Do your part: save the stim!

February 6, 5:34 PMDC Transportation ExaminerKatherine M. Hill

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Streetsblog asked this afternoon for its readers to make an urgent plea with their senators to prevent a massive cut in transit funding, at the hands of Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Nelson (D-NE), two names that are likely on riders' you-know-what list. I tweeted the post; one of my friends called Maryland senators Ben Cardin (she left a message) and Barbara Mikulski (unable to reach Mikulski, she left a message). My friend wrote:

I am very concerned with the amendments being made to the stimulus bill. I feel they are negatively impacting mass transit in favor of highway development. While I certainly agree that repairing our existing highways is important, I believe that mass transit is an important part of our infrastructure and economy and should not be ignored in favor of building new highways. I feel it is in our better interest as a nation to develop our mass transit systems and give them as much if not more attention than what's currently given to the highway system.

Thank you for your time and service,
Laura Barr

Greater Greater Washington followed, asking suspiciously why Collins and Nelson, the Bonnie and Clyde of public transit want cuts to save money yet want to add their own provision. From today's post:

According to the memo, they hope to cut $3.4 billion from public transit, but at the same time, are adding in more money for "additional transportation funding." Presumably, if they're cutting transit, that additional funding would go to roads. (It might be airports, I suppose, but I doubt it.)

They're also cutting such items as Head Start, food stamps, child nutrition, firefighters, COPS hiring, NASA, and the CDC, while adding funding for defense operations and procurement.

Wow, that's fabulous. Say, Eugene, isn't that your bus stop, rail car, job with the transit authority, and already too expensive farecard?

Maybe Collins and Nelson just want all of us to carpool. Good thing I own a four-door. Poor Eugene.


Update: Streetsblog writes that Jim DeMint (R-SC), wants to cut bike funding as well. See the link for information re: uprising. I mean, "getting involved."