Now that I’m finally getting the hang of Twitter, I’ve been following the “tweets” of someone named GreatLakesGuy. He often has interesting items of note related to transit.
Yesterday, he shared this video on the Grand Rapids Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project that is coming up for a millage in May. This video is about Cleveland’s BR project, which is the geographically the closest BRT project to our state. As you’ll see in the video, BRT works and is revitalizing parts of Cleveland that need help.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) operates the sixth largest metro ridership transit system, but is facing tough times due to decreasing sales tax revenues. This post from the transportpolitic talks about the situation it’s facing and how the Georgia Legislature can act to get out of its own way and properly fund the system without increasing taxes.
Late yesterday afternoon, I received a call from the Governor’s office asking me to attend a meeting to discussion the transportation portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - also known as the federal stimulus program. It’s kind of hard to say “no” to that sort of thing.
So this morning, around 10AM, I hurried down Capitol Avenue and headed to the Romney Building. I even wore green for the occasion (or for St. Patty’s Day). I was escorted to the Cabinet Room where 20 folks from various transportation interests were already waiting. Before I knew it, we were all discussing the stimulus program and quickly learned that tomorrow the House was going to act on a supplemental appropriations bill that would authorize spending the ARRA money.
Before the meeting ended, we all agreed that now is the time for our collective membership to start calling their state legislators to tell them the following things:
We need them to vote YES on HB 4582 (introduced by Rep. Lee Gonzales).
We need them to offer no amendments on HB 4582. We don’t need this bill tied up with any political games.
We need them to vote YES on HB 4582 by April 2, 2009 because there a clock ticketing on the ARRA money. We have to have 50% of it obligated by June 28th or the federal government will give the money to other states.
We need them to act quickly to vote YES ON HB 4582.
Needless to say, we need you to call folks. But for now, let me say “Thank you” in advance for the calls and the work that you’re doing to help get this bill moving.
Michigan Speaker Andy Dillion recently talked with the Michigan Municipal League about what it will take to increase support for transportation and transit in Michigan. It’s clear that he understands the problem.
I was given a copy of Milwaukee Mayor’s 2009 State of the City Address. Here’s an exerpt from it:
We need to support and pass the Regional Transit Authority legislation. Our region is much more than interstate highways. An RTA that funds and operates transit will be an asset to Milwaukee and to the region. With an RTA in place we can reverse the death spiral of the current County-operated transit system, expand transit services so workers can be connected to regional jobs and extend commuter rail from Kenosha to Milwaukee. I’m asking all regional leaders to join me in supporting the high-speed rail initiative. There’s $8 billion in the stimulus package for this and it has Milwaukee and Wisconsin written all over it. It is also time for regional leaders to join together and demand that federal and state transportation officials recognize that transportation is more than widening highways. It’s also about local roads and mass transit.
I just want to say that there’s $8 billion in the stimulus package for transit … AND IT HAS MICHIGAN”S NAME WRITTEN ALL OVER IT IF WE WANT IT!!!
