Friends of the Earth Launches Campaign to Keep New Roads Out of Stimulus Package

Friends of the Earth today launched
a campaign for economic
stimulus legislation that creates green jobs by investing in clean
transportation options including public transit, passenger rail, and bike and
pedestrian infrastructure-and not new roads.

"More roads mean more pollution and more dependence
on oil-hurting our economy, security and climate," said Colin
Peppard of Friends of the Earth. "Investments in clean transportation
alternatives, as well as road and bridge maintenance and repair, create more
jobs than new road construction and help families save money on gas. Focusing
an economic stimulus package on such clean investments should be a
no-brainer."

Transportation is responsible for 30 percent of the United States'
global warming pollution and nearly 70 percent of its oil use, making
transportation policy a critical part of the broader climate and energy debate.
Studies show that road and bridge construction lead to more driving, and
therefore more global warming pollution and oil consumption. Ten miles of new
four-lane highway result in emissions equivalent to the lifetime emissions of
more than 45,000 Hummers, according to Friends of the Earth.

"Unfortunately, the road-building lobby is
attempting to hijack the stimulus and divert billions of dollars to unnecessary
road projects that would deepen our nation's dependence on oil and
increase greenhouse gas emissions," said Kate McMahon of Friends of the
Earth. "The
public needs to make it clear that the old way of doling out transportation
funds-where pork-barrel politics and earmarks ruled the day-must
end. We need smart and clean investments, not more bridges to nowhere."

Friends of the Earth announced the launch of a new website
focused on keeping the transportation section of any economic recovery package
clean, as well as plans to run ads, mobilize grassroots activists, and reach
out to members of Congress.

More information about the campaign and the ways in which
clean transportation investments create jobs can be found here: https://www.RoadToNowhere.org.