Eric Altman
Executive Director
Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD)
Public investment in our transportation infrastructure is good for the economy primarily because it has the potential to create good quality jobs. Taxpayers must understand that we get what we pay for, and we should insist upon high quality craftsmanship that lasts for generations. With prevailing wage provisions or, even better, project labor agreements, public agencies can guarantee that construction of transit infrastructure will adhere to the highest standards and best practices, and such policies can also ensure that public dollars reach local workers who spend their paychecks in our local economy – thus benefiting the entire community. Public agencies can use similar policies to create good jobs and ensure high quality craftsmanship as buses and trains are manufactured.
But to maximize the benefits of our investment, we must also consider what happens after the rail lines are built and the equipment comes off the assembly lines. First, government must invest in the operation, not just the construction of public transportation, and the equipment should be operated by public servants with the skills and training to maximize public benefit and safeguard public safety. Outsourcing public services puts jobs at risk and places our safety in the hands of private interests driven by the profit motive, not the common good.
Second, public agencies must plan for responsible development around transit centers. Transit-oriented development (TOD) brings together high-density residential, commercial, and civic land uses within a walkable radius around transit hubs. Locally, Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle and Santa Ana’s Station District have been pitched to taxpayers as cutting-edge TOD projects, but in their current form, they are unlikely to capture the benefits of public investment for local workers and communities. When cities use public resources to subsidize or incentivize such development, taxpayers should insist upon the same standards for craftsmanship and job quality that already apply to public transportation. To build a more sustainable economy in our region, we should also demand transit-oriented development that includes affordable housing, neighborhood parks, and the full range of benefits necessary for our communities to thrive. (A community-driven plan for responsible, transit-oriented development in Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle can be found on the OCCORD website at http://www.occord.org/section.php?id=35.)
Executive Director
Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD)
Public investment in our transportation infrastructure is good for the economy primarily because it has the potential to create good quality jobs. Taxpayers must understand that we get what we pay for, and we should insist upon high quality craftsmanship that lasts for generations. With prevailing wage provisions or, even better, project labor agreements, public agencies can guarantee that construction of transit infrastructure will adhere to the highest standards and best practices, and such policies can also ensure that public dollars reach local workers who spend their paychecks in our local economy – thus benefiting the entire community. Public agencies can use similar policies to create good jobs and ensure high quality craftsmanship as buses and trains are manufactured.
But to maximize the benefits of our investment, we must also consider what happens after the rail lines are built and the equipment comes off the assembly lines. First, government must invest in the operation, not just the construction of public transportation, and the equipment should be operated by public servants with the skills and training to maximize public benefit and safeguard public safety. Outsourcing public services puts jobs at risk and places our safety in the hands of private interests driven by the profit motive, not the common good.
Second, public agencies must plan for responsible development around transit centers. Transit-oriented development (TOD) brings together high-density residential, commercial, and civic land uses within a walkable radius around transit hubs. Locally, Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle and Santa Ana’s Station District have been pitched to taxpayers as cutting-edge TOD projects, but in their current form, they are unlikely to capture the benefits of public investment for local workers and communities. When cities use public resources to subsidize or incentivize such development, taxpayers should insist upon the same standards for craftsmanship and job quality that already apply to public transportation. To build a more sustainable economy in our region, we should also demand transit-oriented development that includes affordable housing, neighborhood parks, and the full range of benefits necessary for our communities to thrive. (A community-driven plan for responsible, transit-oriented development in Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle can be found on the OCCORD website at http://www.occord.org/section.php?id=35.)
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