How the American Jobs Act of 2011 Affect Transportation in Tennessee

The American Jobs Act of 2011 will benefit Nashville’s public transportation system (MTA) in many ways.  According to the Brookings Institute, Nashville is experiencing a “crabgrass recession” – an economic downturn that has hit many suburbs and rural areas even harder than the cities.  Counties surrounding Davidson County have been tremendously hit by the recession.  An increase in transportation revenues will allow the MTA to expand into the suburbs and/or rural areas.  By expanding into these areas, citizens will be afforded reasonably priced transportation in order to commute to available jobs. Maybe the transit system will include light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit lines.  This will foster the opportunity for the working class to participate fully in Nashville’s economy.

The President of the United States is calling for $8 billion to go towards high-speed rail, as part of a six-year, $53-billion plan. The administration is hoping that the program will create jobs and boost American competitiveness in the long run. But on a smaller scale, an effective public transportation system can simply increase the quality of life in a city. By transporting people to work, school, local attractions, and healthcare facilities, public transit can reach into nearly every area of city life, from public health to tourism. Statistics show that public transit has experienced rapid growth, providing economic benefits to individuals and municipalities alike.

The American Jobs Act of 2011 includes $50 billion in immediate investments for highways, transits, rail and aviation, for the State of Tennessee an infrastructure that received a grade of “C” from the American Society of Civil Engineers.  This legislation will put hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job.  Of the investments for highway and transit modernization projects, the American Jobs Act of 2011 will make immediate investments of at least $619 million in Tennessee that could support a minimum of approximately 8,000 local jobs.