Good news for a change
Oct. 8th, 2004 07:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
windelinaReceived today from one of my mailing lists:
In the past week, TLC received some great news about public support for transit. According to a new statewide poll conducted by the Itasca Project business group, more than three quarters of Minnesota voters are willing to pay higher taxes and/or user fees to fund transportation investments. Even more significantly, Minnesotans prefer a transit solution far more than highway expansion or even a combined approach.
When asked about short-term solutions in the next five years, 66% of respondents chose transit as the preferred solution, 13% chose highway expansion, and 19% chose a combination of transit and highways. Surprisingly, preference for a transit solution was higher in greater Minnesota, with 69% of respondents favoring transit, than the Metro, where 63% favored transit.
Focus groups conducted in conjunction with the polling suggested that there has been a large positive shift in the general public's perception of transit mainly due to the success of the Hiawatha light rail line. This shift is so important when arguing for a balanced and inclusive transportation system.
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Needless to say, I'm a huge supporter of public transit. Mostly because I go to cities that have it and they are inherently cooler!
Think about it:
New York City has the Subway
Chicago has the El
London has the Tube
Paris has the Metro
Besides that, as someone who grew up poor, I can tell you how much a good bus sytem is key to survival.
In the past week, TLC received some great news about public support for transit. According to a new statewide poll conducted by the Itasca Project business group, more than three quarters of Minnesota voters are willing to pay higher taxes and/or user fees to fund transportation investments. Even more significantly, Minnesotans prefer a transit solution far more than highway expansion or even a combined approach.
When asked about short-term solutions in the next five years, 66% of respondents chose transit as the preferred solution, 13% chose highway expansion, and 19% chose a combination of transit and highways. Surprisingly, preference for a transit solution was higher in greater Minnesota, with 69% of respondents favoring transit, than the Metro, where 63% favored transit.
Focus groups conducted in conjunction with the polling suggested that there has been a large positive shift in the general public's perception of transit mainly due to the success of the Hiawatha light rail line. This shift is so important when arguing for a balanced and inclusive transportation system.
****
Needless to say, I'm a huge supporter of public transit. Mostly because I go to cities that have it and they are inherently cooler!
Think about it:
New York City has the Subway
Chicago has the El
London has the Tube
Paris has the Metro
Besides that, as someone who grew up poor, I can tell you how much a good bus sytem is key to survival.
