Hundreds to rally in 14 cities saying More Transit = More Jobs

Rallies mark TEN report on job creation through transit investments WASHINGTON, D.C.On Thursday, Sep. 2, 2010, on the eve of the Labor Day holiday weekend, hundreds of members of the Transportation Equity Network (TEN) will rally at local unemployment offices in 14 U.S. cities to call for increased transit funding as a path to job creation and economic growth. TEN will also hold a media teleconference with the reports author, Dr. Todd Swanstrom of the Public Policy Research Center, at 3pm ET on Thu, Sep. 2 (866-931-7845, code 100317). The rallies will mark the release that day of a new TEN report, More Transit = More Jobs. The rallies will feature personal testimonies highlighting the power of transit investments as an engine of economic opportunity, as well as the larger impact on families and entire communities through access to opportunity. The report will feature: Rankings of 20 U.S. metro areas by percentage of transit spending Numbers of jobs each metro area could create by shifting 50% of current highway spending to transit Numbers of jobs each metro area could create by with the passage of a transit-friendly national Transportation Authorization Act Case studies of the job-creation potential of planned transit projects in Honolulu, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, Denver, and Portland The Transportation Equity Network (www.transportationequity.org) is a grassroots network of more than 350 member organizations in 41 states dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and connected America. WHO: Transportation Equity Network members, allies from organized labor WHAT: More Transit = More Jobs rallies in 14 cities; release of TENs More Transit = More Jobs report; media teleconference with report author WHEN: Thursday, Sep. 2, 2010. Rallies: see contact below for specific times. Teleconference: 3pm ET (866-931-7845, code 100317) WHERE: Atlanta, GA; Buffalo, NY; Eau Claire, WI; Honolulu, HI; Kalamazoo, MI; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles, CA; Madison, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Oakland, CA; Portland, OR; St. Louis, MO; Toledo, OH; Washington, DC. WHY: To call for job creation through increased investment in transit. CONTACT: Stephen Boykewich, TEN National Media Director, stephen@transportationequity.org, Mob. 917-686-2426