Beer Company free #transit - If it's good for holidays and football games - imagine the lives saved if free all the time

MillerCoors Activates Designated Driver Programs This Holiday Season - PR Newswire - sacbee.com: "Miller Lite Free Rides, which offers free public transportation during key holidays, will be offered on New Year's Eve in Chicago, Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Madison, Wisconsin, and the Twin Cities. Within its 24-year history, more than 2.75 million people have participated in the program. In 2011 136,670 people rode Miller Lite Free Rides during St. Patrick's Day festivities, the Kentucky Derby and all Green Bay Packer home football games."

'via Blog this'

#occupy has shaken loose more #transit funding

Mass transit plan for Indy metro area gets a fresh push | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com: "Business leaders today will unveil an updated 10-year, $1.3 billion transit overhaul that would double IndyGo and add train service from Noblesville to Downtown Indianapolis."

'via Blog this'

Walkability in the western suburbs | Grid Chicago

Walkability in the western suburbs | Grid Chicago: "On October 17, a 30-year old man was struck and killed by a driver traveling southbound on Roselle Road, near Kingsport Drive, in Schaumburg (Daily Herald, Chicago Tribune). The nearest signalized crossings for pedestrians are 1/4 mile to the north, and 1/4 to the south, of this location.

Two weeks later, a 69-year old man was struck and killed by a driver traveling southbound on Glen Ellyn Road, near Winthrop Road, in Carol Stream (Daily Herald, Carol Stream Press).

Both accidents took place after sunset, during the evening. No citations were issued to the drivers in either incident. The similarities in both incidents reflect how the built environment of the suburbs leads to dangerous conditions for pedestrians."

'via Blog this'

Santa loves public #transit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctaweb/sets/72157628239428097/

Twin Cities Metropass could save $millions for taxpayers

Red-tape warrior Zurn has been contacted by other federal agencies, including the Federal Drug Administration and the FBI, for guidance on how to get official clearance for Metropass.With 23,000 federal employees in the Twin Cities area, the savings for taxpayers could approach $2 million, she said.

read whole article: http://mn2020.org/issues-that-matter/transportation/cutting-red-tape-to-promote-the-transit-advantage

Valpo wins federal money for public transit and car-free living

Valpo plans $32M transit center downtown: "The second and third levels would provide more parking for bicycles and cars and include charging stations for electric cars. It also would be the hub for Car Sharing rentals. The top level would be residential with some units set aside for the elderly or disabled who want to maintain a lifestyle without a car."

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#occupywallstreet is working, shaking loose #transit funds

Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results: "CHICAGO – November 3, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced a $646 million state capital investment grant to repair and rebuild the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line and improve the Purple Line. The Illinois Jobs Now! capital program investment will be combined with other state, local and federal funds for an overall commitment of $1 billion to create more than 2,700 jobs by overhauling a critical piece of the region’s transit system that accounts for nearly 40 percent of ridership on the CTA’s rail network."

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Chicago - People condemn Wall Street Crooks

#occupychicago

Public #transit is a tax cut

The Urbanophile » Blog Archive » The Cost of Congestion, The Value of Transit: "To further show the value of transit to New Yorkers, let’s do a quick back of the envelope type calculation for illustrative purposes. The median household income in metro New York is $61,927. If each home with an auto commuter in it has one and only one commuter who obtains the average benefit, and incomes of auto commuters follow the overall, then this auto benefit is equivalent to 1.66% of income. You can think of it as sort of like a 1.5 percentage point cut in the income tax rate for those households, just based on the value delivered to them."

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Kokomo, Indiana, free trolleys help attract $1.3B in new investment

Kokomo Named Indiana Chamber’s 2011 Community of the Year


...

· Working closely with business leaders to create new and creative economic development programs that have led to new jobs and more than $1.3 billion of new investment in Kokomo.

· An expanding alternative transportation network that now includes free public transportation via City-Line trolleys.

· An improvement in the city's bond rating to a state-best AA+.

All of these initiatives were accomplished without raising taxes or adding fees.

"Kokomo is a resilient and determined community. We all work together to improve our neighborhoods and create an attractive environment for businesses and their employees. Our investments in infrastructure and quality of life amenities across the board have been very successful," said Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight. "The Community of the Year Award validates the hard work of dozens of organizations and hundreds of community advocates. Receiving this distinguished honor sends the message that Kokomo is a progressive city with a pro-business environment that welcomes employers and employees."
...
Read the rest at http://www.kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/kokomo-named-indiana-chamber-s-community-of-the-year/article_676dc174-edcf-11e0-972f-001cc4c03286.html

Public transit advocates protest proposed federal cuts - chicagotribune.com

Public transit advocates protest proposed federal cuts - chicagotribune.com: "More than $17 billion in transportation projects would be jeopardized and 620,000 jobs lost in the U.S. if the funding cuts are implemented in the next multiyear transportation spending legislation, according to an analysis released Tuesday by the American Public Transportation Association, which represents transit agencies."

'via Blog this'

Investors looking for young professionals. Young professionals looking for public transit.

Wanted: mayor who's ready to rise to challenges | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com: "The lack of a viable transit system hampers the city's economic development, depresses its tax base and makes it less attractive to employers and young professionals."

'via Blog this'

Free transit rides help shuttle CPS students back to school | WBEZ

Free transit rides help shuttle CPS students back to school | WBEZ: "Chicago's public school students are getting a free ride on their first day of class.

Thanks to a partnership between the schools, the Chicago Transit Authority and businesses, kids can ride free Tuesday on city buses and trains. Adults with them can ride free, too, between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. that day. Those are the usual hours for reduced-fare rides. Kids with student cards will also be eligible.

Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard says instruction begins on day one and that getting kids there on time can help ensure they're ready to learn."

'via Blog this'

Statement from Rod Blagojevich on the end of Illinois program that provided free rides for seniors | PR NewsChannel

Statement from Rod Blagojevich on the end of Illinois program that provided free rides for seniors | PR NewsChannel: "STATEMENT FROM ROD BLAGOJEVICH:

“I’m really sad to see free public transportation being taking way from our seniors. I ruffled a lot of feathers to make this happen but I know it was the right thing to do. I wish I was in a position to do something about it.”"

Riders for Better Transit | activetrans.org

Riders for Better Transit | activetrans.org: Riders for Better Transit is organizing riders in the Chicago region to fight for better public transportation in our communities. We serve as a voice for riders who want to boost transit funding and encourage transit-related projects that will benefit your community. Join us to show your support!

Transit riders to gain a louder voice in new campaign | Grid Chicago

The Wilson Red Line CTA station was recently voted the worst station “for the third year in a row” by Chicago RedEye readers. Photo by Jeff Zoline.

Transit riders to gain a louder voice in new campaign | Grid Chicago: The first is that we want to give riders a voice. We know that transit providers are struggling to maintain what they have. We know riders have all sorts of improvements that they want to see. Incl. restoring buses they’ve lost, eliminating slow zones, better reverse commutes.

Secondly, we want to increase investment in transit in our region (this includes procuring funding for maintenance).

Lastly, we want to explore projects and initiatives that will improve transit service and experience.

Even toll road operators admit the auto-system does NOT work

Illinois Tollway eyes mass transit options on Addams Tollway, but is that its job? - Chicago Tribune: But as part of its proposed 15-year road construction program, the tollway would spend $240 million to support bus transit and possible future rail service on the Addams/Interstate 90 corridor when the tollway is rebuilt and widened.

Congress infested with oil trolls - transit cuts will be harsh

Here are the Mica-bill cuts.
http://1.usa.gov/ppLz7W

Disability advocate promotes public transit across the state

 (RICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographer)

Disability advocate promotes public transit across the state: "WATERLOO, Iowa --- With a white cane in hand and a guitar slung over his shoulder, Frank Strong Jr. is touring Iowa in support of local bus service.
Strong, who is legally blind, boarded a MET Transit bus in Waterloo on Wednesday as part of his plan to ride all 18 fixed-route public transit systems in the state."

Access to Quality Public Transit Leads to Big Savings

	City	Monthly	Annual
1	New York	$1,218	$14,618
2	Boston	$1,130	$13,559
3	San Francisco	$1,088	$13,060
4	Seattle	$995	$11,936
5	Chicago	$979	$11,744
6	Philadelphia	$976	$11,717
7	Honolulu	$939	$11,268
8	Los Angeles	$893	$ 10,712
9	Minneapolis	$890	$10,678
10	San Diego	$864	$10,369
11	Portland	$859	$10,312
12	Washington, D.C.	$861	$10,333
13	Denver	$857	$10,287
14	Baltimore	$843	$ 10,113
15	Cleveland	$828	$9,936
16	Miami	$802	$9,629
17	Dallas	$789	$9,472
18	Atlanta	$790	$9,480
19	Pittsburgh	$779	$9,347
20	Las Vegas	$763	$9,157

Flooding continues after heavy rains in Dubuque, surrounding areas | TheGazette

Flooding continues after heavy rains in Dubuque, surrounding areas | TheGazette: "UPDATE: Storms dumped more than a foot of rain on parts of the Tri-States, flooding streets, homes and buildings, officials said Thursday."

Bombardier Receives Orders from CTA for 300 Additional Rapid Transit Cars

Rail Network. Rail industry news, events, forum and networking - George's article - Bombardier Receives Orders from Chicago Transit Authority for 300 Additional Rapid Transit Cars: "These next-generation rapid transit cars (known as the 5000-Series) will be the first in CTA’s fleet to utilize alternating current (AC) propulsion, a technology that permits dynamic braking regeneration, lower energy and maintenance costs, and improved reliability. The new fleet of cars also will be equipped with an active suspension system to ensure that the car floor is level with the station platform during boarding, allowing passengers to board the train more easily. Other features of the new cars include greater capacity, better communications systems, increased security and real-time diagnostics to improve reliability. The 5000-Series cars are being built at Bombardier’s manufacturing plant in Plattsburgh, New York."

Climate Justice Now

Chicago Public Transit: "Public transit is a solution for climate justice – meaning it advances a stable climate for all, especially those who are the least responsible and most affected by climate change.
We reject false solutions such as electric cars, which are likely to increase global emissions and dependence on toxic coal and will do nothing to reduce traffic or accidents."

The Financial Benefits of Living in Transit-Friendly, Walkable Areas - Richard Florida - Business - The Atlantic

The Financial Benefits of Living in Transit-Friendly, Walkable Areas - Richard Florida - Business - The Atlantic: "The neighborhood you live in can have a huge effect on your ability to spend or save, do the kind of things you really want to, and navigate the ongoing economic crisis. The chart below, from a new report by The House Democratic Livable Communities Task Force (via Grist) shows the real financial consequences for American families that stem from living in three different kinds of neighborhoods."

Kansas City, Missouri, economy hamstrung by sprawl

Tough to move forward with backward-thinking leaders - KansasCity.com: "According to Brookings, a Washington, D.C., think tank, only 18 percent of area jobs are within a 90-minute bus ride, compared to the national average of 30 percent. Only half of local residents are within three-fourths of a mile of a bus stop; nationally it’s 69 percent."

Chicago Public Transit

Chicago Public Transit: "Public transit is a solution for climate justice – meaning it advances a stable climate for all, especially those who are the least responsible and most affected by climate change.
We reject false solutions such as electric cars, which are likely to increase global emissions and dependence on toxic coal and will do nothing to reduce traffic or accidents."

Go Green | MTD

Go Green | MTD: "Got 20 seconds? Look at the cars driving by you and count the number of passengers in each one. How many of these cars held just the driver? When people use public transportation, instead of a single-occupancy vehicle, it can become one of the largest positive contributions they make towards reducing their carbon footprint.
At MTD, every day is Earth Day. From our vehicles, to our maintenance garage, to Illinois Terminal, to our administrative offices, MTD is driven by going green. Our passion for sustainability is contagious…in a good way! MTD supports the use of alternative transportation modes by providing bike racks on each vehicle and bike lockers at Illinois Terminal. We’ve been leading a quiet revolution in the community with recycling programs, sustainability partnerships, hybrid buses, and more."

Floods threaten Nebraska nuclear plants - Washington Times

Floods threaten Nebraska nuclear plants - Washington Times: "Two nuclear-power plants in Nebraska remain threatened by Missouri River flooding, including one plant where a fire briefly shut down a cooling system for spent fuel rods earlier this month."

Mass transit's time may have finally come | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

Mass transit's time may have finally come | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com: "'The last thing this city or state needs is another parking garage,' one reader wrote on IndyStar.com. 'How about some bike lanes, adequate sidewalks, and dependable and late-night bus service to the area from other parts of the city where there is plenty of parking.'

Yes, times and, more important, car-centric minds are changing in Indianapolis.

And starting today, the backers of a $2.4 billion transit plan will make an effort to capitalize on that shift."

Sprawl collapse continues...

Real Estate Journal Online » Blog Archive » Gas Prices, Commute Times Top the List of Considerations for Home Buyers: "According to a Coldwell Banker survey, more homebuyers than ever are hoping to avoid road rage – and, more importantly, pain at the pump – by buying houses that are close to where they work or investing in a property with enough room for a home office to eliminate the commute all together[1]. Not only are gas prices, which recently hit $4.00 or more a gallon across the country, a huge concern for people buying homes, but they are also making current homeowners look twice at their current living situation. 93 percent of the people surveyed said that they would choose to live somewhere that allows for a closer commute to work if gas prices continue to rise, while 75 percent of real estate professionals reported that the recent spike in gas prices is already influencing where people choose to live."

Hultgren voted TWICE for oil subsidies and pretends not to know anything

Read more at ThinkProgress

Free car with house purchase... the absurdity of sprawl just grows

by Sarah Goodyear  26 Apr 2011 10:12 AM on GRIST

Desperate measures.My head nearly exploded at the breakfast table on Saturday morning.

I was reading a piece in The New York Times about an Illinois developer who has finally found a way to unload the new houses he has built some 50 miles from downtown Chicago, in a place he has seen fit to dub a "Village of Yesteryear."

When drastic price cuts weren't enough to entice buyers, he decided to throw in $17,000 cash toward the purchase of a car with every house.

Public Transit -- Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Public Transit -- Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning: "Our region relies on its transit system, which benefits us all — not just the 2 million riders who commute each day by train or bus.
Public transportation keeps cars off the roads, reduces congestion for everyone who drives, and improves air quality for all. And the mobility enabled by transit helps our economy and quality of life, giving people more choices for getting around."

Time to fight back against KochBros

[MN] Senate approves transit cuts | StarTribune.com

In the face of world oil wars and climate change, the GOP, high on Koch, continues its attack on public transit.

Senate approves transit cuts | StarTribune.com: "The measure, approved 38-25, reduces spending on Twin Cities bus and rail operations by $32 million over two years.

The reduction by the GOP-led Senate is less severe than cuts favored by Republicans in a bill that passed the Minnesota House. The two bills will be reconciled in conference committees."

Chicago Public Transit

Chicago Public Transit: "In Unity we have the strength to forge economic, environmental and social justice to overcome the barriers of poverty that surround us and build self-determination.
We work for justice at home and abroad, connecting our local struggle for democracy with the global one and live by the principle that, as working and poor people of color, we have the right to control our lives and resources."

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round… | Brian's Blog

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round… | Brian's Blog: "It’s really convenient for me. Perhaps it’s not exactly that easy for others but again, check the route map and you’ll see that CityLink travels throughout Peoria and the surrounding areas. The frequency of the buses is pretty impressive too."

Free Bus Ride For UNO Students

Free Bus Ride For UNO Students: "University of Nebraska at Omaha students will be offered a free bus ride. the idea is to help fight overcrowding in the schools' parking lots."

Egypt: 30 years of brutality to insure cheap oil to be wasted in traffic jams

As many as 2,000 in Chicago protest for democracy in Egypt - Chicago Sun-Times
As many as 2,000 in Chicago protest for democracy in Egypt - Chicago Sun-Times: "They came from as far as Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin — as well as from all over the Chicago area — to call for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down after 30 years in power and to open his country to Democratic reforms including free elections and a new Constitution."

Politicians obey oil-industry gag order on #transit advocacy

As this article in the Tribune shows, since the hysterical political attack on Blagojevich by the oil and sprawl industry, and the advent of raging oil-tea-party loonies, a gag-order is in place against transit advocacy by high-profile personalities.

Transit is a sleeper issue in race for Chicago mayor - chicagotribune.com: "The candidates in the Chicago mayoral race talk a lot about jobs, crime, education and city finances, sometimes doing so while shaking hands with potential voters at CTA rail stations.

Yet with the Feb. 22 election coming up, none of the candidates has had much to say about transportation,"

RTA Spends $200,000 on Study to Find Out If Seniors Use Public Transit

Citizens Taking Action: "'Cost of Free Senior Fare' per the RTA
Remember, no new drivers or vehicles are added."

The RTA revealed on Monday, at a meeting of Citizens Taking Action, an organization comprised of transit dependent riders, that it had hired the University of Illinois to conduct a $200,000 study to learn if senior citizens use public transit. The results indicated that only about 5 out of every 100 riders is a senior, and that 75% of seniors use public transit during the off-peak or mid-day period of operations.
Charles Paidock, Secretary of the group, said that: “We had voiced concerns before with the RTA Chief regarding the seemingly countless number of studies, but this is by far the silliest. I said we need buses and trains, not more studies. Now we know that little old ladies go out on occasion to buy a quart of milk. We could have told them that for free. They’re just digging for reasons to eliminate the free senior fare provision, using money which would be better spent elsewhere.”