Learn about smart growth
Get involved
ENG
Resource
What We Learned from the Stimulus
What We Learned from the Stimulus
Smart Growth America’s analysis of federal spending from 2009’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) show that funds spent on public transportation were a more effective job creator than stimulus funds spent on highways. Through the end of 2009, ARRA investments in public transportation produced almost twice as many jobs per dollar as investments in roads:
- Every billion dollars spent on public transportation produced 19,299 job-months.
- Every billion dollars spent on projects funded under highway infrastructure programs produced 10,493 job-months.
As Congress and the Administration discuss a possible jobs bill, the implication is clear: shifting available funds toward public transportation will increase the resulting employment.
Related Resources
Recent Lessons from the Stimulus: Transportation Funding and Job Creation
States and the Stimulus: 120 day report
The Best Stimulus for the Money
Why “Fast Tracks Fix it First” Projects are a Better Stimulus
1350 I St NW Suite 425 Washington, DC 20005
info@smartgrowthamerica.orgLivable places. Healthy people. Shared prosperity.
© 2025 Smart Growth America. All rights reserved
Site By3Lane Marketing
