Important hearing Thursday at 12:30 on a bill that would provide funding for transit operations, transitways, and bike/pedestrian projects in the region. The bill has Republican and Democrat co-sponsors in both houses, but will need to get out of this Committee if it is going to get anywhere. Univeristy UNITED's Board took a position in support of this legislation last week. They need to pack room with supporters.
_____ From: Dan Walsh [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 4:55 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: TLC and allies propose initiative for major transit expansion! <http://www.thedatabank.com/hfriend.asp?aacwc=36141328563420138868> Forward this newsletter to a friend <http://www.thedatabank.com/hm/132/TLCbanner2004.jpg> TLC and allies propose initiative for major transit expansion! Dear Russ: There is a lot of momentum at the state legislature for transportation reform. This week, TLC in partnership with allied organizations and legislators will hold a press conference and have the first hearing on a bill called Transportation Choices 2020 . The bill would provide new funding to dramatically improve the availability of public transit and facilities for bicycling and walking in Minnesota . We need your help to develop support for this bill! Please attend a very important hearing in the House Transportation Committee this Thursday, March 10th at 12:30 pm in room 10 of the State Office Building. We need to pack the hearing room to show broad community support. The hearing will last for approximately 1 hour. Please attend and stay as long as you can until our portion of the hearing is over and then we will all leave together. TLC will also be handing out stickers so please look for our group. If you can attend the hearing please RSVP to Dan Walsh at 651-767-0298 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] He will outline the details and reserve a place for you. The Transportation Choices 2020 Bill will: * Double bus service and creating better transit facilities and new park & ride capacity by 2020. * Construct eight dedicated bus and rail transit-ways by 2020. * Provide revenue to local governments for bicycle and pedestrian projects starting next year. * Expand transit service in Greater Minnesota to all counties and provide more evening and weekend service by 2009. New revenue will be raised by instituting a half-cent regional sales tax in the metropolitan area and allocating a greater percentage of the state's Motor Vehicle Sales Tax to transit. The bill is estimated to increase funding statewide for transit, bicycling and walking by $365 million annually. Legislative Authors Senator Sharon Marko (D-Cottage Grove), Rep. Ron Erhardt (R-Edina) and several other rural and urban legislators are authoring the bill. (See the <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/Bill %20Details.htm> Bill Summary for the full list of legislative authors and to learn more about the bill.) Transit Partners & Bill Suporters Eight community, faith, environmental, and advocacy organizations are working in partnership to promote this initiative. Twenty community organizations have signed on in support of this bill to date - and more are signing on daily. (See the full list of <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/Tran sit%20Partners.htm> Transit Partners & Supporting <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/Supp ortingOrgs.htm> Organizations.) While other transportation proposals have been introduced at the legislature this session, none of them provide revenue for transit that is adequate, secure enough, or begins this summer when regional transit is facing a projected $60 million shortfall. In addition, none of the other initiatives include funding for bicycle or pedestrian projects. While TLC still supports increasing Minnesota's gas tax and "un-dedicating" these revenues so they can be used for all modes of transportation not just "highway purposes," this continues to be politically impossible. Minnesotans have already been waiting too long for expanded transportation choices and members of our community continue to be harmed by fare increases and service cuts. Other important things you can do: 1. Visit our website www.tlcminnesota.org <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/> to learn more about this bill and our strategy for the legislative session. 2. Meet with your legislators about the bill. 3. Write a letter to your legislators. 4. Write a letter to the editor or commentary to a newspaper in support. 5. Ask an organization to which you belong to formally endorse the initiative. TLC staff members are available to assist you and provide any support you may need. Please contact TLC staff member Dan Walsh at 651-767-0298 or <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you are interested in getting involved. Press Conference To publicize our vision of an affordable and convenient public transit system TLC and other transit allies will be holding a press conference on Wednesday, March 9th. Please watch for news coverage. (See the <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/Pres s%20Release.htm> Press Release here - with links to media coverage as it develops.) Thank you for all your support! You and hundreds of other people have helped create this momentum to see transit as an integral part of a sustainable and equitable future for our region. Fighting for transit has always been difficult work. However, when transit supporters stay united and send a loud message to legislators we will be heard, and together we will make transit a priority for our region. You are receiving this e-mail because you are a member of TLC's network - a group of transit riders and supporters willing to promote transit, walking, biking and transit-oriented development in Minnesota. Visit TLC's website at www.tlcminnesota.org <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/> for more information. Thank you! Links: 1. Bill <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/Bill %20Details.htm> Summary 2. List of Transit <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/Tran sit%20Partners.htm> Partners 3. Supporting <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/Supp ortingOrgs.htm> Organizations 4. Press <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/Pres s%20Release.htm> Release with links to media coverage To request the text version or to unsubscribe, click <http://www.thedatabank.com/hmsub.asp?aacwc=36141328563420138868> here. <http://www.thedatabank.com> thedatabank, inc. ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
