A new direction for the first 100 days

Transportation for America has organized a letter campaign urging President-elect Barack Obama to make transportation investment a priority in his first 100 days in office.

Join in on this campaign and send a message to President-elect Barack Obama here.

Last month, Transportation for America organized a petition to both candidates and received the following letter response from Obama:

"Now is the time to invest in our future and strengthen our core infrastructure...I will re-commit federal resources to public mass transportation projects across the country. And I will further promote transit by creating incentives for transit usage that are equal to the current incentives for driving."

Here's the text of the letter available through Transportation for America.

Dear President-elect Obama:

First of all...Congratulations! Your election, and results from down-ballot votes around the country, represents a resounding call for a new direction.

The Transportation for America campaign, representing more than 100 organizations and thousands of energized citizens around the country, salutes you. And we join you in seeking infrastructure investment that will stimulate the economy now and lay the groundwork for a clean-energy future that is less dependent on oil.

Americans are ready for this bold vision. Even in this tattered economy, citizens in California, Washington, Hawaii, Colorado and at least 10 other states voted themselves a tax increase so they could jumpstart construction of light rail, commuter train service, high-speed rail and other clean transportation options. Now they, and dozens of other communities, need a federal partner that can step up and do its part.

We call on you to follow through on the vision you offered in the campaign by acting rapidly, starting with the transition and during the first 100 days, to urge Congress to pass a smart package of stimulus investments as well as a new national transportation program. Appoint a Secretary of Transportation with a proven record of understanding both urban and rural needs, as well as how transportation, growth and development, the economy and the environment interact.

By fixing our highways, bridges and transit systems, and pushing ahead with ready-to-go rail projects, we can create millions of jobs that can't be outsourced, launch a clean, green economic recovery, and get started on building a 21st century transportation system.

To quote our next president: "Yes, we can!"