TexPIRG Calls on Governor Perry to Lead by Example as He Heads for NGA Meeting in Washington DC on Building a Sustainable Infrastructure

Letter Urges Governor to Give Federal Stimulus Spending Priority to Highway and Bridge Repair, Public Transit, and Safe Bike, Pedestrian Routes

TexPIRG

Austin, TX — As Governor Perry prepares for the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting this weekend, TexPIRG today sent a letter calling on him to lead by example in creating jobs that fulfill those goals right here in Texas. The focus of bipartisan meeting of governors from across the country is “rebuilding, repairing and maintaining a national infrastructure system that supports America’s economic competitiveness, facilitates economic growth and is environmentally sustainable”.

In the letter, TexPIRG reminded Governor Perry  that: “The economic recovery bill, which provides Texas with billions of dollars in flexible Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding, offers a unique opportunity to create the kinds of jobs that will help build an infrastructure for the 21st century.  As you gather with your fellow governors, we urge you to lead by example in your home state by directing the state’s transportation department to make the long list of ready-to-go transit, highway and bridge repair, bicycle, and pedestrian projects the top spending priorities for your STP funding from the Act. Contrary to some recent news stories and other sources, the STP is designed and intended to fund numerous modes of transportation, not simply highways.”