By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-851319.mp3
Dallas, TX –
DART has added some new ammunition in the battle to win federal funds for mass transit: JOBS in a down economy. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
DART's light rail expansion projects are expected to generate four BILLION dollars in economic activity over the next five years, according to economists at the University of North Texas. And, Dr. Terry Clower says that includes 64-hundred jobs annually.
Clower: This is at a time when we know unemployment has been rising. Our local unemployment rate is now well over 7%. The national unemployment rate is approaching 10%. So, this has been critical spending that's helped to maintain employment in our region.
DART President Gary Thomas hopes the economic impact study impresses Washington, as DART makes a request for as much as 100 million dollars in federal stimulus money for the Orange Line thru Irving to DFW Airport.