The Metropolitan Council, controlled by Pawlenty appointees, is proposing and anticipating YET ANOTHER cut to transit funding in the Twin Cities metro area. I believe this would be the fourth cut in five years.
I looked comprehensively at transit fares in peer cities two years ago, and the Twin Cities already has among the highest fares, matched with the among the lowest levels of service of any major metropolitan area. But apparently the Pawlenty administration thinks we're not far enough behind?
One proposal would correct all this. Transportation Choices 2020 is that proposal (see more info at http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/ TC2020-Index.htm). The basic problem is a switch under Governor Ventura that funds transit from the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax, instead of property taxes. The Chamber of Commerce and others have their proposals as well, but those are more limited visions for transit improvements in the Twin Cities metro area.
Last week, I saw REAL EXCITEMENT and incredibly BROAD ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT for this bill at the legislature last week when it was heard in committee. And there is REAL MOMENTUM FOR CHANGE - Republicans are finally feeling the heat on transit. A recent PiPress news article wrote: "The lopsided vote for the [Northstar rail] bill suggests that voters taught House members a lesson last year...The 'do-nothing' record contributed to the defeat of 13 House Republicans in November. 'The election changed things dramatically,' Tinglestad [R-Andover] said."
So call your legislator and tell them to make a competitive, fully-funded transit system a priority: (651) 296-2146 for House members, (651) 296-0504 for Senate members.
Join Transit for Livable Communities Transportation Choices Network at http://www.tlcminnesota.org/tcn/tcn-signup.html, to have a stronger collective voice.
And speak at the hearing on transit cuts on April 13th at 11:30 at the Met Council Headquarters on the corner of Wacouta and 5th Street on Mears Park downtown, or at any of the other locations (see http://www.metrocouncil.org/planning/transportation/2005/ servicechanges.htm for more info).
Bob Spaulding Downtown St. Paul
LINKS:
MET COUNCIL: http://www.metrocouncil.org/planning/transportation/2005/ servicechanges.htm
PIONEER PRESS: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/11136800.htm
TRANSIT ADVOCACY!: http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/ TC2020-Index.htm
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