People in Utah want more #publictransit to clean up the air

Editor column: Will Utah Legislature heed the public? | The Salt Lake Tribune: "A Salt Lake Tribune poll shows growing concerns over our wintertime inversions and the airborne particulates that threaten our health. Most Utahns want tougher emission standards for industry and say they are willing to drive less, and use more public transportation, to clear the air."

Rally with Transit Riders and Drivers on Wednesday, January 29

Transit Riders Union: "Rally to fund public transit now!  Next Wednesday, Bus Riders and Transit Workers will rally together to stop Metro bus cuts and say no to labor concessions.  We want stable funding for public transit and a fair contract for our hard-working drivers and mechanics."



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Traffic Forecast Follies

Sightline Daily: "As the State Smart Transportation Initiative at the University of Wisconsin points out, the US Department of Transportation has been making the virtually identical vehicle travel forecasts for well over a decade. All of those forecasts project rapid and incessant growth in vehicle travel for as far as the eye can see. Meanwhile, actual traffic volumes have flattened out, and may actually be falling."

#freetransit proposed for poor in Idaho

Idaho State Journal : "    “This was an interesting one brought up in southeastern Idaho, that perhaps one of the reasons that was impacting the (public) transportation system overall is that we’re a very low-wage economy here in Idaho,” Graff said. “And that being the case, it’s hard to get the resources to build (public transit systems).”
    Graff suggested the idea of free public transportation in some cases."



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Will UTA address the needs of bus riders? PR blitz is on.

UTA looking to improve and expand transit service | Deseret News: "SALT LAKE CITY — After a historic period of rail expansion, the state’s largest public transportation agency will begin working on enhancing its customers’ riding experience. The Utah Transit Authority’s top executive said the agency is now targeting ways to make riding trains and buses more accessible to more residents along the Wasatch Front as well as providing a more enjoyable."

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Tars sands equipment represents fragility and high-risk of oil investment

OregonLive.com: "The second of three megaloads in the current series is parked in Pendleton until after Christmas, when it's scheduled to resume its journey to Canada's tar sands. The truck, trailer and cargo are 350 feet long and weigh 804,000 pounds. (Trip Jennings/Portland Rising Tide)"

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Mitigating #autosprawl in Helena, MT

SAVE Transit: "green infrastructure such as bike lanes, street trees, and bioswales and rain gardens to manage runoff. These alternatives have potential to stimulate economic growth(street trees and a more enjoyable pedestrian realm), save money buy utilizing natural systems instead of more expensive grey infrastructure, improve public safety, and protect natural resources."

Letter to Missoulian.com

This year, I have had the honor of serving as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America alleviating poverty in Montana. My position has been with the SAVE Foundation in Helena. I have had the opportunity to build community through partnerships and engagements in public transit and accessible biking and walking. In this role, I experienced how essential these aspects are to everyone’s ability to be part of a healthy community, not just those with the greatest needs who VISTAs serve most.

My experience has revealed how public transportation is essential in empowering our growing senior population to age in place, as they become unable to drive. As Montana continues to grow, transit will be helpful for spending less time in traffic and more in the mountains.

I have seen that bikes are not just for the fearless and the brave cyclists, but also as means of genuine transportation for children to get to school and peoples’ ability to stay fit.

I’d like to thank this community and all the VISTAs serving across the state. I encourage any recent college graduate to spend a year serving America, especially in Montana. Learn about my experience at savemobile.org.

Matthew Cramer,

AmeriCorps VISTA,

multimodal transportation coordinator,

SAVE Foundation,

Helena