http://madison.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/27200
The following article has been sent to you by [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------ Madison Metro Bus Service Cuts Loom Big for 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, 08 November 2005 by Michael Neuman Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Summary: Last July, over the passionate objections of numerous low and middle income residents of Madison, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and the City Council approved increases to Madison Metro bus fares. Madison's bus users had no choice but to immediately begin paying the higher fares in August or be turned away at the bus stop. Tonight and next Tuesday, the second half of the double whammy for those who rely on Madison Metro will be debated, beginning at 6:30 PM. In spite of the fact that mass transit is more environmentally sustainable, less congestion-causing, more energy-efficient and is more affordable than using personal automobiles, city government is now proposing to drastically cut it's subsidized bus service to the community, citing rises in fuel costs. In response, and at the urging of Madison area bus advocates in the community, several city alders are proposing the city's budget be increased by $557,000, to avoid what will otherwise be certain hardship on many community residents who have come to depend on Madison Metro bus service for travel to their jobs, shopping, studying, church and other functions and activities in the community. Concerned publics have an opportunity to register and/or testify in support of the proposed budget amendment to increase the funding to Madison Metro at tonight's and next Tuesday's City Council meeting. The Madison City Council, Mayor Cielewicz and Madison Metro officials have cutting Metro bus service on their agenda for discussion at tonight's City Council meeting, which begins at 6:45 PM at the City-County Building on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Especially hard losses are expected to be experienced by individuals and families who do not own cars since Metro is often the only mode of travel available to them other than by foot. Madison Metro is proposing the following kinds of service cuts: 1. elimination or reduction of several complete routes; 2. reductions of service on weekends on all routes; 3. elimination of service on holidays on all routes; 4. elimination of early morning and evening service on several routes Next week, their decisions will be cast into stone in the form of the 2006 Operating Budget for the city. The public has an opportunity to register and testify regarding the proposed bus service cuts at tonight's City Council meeting at the City-County Building. Those wishing to register or speak in favor of an amendment proposed by several alders to increase the budget for Madison Metro by $557,000, rather than the service cuts, should plan to arrive to register no later than 6:30 PM. The public hearing testimony can be up to 5 minutes long and will begin by 6:45 PM. There are other reasons members of the public may be interested in taking the time to come and register for and/or testify at the meeting tonight and next Tuesday besides mobility. Last year, Madison and Dane County had significant air quality problems registering 4 ozone action days 9 air health advisory days. The number of days of unhealthy air in Madison will likely increase with increasing automobile use, made more likely by Madison Metro service cuts. Madison and Mayor Dave were also recently awarded "Cool City" status by the Sierra Club because of their early actions (although limited) in confronting global warming in adopting a Climate Protection Plan, and in Mayor Dave being the 4th mayor to sign onto the Climate Protection Agreement out of the 181 U.S. mayors who signed the agreement. Cutting back on Madison Metro bus service is inconsistent with those actions and a slap in the face to the Sierra Club for its recognition of Madison as a leader in fighting global warming. Mayor Dave should be supporting mass transit, not reducing the funding for it. Greater use of personal motor vehicles in lieu of riding Madison Metro buses in Madison could also result in an increased number of pedestrian safety violations in the city because of the shear increase in the number of automobiles. If anything, the City Council ought be looking at expanding Madison Metro Services to the city's new outlying areas and beyond to improve transportation's contribution to sustainability in the Greater Madison Area. The Madison community needs to get behind the proposal to increase Madison Metro's budget for 2006, even if the increased subsidy means slightly higher property taxes. This can be looked at as an investment in clean air, economic vitality, safe living, and ease of travel in the city of Madison, not an impediment to progress and working for the American dream. Madison IMC: http://madison.indymedia.org/ _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
