Nashville: Transit means business

Stephanie Coleman's Nashville Chamber Blog > 'Transit Means Business' Event Highlights East-West Connector: "On April 18, more than 100 people gathered at AT&T to learn more about Nashville’s plans to increase access to mass transit. The program, “Transit Means Business,” was one of a series of events taking place during Transit Week. The event was co-hosted by the Chamber, Transit Now Nashville, the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, the Nashville Civic Design Center and Mayor Karl Dean's office."

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Rice’s 31st Kinder Houston Area Survey reveals more Houstonians support mass transit

Rice’s 31st Kinder Houston Area Survey reveals more Houstonians support mass transit: "A large and growing proportion of Harris County residents emphatically support improvements in mass transit, and majorities are now calling for more opportunities to live within walking distance of shops and workplaces. Fifty-six percent of the respondents in Harris County and 61 percent in surrounding counties said that the development of a much-improved mass transit system is “very important” for the future success of the Houston area. A majority (51 percent) of Harris County residents want more taxpayer money to be spent on improving rail and buses rather than on expanding existing highways."

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Public is angry about foot-dragging on #publictransit investment

Chapel Hill Residents Voice Support For Orange County Transit Plan - Chapelboro.com: "“You shouldn’t have to have your arms twisted into supporting a no-brainer like this transit tax,” said Sinreich. “Everyday that you’re not working to implement and support a local and regional transit plan, you’re dragging Orange County backward. Please lead us toward a sustainable future or get out of the way.”"

Read the whole quote:
http://orangepolitics.org/2012/04/our-turn-transit#comment-137954

People are forced to use cars, because there are so few alternatives

“It’s so clear that we just don’t see eye to eye” « Beyond the Cul de Sac: "The implication is that there is not enough demand for transit services to justify spending any real money on improving or expanding them … but there’s no exploration of why that might be. Could it be that transit doesn’t serve most people’s neighborhoods, or at least not well enough to justify relying on it as one’s primary mode of transportation? Could that be because the densities in America’s sprawling suburbs are often too low to justify regular transit service? Could it also be because of a historical conservative opposition to transit in general, which has made it incredibly hard to actually allocate funds to develop and expand transit to the point where it might actually be a workable alternative for people who don’t want to (or can’t) drive?

Transit use is low because, since the end of World War II, we have built our country in such a way that has made transit very difficult for the vast majority of people to use regularly. It’s that simple."

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Nashville must rethink its public transportation system | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

Nashville must rethink its public transportation system | The Tennessean | tennessean.com: "Nashville’s average household transportation spending is $4,696 higher than New York City’s (Tennessean, March 18).

Public transportation hasn’t kept up with growth. Parking is a hassle, and gas prices are soaring. Buses are slow and make frequent stops, sometimes obstructing traffic."

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Benefits of Public Transit - Advocates for Public Transit

Benefits of Public Transit - Advocates for Public Transit:

• Transportation to Work
• Economic competitiveness with other communities that have transit systems for businesses looking to relocate or expand
• Economic multiplier: Every $1 returns $4 to the local economy
• Provides jobs
• Transportation for seniors, persons with disabilities
• Access to medical, shopping, employment opportunities
• Access to educational opportunities, resulting in better educated workforce
• Affordable and necessary alternative to personal transportation
• Improves the community's quality of life
• Transportation for youth to after school activities
• Relieves congestion
• Good for the environment, improves air quality, is sustainable
• Improves local planning and reduces sprawl
• Reduces need for expensive infrastructure, parking and roads
• Affordable housing by reducing the need to have a two-car family
• A critical first step towards light rail

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The Daily Tar Heel :: Town Talk : Orange County Commissioners have big plans for transit

The Daily Tar Heel :: Town Talk : Orange County Commissioners have big plans for transit: "Triangle Transit Authority presented an expanded transportation plan that provides options for commuters in Orange County and could impact UNC students, with the construction of a light rail connecting UNC Hospitals and Duke."

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The tyranny of the private auto has gone far enough

It is quite something to see well-off professionals in Brickell treated with such indignity simply trying to cross a street. For a successful urban environment, walking needs to be the most attractive option – not the least. See more at TransitMiami

Farmers markets sprouting at 4 transit stops in St. Louis area

Renee Flanders of St. Louis stops by the mobile farmers' market at the Delmar Loop MetroLink station on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Photo by Ken Leiser, kleiser@post-dispatch.com

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/farmers-markets-sprouting-at-transit-stops-in-st-louis-area/article_ee093246-71fe-11e1-b7b4-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1r3HrK9vF

Farmers markets sprouting at 4 transit stops in St. Louis area: "Under a new deal between Metro transit and a mobile farmers market, riders can now shop for locally grown fruit, veggies, eggs and cheese at bus and train stops."

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