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, Mayor Dave's
proposed operations budget for 2006 will mean drastic cuts in Madison
Metro bus service, throughout the City of Madison.
In response, several city alders have proposed an amendment to
increase next year's city operations budget (by $557,000) to provide
the necessary funding for Madison Metro to avoid having to make
harmful service cuts. Sources in support say the amendment will fail
next Tuesday when the Madison City Council meets to finalize the
budget, unless they find 3 more alders to vote in support the
amendment!
Sustain Dane members who live in Madison and who don't want to see
Madison Metro's current bus service within Madison cut should email
or phone their alders BEFORE NEXT TUESDAY and request they vote to
approve the amendment, even if the increase will mean further
increases in property taxes.
You might argue that the cost of continuing to maintain an affordable
bus service in Madison is greatly worth avoiding the expected losses in clean air, economic vitality, safety, and ease of travel in the city which would unquestionably result if Madison Metro bus service in the city is cut, which Madison Metro said it will have no choice to do if the mayor's budget passes unchanged.
Madison residents also have the opportunity testify at a public
hearing that will be held in conjunction with the City Council meeting on Tuesday. The City Council meeting will take place in Rm. 201 of the City/County Bldg. Registration is at 6:30 PM and your testimony can be short as 10 seconds or as long as 5 minutes. It's up to you.
The following specific cuts in bus service could result if the City's
operation budget is not increased by at least $557,000 to make up for
higher Madison Metro costs in 2006 (mostly from increased price of
fuel):
- Reduce frequency on Sundays to one hour for routes 2 & 3.
- Drop routes 34 and 39 midday to Dean Health Clinic.
- Eliminate service on all holidays.
- Reduce Sat. and Sun. service to one hour for routes 2-5.
- Cut half of Route 62 bus trips.
- Eliminate early AM and late PM service as follows:
Route 3 - Eastbound trip from Monroe/Glenway to ETP
Route 6 - Last trips between WTP and West Towne
Route 8 - First AM trip from Old Middleton/Knoches
Route 18 - Last trip from WTP to ETP
Route 21 - Last Trip from NTP
Route 27 - Garage pull-out trip
Route 37 - Garage westbound Wilson/MLK to Univ./Walnut
Route 38 - Service would start at Dempsey/Cottage Grove
Route 40 - Last trip from STP
Route 43 - Last trip from STP
All routes - Eliminate Sunday service after 8 PM
All service before 6 am and late PM except UW campus
Information on specific alders can be found at
http://www.cityofmadison.com/council/ If you send an email message
to your alder, include your address as that confirms that you live
within the alder's district. It is important that city of Madison
residents give their opinion on the need for the City Council and
Mayor Dave to keep Madison Metro bus service economically viable
before the city operating budget for 2006 is finalized next Tuesday
night.
Mike Neuman
Also see:
"Metro Bus Service Cuts Loom Big for 2006"
http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/27200/index.php
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
