Seattle Metro Transit Public Hearing

Slow Starvation

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 ~ Once again, Metro Transit has a revenue shortfall.

And once again, the proposed solution is to cut service, and further diminish pubic transit.

It's a vicious circle, or perhaps more accurately, a death spiral. As routes are cut or curtailed, the overall utility of the system suffers as well. As the system becomes less useful and timely, people use it less, and revenues from the fare box decrease.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Conversely, increasing service and making transit more available, more accessible, and especially, more affordable, increases ridership. Public transit use has been increasing locally; we should be building on that, not thwarting it.

Metro Transit needs additional funding. Cost cutting is but a slogan, not a real, considered solution that would make a (positive) difference. Fully funding public transit increases use of the system, promoting urban vitality, reducing congestion and air pollution, and improving our quality of life. In fact, public transit should be free; the costs and benefits are very favorable compared to alternative public expenditures, particularly car infrastructure.

There is a public hearing tomorrow afternoon.

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Cross-posted to Chris B. Leyerle's blog

Story of Tallinn, Estonia #freetransit going viral

Estonia's capital gives residents a free ride - Las Vegas Sun News: "Savisaar has even dubbed the program the "13th monthly salary" since, he claims, families will be able to save a month's salary now that they can get around Tallinn for free."

'via Blog this'

Catmeow Public Transit: Utah Transit overpricing mass transit

Catmeow Public Transit: Ingwell: Overpricing mass transit: "Utah Transit Authority Spend a Average of $260,000 a Year on Lobbyists.

Utah Transit Authority Pay $610,000 have UTA Board of Trustees too Travel the World and for Elected Officials too Travel the United States.

John Inglish Severance Package Total $364,406, John Inglish will receive a Lifetime $200,000 Pension.

Taxpayers having too Pay 75% of Fares for Paratransit for the Disabled and the Elderly.

The Mobility Center does Evaluations of the Disabled and the Elderly to see if they Quality for Paratransit Taxpayers $$DOLLARS$$ would be better Spend on a Good Bus System to Help Reduce the need for Paratransit and also Service more People.

Utah Transit Authority has Hurt Hundreds, Hundreds and Hundreds of People because of the Destruction of the Bus System. People have Lost there Jobs, also there are many Individuals that have Lost there Independence all because of the Destruction of the Bus System. What the Destruction of the Bus System has cause is more need for Food Stamps, Medicaid, People going to the Food Bank and more Homeless. Taking Buses out of Neighborhoods Increases Poverty and Crime.

Utah Transit Authority has a Very Inefficient Bus System 90% of Salt Lake County Residents will not be able to Leave their Vehicles at Home and take Public Transit to get the Airport Trax.
"

'via Blog this'

Dubai property values ride on transport links | GulfNews.com

Dubai property values ride on transport links | GulfNews.com: "Properties located in central locations surrounded by neighbourhood amenities and well-connected with public transport remain most sought after.
The real estate mantra of “location” has never been more important. Traditionally, presence of good schools and neighbourhood amenities were the only crucial factors in selecting property. However, emerging research has indicated that availability of transportation options support sustainability of property values."

'via Blog this'

Seattle #freetransit advocate speaks up

From traffic and taxes to tall trees, you've got the answers | Pacific NW | The Seattle Times: Eric Martenson of Kirkland had a similar idea, but his concept is for a ride-free bus zone that encompasses the entire King/Pierce/Snohomish County region. To finance it, Martenson would pool money private businesses now spend on bus passes with even more corporate, and some public, investment.
He uses the word "investment" seriously: Martenson's notion is that a hip community with free regional transit would be a national magnet for new industries and the best, brightest workers. It also would speed up commerce by unclogging freeways. The local economy would boom. Money saved on expanding road systems could be diverted, as well. And, yes, user fees for those still driving around aimlessly would go up to help fund the service. He would put the entire thing as a package deal to voters.

Student campaign against #fossil-fuel spreads to 256 campuses

The Case for Fossil-Fuel Divestment | Politics News | Rolling Stone: " Three colleges – Unity in Maine, Hampshire in Massachusetts and Sterling College in Vermont – purged their portfolios of fossil fuel stocks. Three days before Christmas, Seattle mayor Mike McGinn announced city funds would no longer be invested in fossil fuel companies, and asked the heads of the city's pension fund to follow his lead. Citing the rising sea levels that threatened city's neighborhoods, he said, "I believe that Seattle ought to discourage these companies from extracting that fossil fuel, and divesting the pension fund from these companies is one way we can do that.""

'via Blog this'

Free transit to clean air? One Utah lawmaker proposes a trial | The Salt Lake Tribune

Free transit to clean air? One Utah lawmaker proposes a trial | The Salt Lake Tribune: "Everyone could ride Utah Transit Authority trains and buses free during January and July under a proposal unveiled Friday — although it is seen as a long-shot on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake City, asked the Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Committee for $9 million to allow the experiment to see how free fares would increase ridership and help clean air pollution in two of the most troublesome months for clean air."

Utah free transit blog: Catmeow Public Transit