All,
This letter (among others in today's NYT at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/opinion/l16gas.html?ref=opinion )
is especially near & dear to my heart given the windmills I've been
tilting at of late:
************************************
To the Editor:
As a transit expert, I find it painful to watch local and state
agencies cut back mass transit service just when demand is surging
because of skyrocketing gas prices.
Federal transportation financing is both broke and broken. Many state
and local governments are still spending foolishly to expand roads
that fuel urban sprawl, traffic and global warming pollution.
Congress in future climate and transportation legislation must
encourage innovation at the community and state levels through new
incentives and accountability. Transportation spending should be tied
to cutting traffic growth and greenhouse gas pollution.
Congress should promote pay-as-you-drive insurance to save consumers
money and knock down barriers to congestion pricing that could
finance better transit. With today's gas prices, we simply can't
afford another transportation bill that favors highways and sprawl
over public transportation and smart growth.
Michael A. Replogle
Washington, May 14, 2008
The writer is transportation director, Environmental Defense.
**************************************
Anyone have any good suggestions as to how to get *our* local
officials to understand that Mayor Larry Nelson's wasteful sprawlways
are hurting the Madison's transit system and damaging the economic
prospects of its own residents?
I'd like to see the annual bonuses of Mayor Nelson, David Dryer, Mark
Olinger and Brad Murphy tied to an overall reduction in (motor)
vehicle miles travelled, while maintaining the economic vigor of the
city. That might get some synapses firing.
-Mike
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