Auchincloss, Candidate For Congress, Releases Transportation Plan

From Jake Auchincloss: Today, Newton City Councilor and candidate for Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional seat Jake Auchincloss released a comprehensive plan to reinvent Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure using the Green New Deal.

Read the full plan here.

“There is no greater threat to humanity than our changing climate. And there is no greater daily struggle for Massachusetts residents than our broken transportation system,” said Auchincloss. “The challenge—and opportunity—before us is to solve both the problems of climate change and transportation through bold policy change. In Congress, I’ll fight for a Green New Deal that provides state and local governments with the incentives to reinvent our transportation infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st century. “
Auchincloss’s plan is broken into two parts:

• Passing a Green New Deal at the federal level that features a 21st-century Eisenhower Plan to transform public transportation infrastructure across the United States.
• Reinventing transportation in Massachusetts by partnering across federal, state and local governments, and tying federal funds to standards and practices proven in best-in-class public transportation systems elsewhere in the world.

In order to make Massachusetts’ transportation system an example for the rest of the world, Auchincloss’s plan calls for bold change at the federal and state level, including:

• Building a zero-emissions, statewide 24/7 rail service. This will transform commuter rail into regional rail that offers frequent, all-day service.
• Making the South Coast Rail a reality. Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford are the only major cities within 50 miles of Boston that do not currently have commuter rail access to Boston.
• Designing a unified, high-frequency regional bus network, starting with bus-rapid-transit (BRT) on the five corridors recommended by the Barr Foundation.
• Chartering a federal infrastructure bank. Union pension systems can provide significant capital to an enterprise that could create thousands of union jobs rebuilding our public transportation system.
• Increasing the percentage of the Highway Trust Fund dedicated to mass transit from the current 15%.
• Incentivizing development that reduces demand for cars.
• Fast-tracking job-creating projects. A national effort to reinvent our country’s transportation infrastructure means new jobs in communities across our country, including those within the 4th District where opportunity has been limited.
• Incentivizing the politically toughest, but most effective policies by fully or partially matching with federal dollars each state dollar raised through solutions like VMT fees on ride-hailing.

To read Jake’s full plan, visit jakeforma.com/transportation.

About Jake:
Jake Auchincloss is running to serve Massachusetts’ Fourth District in Congress.
After graduating from college, Jake joined the Marines and commanded an infantry platoon in Afghanistan and a multi-national special operations mission to Panama.
Back home, Jake has continued service as a city councilor in Newton, where he graduated from the public schools. Jake's positive, thoughtful leadership over two terms, especially on transportation and the environment, earned him re-election to a third term this November.
In the private sector, Jake has worked on transportation as a manager at a Fortune 100 innovation lab in Boston and on cybersecurity at a startup. He holds degrees in finance and economics from MIT Sloan and Harvard College.

This press release was produced by Jake Auchincloss. The views are the author's own.