--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Mike Neuman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Please contact your alder and other alders you may know today and ask them to support amendment #30 to City's Operational Budget at the City Council meeting tonight - to spare Metro the necessity of raising the cash fares $0.50 in a time of economic downturn, increasing unemployment and worsening environmental concerns. Amendment #30 would eliminate the mayor's proposed 33% increase in Madison Metro Transit adult cash fares and 25% increase in youth cash fares. The key point to make is that we have to increase the use of of mass (bus) transit in the city if we are to become sustainable. Raising fares is counter to that objective. Read Amendment #30 here: http://www.cityofmadison.com/council/documents/1Am_CC_Proposed_Op_2008 -11-12.pdf Fares must be kept at the current level because the higher fares will cause fewer people to use mass transit and more people to drive personal motor vehicles, thus increasing the total amount of emissions to our environment, to say nothing about the increased congestion of streets and parking lots, higher noise levels, and additional threats to pedestrian and bicyclist safety that would result from having more motor vehicles operating on our streets and roadways. The Madison Bus Advocates <http://www.busadvocates.org/> is asking that people call their alders and tell them that Metro bus fares should NOT be increased. They're high enough already for most middle and low income families in Madison. We need to increase the use of mass transit in Madison to reduce auto congestion and related greenhouse gas emissions in Madison. Raising fares will create the opposite effect. You many also want to attend the Public Hearing. You can either stop by at the start of the meeting to sign your name in support of Amendment #30 and then leave, or you can wait and have 5 minutes to explain to the Common Council why you support Amendment #30 and oppose the fare increase. 2009 Operating Budget Public Hearing Tuesday, Nov. 11, 5:30pm, Rm 201, City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. But also please let your alder know today that you support Amendment #30 and why you oppose a bus fare increase. Just a short email can have a big impact. Remember to include your name and your street address. If you are unsure who your alder is or would like to send your message to all alders, you can easily submit a Common Council email here: http://www.cityofmadison.com/council/contact.cfm Low and middle income families in Madison who currently rely on Metro Transit will thank you. So will the rest of us who care about liveability concerns in our community and the region as a whole, both now and in the future. Mike Neuman --- End forwarded message --- _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list Bikies@danenet.org http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
