October 15: On the eve of the final presidential debate, civic leaders gathered with government officials in multiple cities across the country to launch the "Build for America" campaign, making the link between strengthening America's economy and building a 21st century transportation system. In New York, America 2050 joined with Transportation For America, Regional Plan Association, The NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign, Transportation Alternatives, and the New York General Contractors Association at Grand Central Terminal to call on the Presidential candidates and the next Congress to boost America's economy by building 21st Century transportation in America.Speakers at the New York City event included DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, MTA chief executive Lee Sander, and U.S. representatives Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney. These leaders focused on the potential positive economic impact of federal spending on infrastructure in the face of a private sector slowdown. They stressed that in contrast to short term stimulus packages, these transportation investments would provide both short term and long term benefits: boosting the economy in the short term by providing jobs, and ensuring long term competitiveness as a country by providing capacity for efficient and sustainable economic growth. View press coverage of this event here.
