[Mpls] Traffic Congestion Alert: R.T. To Join Hybrid Car PR Event

[David Greene]

mcl at andsoforth.com wrote:

> Many of this city's citizens own no car at all. And they are finding 
> their lives negatively impacted by the constant focus on car-based
> transportation solutions.

This is very important.  Michael is right on when he argues for
public mass transport over single-passenger vehicles.

> Where the State has let Metro Transit drop the ball repeatedly when
> it comes to serving Minneapolis,

Correction: the state _forced_ Metro Transit to cut service by not
adequately funding the service.  Pawlenty vetoed a transportation
bill that would not only have avoided the cuts in service but would
have allowed the system to grow significantly.

You can learn more about how citizens are shaping our public
transportation future at

http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/TC2020-Index.htm

> And while Metro Transit was building the train they were
> simultaneously letting their drivers go on strike and cutting 
> service in high use areas (I know at least two rush hour runs were
> cut on the 5 line--and in my experience these buses were often
> standing-room only). So some of us will hopefully be forgiven for
> thinking of LRT as something of a Pyrrhic victory, and not much of
> a feather for McLaughlin's hat.

Funding for LRT and buses comes from separate sources.  Hiawatha was
a "new start" program, meaning its funding could not be used for bus
operations.  I believe the operating costs of LRT and buses are
budgeted together but the capital costs are completely separate.

If one goes back and reads all of the reports and data about the
recent bus strike and service cuts, one finds LRT contributed a
miniscule amount to the increased operation costs that led to
the service cuts.  The real reason service was cut is that fuel
and health care costs increased and the governor didn't care.

 > So who's going to take the lead on inclusive solutions? Will either
 > of our candidates for Mayor give riding the bus or the train or their
 > bikes a try? Are any DFLers truly blazing the trail here?

Peter did a lot of work to get Hiawatha going.  R.T. put a significant
amount of money into studying the Midtown Greenway streetcar.  I'm
not sure I could name one as more "transit friendly" than the other.

DFLers that _are_ making a huge impact at the state level include Scott
Dibble, Sharon Marko and Frank Hornstein among others.  Republicans like
Ron Erhardt and the other Republicans who voted with him for a
forward-looking transportation bill are to be particularly commended.
They paid for their votes.

Transportation is wider than Minneapolis.  We must think regionally
if we want to make any significant progress.  It all starts with
a stable, dedicated budget for public transport.

David Greene
The Wedge