Cool idea! I could see it passing if someone proposed it.
~Della
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]; [email protected]
> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:28:36 -0600
> Subject: Re: [Bikies] Fwd: Mayor appealing TPC decision
>
>
> The City and County needs to take up the idea of a commuter parking fee.
> Money collected can be used not only to make sure our bus system (which does
> not serve only Madison) is fully funded, but it can also partially fund rail
> transit and fund all kinds of improvements to bike transit, including bike
> stations and covered, secure parking.
>
> Auto traffic is taking a perpetual toll on the value of our existing bus
> service. As a current example, an 8 minute bus ride from my home to downtown
> is now a 31 minute ride, due to the massive volume of traffic on Campus
> Drive/University Avenue (coupled with a one block lane closure on Johnson due
> to the next phase of perpetual construction in that corridor). Even without
> construction, the absurd levels of traffic slow up bus service on many
> routes, especially when there is the least bit of a recent or ongoing
> snowfall.
>
> $1 per space per week would bring in more than $100,000 per week to be shared
> by a regional transportation authority, so the bus shortfall can be made up
> in 5 weeks with no fare increase. that can help ensure another increase in
> ridership once petroleum prices recover and resume their inevitable rise.
>
> Another nice thing about this is that only people with jobs would pay it,
> rather than the current system of property-taxing the retired, elderly, and
> unemployed for roads and transit.
>
> The legislature and governor can easily allow this occur, and they need to,
> given the unlikelihood that even $1 trillion in federal funds would trickle
> down for such local purposes.
>
>
> Jeff Schimpff
> "Bus, Bike, Carpool to Work for Clean Air for Kids"
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Robbie Webber
> Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 1:01 PM
> To: bikies
> Subject: [Bikies] Fwd: Mayor appealing TPC decision
>
> Bikies -
>
> While I was typing my message, it looks like the original message from the
> Mayor made it to Bikies, so I'll strip that out, and just post my comments.
>
> As a member of the Transit and Parking Commission (TPC), I voted against any
> fare increase, including the $1.75 "compromise." While I felt that I could
> not support any increase, I also understand why Brian Solomon proposed the
> $1.75 fare, and I understand why Carl Dourocher (TPC Chair, and the
> tie-breaking vote) voted the way he did.
> Both felt that if the TPC compromised, and gave a bit, we might avoid an
> appeal to the full Council.
>
> I am very disappointed that the Mayor has brushed off this effort to "be
> reasonable." We could have all put this rancorous issue behind us, and he
> would be seen by most as also being "reasonable." (I realize that there will
> always be differences of opinion about what is the right path, but I'm
> talking about the general public and many environmentalists and
> transportation advocates.)
>
> Unfortunately, my fears are correct. If we had voted down the fare increase
> squarely, it could have been portrayed as "Transit Board Again Takes a Stand
> Against Higher Fares," and the Mayor and Council would be fighting in the
> public realm against a citizen board that had twice made a stand. Now, the
> vote was less decisive, and there can be a message in the press that fare
> hikes are OK. We didn't gain anything, and we lost the moral high ground.
>
> And the Mayor still won't budge.
>
> Too bad.
>
> Robbie
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