to good public transportation spend only 9%

11. The need for Safe and Affordable Housing is Great
54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing
29% of renters pay more than 50% of their income on housing
In 2007, there was a shortage of 2,800,000 units of affordable housing for extremely low-income renter households

12. People in compact developments (where housing, shopping, jobs and public transportation are in close proximity) drive 20% - 40% LESS than people who live in average development patterns

13. People taking transit instead of driving
Impact of transit on LAND USE taken into account
Carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by 37,000,000 metric tons each year

14. Transportation accounts for 70% of the oil consumed
33% of the carbon emissions
Reducing the number of miles driven

 

Providing transportation alternatives through good planning and sustainable development IS A NECESSARY PART OF THE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIES OF THE US

15. KEYS to revitalizing and maintaining town centers & preserve surrounding agricultural land in small and rural communities is to :
PREVENT commercial and residential development on the outskirts of town
PROMOTING integrated housing, economic, & transportation development in town centers

 

16. 1,600,000 rural households do not have access to cars

17. Residents in rural areas drive approximately 17% more than in urban areas

18. Ridership on small urban and rural public transportation systems increased 20% from 2002 to 2005

 

19. poorly planned development in rural areas can:

• fragment agricultural and forest lands
• pollute waterways with surface water
• cause unnecessary environmental impacts
• strain the capacity of rural roads
• sap economic vitality from existing “main street” commercial areas

20. FUNDNG for integrated housing, transportation, energy, environmental and economic development and other land use planning efforts at the local and regional levels is necessary to provide for sustainable development and smart growth.

  

We the taxpayers evidently have a government employee charged to track the above statistics which can’t be disputed by reasonable people.

  The key “finding” seems more like a statement –re-read #15. This is a first step toward the federal government through this legislation and incentives to prevent real estate development beyond existing infrastructure AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.