Bus Riders' Union started in Memphis

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Transportation-Task-ForceFuerza-Laboral-de-Transportante-Memphis/255335834539788

WMC NEWS: "The Memphis Bus Riders Union held first meeting and public invitation Saturday for what members said is a stand to pressure MATA officials to improve its transit. The meeting was held at the AFSCME Union Hall in downtown Memphis. Members said they are fed up with high fares, overcrowded buses, and a lack of bus service at night in some neighborhoods, among other complaints. "It's an embarrassment to the city of Memphis," said Memphis Bus Riders Union member Lorenzo Irvin. "It's a disgrace." "

https://www.facebook.com/events/381364131878196/

Madison County Transit shows strong ridership gains

A bus driver navigates a Madison County Transit bus  in Edwardsville on Thursday, March 1, 2012.  Photo by Erik M. Lunsford, elunsford@post-dispatch.com

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/madison-county-transit-shows-strong-ridership-gains/article_3c814f4e-9000-56ae-970a-b6e4fa1d90f3.html#ixzz1o9xAbvNM

Madison County Transit shows strong ridership gains: "Metro restored most of its service cuts after St. Louis County voters approved a half-cent transit sales tax in April 2010. MCT boardings began to increase steadily that summer, Morrison said.
...
Metro ridership has also been increasing. The transit agency recorded an 8.1 percent ridership increase for the period from July 1 through Dec. 31 compared to the same months in 2010.
Nationally, public transportation ridership was 2 percent higher during the third quarter of 2011 than in the third quarter of 2010. Those figures are the most recent available."

Even Texas gets it. Get #transit or get left out.

Kyle, San Marcos, Texas State University eye transit district with more bus service: "the Kyle and San Marcos city councils voted last week to work with Texas State University to create an urban transit district with a bus system that could qualify for other state and federal funds.

Though plans to create the district are in the early stages — officials have no cost estimates for a proposed bus service — city officials and growth planners say the district would fill the area's need for expanded mass transit options and could be up and running as early as 2013."

'via Blog this'

Road that killed Raquel Nelson's son keeps on killing

Another Death Crossing Austell Road - Marietta, GA Patch: "It was the third serious car-pedestrian collision and second fatality in two days in the southeastern quarter of Cobb County."

'via Blog this'

The race is on, get #transit or get left out

Light rail plans get rolling - Tampa Bay Times: "The Pinellas bus system, which is experiencing record ridership even with limited routes and declining property tax revenue, would be expanded by 70 percent. A 24-mile light rail system with 16 stations would be built between downtown St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Voters would be asked as early as next year to pay for the transit plan with a 1 cent sales tax, and the existing property tax now dedicated to the bus system would be repealed."

'via Blog this'

Mayor, MTA, Announce Free Bus Rides on March 9th

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mayor Karl Dean and Nashville MTA CEO Paul J. Ballard announced today that the city will offer free bus rides on Friday, March 9 to encourage people who do not ride public transit to try it. The free rides will last all day and are unlimited.

“I am a regular rider and take the bus as often as possible,” Dean said. “I am convinced that if more people tried it, they would appreciate the many benefits and convenience just like I do. By offering a free bus day, I hope to encourage a large number of Nashvillians to leave their cars at home and ride on MTA buses.”

http://www.nashvillemta.org/PDF/120223_press-free-busday.pdf

Voters' commitment to transit pays off | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

Voters' commitment to transit pays off | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper: "It took more than four years, but Mecklenburg County voters were rewarded for their wisdom this week.

A surprisingly large majority of voters - 70 percent - made an unmistakable statement in November 2007 when they rejected an effort to repeal Mecklenburg's half-cent sales tax for transit. With that commitment demonstrated, the nation's top transit official this week announced a federal pledge of $70 million for Charlotte's light-rail extension and a near-promise of $460 million more to come later."

'via Blog this'

UTA nursing student Anthia Meme petitions for Arlington public transportation

Photo: (The Shorthorn: Michael Minasi)

UTA nursing student Anthia Meme petitions for Arlington public transportation: "A UTA student has an online petition for public transportation in Arlington.

Arlington is the largest city in the U.S. without public transportation, according to the American Public Transportation Association. That’s a problem for nursing freshman Anthia Meme, who decided to start the petition in response to the statistics.

Meme said she found out about Arlington’s public transportation situation during class from her political science lecturer Kimberly Harper. Meme recalls her instructor saying a vote for a public bus system had been voted down in the past."

• The average household spends 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 94% of this goes to buying, maintaining, and operating cars, the largest expenditure after housing. 
• Households that are likely to use public transportation save about $10,000 every year. 
• Households near public transit drive an average of 4,400 fewer miles than households with no access to public transit. This equates to an individual household reduction of 223 gallons per year. 
• One person switching to public transit can reduce daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year. (APTA.com)

Link to the Petition

Afraid to take the bus because you might get stuck?

Guaranteed Ride Home | Clean Air Campaign: "Commuters who carpool, vanpool, bike or use transit and are unable to catch their normal ride home due to unexpected events (illness, unscheduled overtime, etc) can receive a free Guaranteed Ride Home from The Clean Air Campaign or RideSmart."

'via Blog this'

Bus ridership in Pinellas County reaches all-time high - Tampa Bay Times

Bus ridership in Pinellas County reaches all-time high - Tampa Bay Times: "Bus ridership in Pinellas County reached an all-time high of 1,097,842 rides in December, a 9 percent increase over December 2010. Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority officials say part of the gain is the popularity of the new Central Avenue Trolley in St. Petersburg and new Jolley Trolley service for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium."

'via Blog this'