--- Begin Message ---
- From: "eegenebradley" <http://profiles.yahoo.com/eegenebradley>
- Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:29:19 -0000
All:
Per Margaret, and given VTA's latest service cuts on January 11, this is clearly something we need to be heard on. Below is a letter I have proposed to send to the MTC Commissioners on Tuesday morning at 7:00am on group letterhead. Please comment before this Tuesday at 7:00am.
Web details on this issue that Margaret referred to are at
http://www.vtaridersunion.org/causes/stimulus2010.html
Information for contacting our representatives on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission are updated as of last week:
http://www.vtaridersunion.org/DIY/index.html#mtc
========== PROPOSED GROUP LETTER TO MTC ==========
MTC Commissioners:
Our group has learned that $70 million in federal stimulus money is at stake at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). This is because the federal government found the MTC failed to comply with Title VI equity analysis on the Oakland Airport Connector project linking Oakland Airport with the Coliseum/Airport BART station. We
understand that MTC is in danger $70 million in federal stimulus money if the money is not spent.
Given the fact that Governor Schwarzenegger again proposes to eliminate public transit operations funding in his State Budget proposal, and given our massive federal deficit, the MTC needs to use the $70 million for public transit operations throughout the Bay Area. We are sure you have read about the series in the where-I-live
Mercury News highlighting how public transit in the Bay Area has faced numerous fare hikes and service cuts due to the recession. Having stable transit service and fares enables alternate access to employment, shopping, health care, education, and recreation than driving solo in gridlock. Calculating figures from the American Public Transportation Association from last October, investing $70 million in transit operations would create 2870 new jobs - nearly 2/3 more jobs than investing the same $70 million in starting construction on the Oakland Airport Connector. Real economic recovery cannot occur when hurdles to that recovery are placed due to lack of public transit operations funding.
As MTC Commissioner on Wednesday, please do what's best for the Bay Area's economic recovery NOW. Give $70 million of our federal stimulus money to all public transit operators in the Bay Area. Please do not throw away the opportunity to provide much-needed funding to transit operations in the Bay Area.
Sincerely
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users
========== END PROPOSED LETTER ==========
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