Trump Is a Grifter, His Infrastructure Plan Sucks, and His Budget Threatens Sound Transit

Last edited Tue Feb 13, 2018, 04:25 AM - Edit history (1)

Looks like President Donald Trump is touting an "infrastructure plan" that is actually a whole lot of nothing while simultaneously undermining his rhetoric about infrastructure by proposing a budget that would slash transit funding. Imagine that!

Trump released both his infrastructure plan and proposed 2019 budget today. The infrastructure plan largely counts on local, state, and private money, while the budget cuts funding for the Department of Transportation. Taken together, the two proposals may actually represent a net loss for infrastructure.

Among the proposed budget cuts: the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Program (also known as "New Starts" ). That program helps fund light rail projects in Puget Sound. Most immediately: Sound Transit is counting on funds from the program to extend light rail to Lynnwood and Federal Way.

Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff said in an interview with The Stranger that the pairing of a transit-slashing budget and an infrastructure plan is "completely inconsistent" and "perplexing, if not maddening."

Read more: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/02/12/25808530/trump-is-a-grifter-his-infrastructure-plan-sucks-and-his-budget-threatens-sound-transit