White House considers splitting $3 trillion recovery plan into two bills, report says

[Klaralven]

The president’s advisors will bring him a plan as soon as this week that would divide the recovery proposal into two planks, the Times reported. One would put money into boosting manufacturing, improving transportation systems, expanding broadband access and reducing carbon emissions, according to the newspaper.

The other would focus on reducing economic inequities through investments in paid leave, universal pre-K and community college, the report said. Biden is expected to pursue the infrastructure component first.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/22/biden-infrastructure-plan-white-house-considers-3-trillion-in-spending.html

What we need for transportation is autonomous electric buses. Autonomous so that the cost of hiring drivers doesn't make them uncompetitive with rail. Electric so that they reduce CO2 emissions.

Buses are needed instead of rail systems because buses can be reallocated and rerouted flexibly as commuting patterns change. With rail, we are ending up with expensive systems with a lot of fixed costs and sunk investment when ridership decreases.

[Iliyah]

1. republicans are clutching their pockets . ..

I mean their chest. . .. moment.

[lagomorph777]

2. JRB making FDR look like an amateur.

[honest.abe]

3. We need investment in both buses and rail.

Many people simply wont ride a bus but they will ride a train. Plus the fact trains dont get caught in traffic jams.

Also Joe loves trains!

[Martin68]

4. I wonder if Biden thinks the social welfare component might be an obstacle for passage of the bill

and decided to pass the infrastructure part first. I hope the doesn't mean the second part won't pass.

[Klaralven]

5. NJ Transit in 2019 provided more rides on buses than on trains.

Commuter rail was 87.9 million rides, light rail was 24.1 million, and bus was 151 million rides. See page 87 of the annual report https://d2g63oyneaimm8.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/pdfs/annualreports/NJTRANSIT_2020_Annual_Report.pdf

Buses are the key to extending mass transit beyond the high-density corridors.

[WarGamer]

6. For 99% of US acres...

Mass transit doesn't work.

Focus on where it DOES work.

AND... seek public-private partnerships for things like a HSR between LA and Vegas. Let the Casino Billionaires pay half.


And I agree with the earlier poster, invest in more modern GREEN buses.