"Chicago policymakers should make public transit free"

But instead of listening to this kind of scaremongering about a nonexistent “war on police,” or to those who argue for the sanctity of the illogical idea of “blue life,” however, Chicago policymakers need to listen to residents who are actually impacted by police and gun violence. Chicago policymakers should make public transit free, and they should not flood that transit with heavily armed police, which is an expensive and inefficient attempt to solve the CTA’s problems that also threatens the lives of people of color and the poor. We should not repeat New York’s failed policy.

https://southsideweekly.com/op-ed-towards-free-carbon-free-police-free-cta/ 

Dakota County, MN, #freepublictransit program extended and expanded

Dakota County is extending its free DakotaLink bus service for one year, while also opening it up to all residents.

https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/10/dakota-county-opens-up-free-transit-service-to-the-public-makes-stops-in-hastings-eagan-and-west-st-paul/?

Minnesota candidate calls for #freepublictransit

@OmarFatehMN

The freedom of movement is very important to an open and free society. Personal automobiles will always be less sustainable and accessible than public transit. Therefore, we must expand our system of public transportation statewide and make it free.

https://omarfateh.org/environment.html 

Make #publictransit free for youth - @activetrans

5 steps to building a more fair and just transit system🚍

✅Decriminalize fare evasion
✅Implement fare capping
✅Move forward w/ Metra Electric/Rock island pilot
✅Make transit free for youth
✅Fund a discounted fare for low-income riders#FairFaresChi https://t.co/XXLc5mM064

— Active Trans (@activetrans) November 19, 2019

2010 - Rod Blagojevich railroaded by oil-auto-sprawl interests

Both sides vowed to keep up the court fight after the jury found Blagojevich, 53, guilty on a lesser charge of making false statements to the FBI but could not reach a verdict on the remaining 23 counts including racketeering, bribery, and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
The conviction carries a maximum prison term of five years, though the former governor is likely to serve a few months to a year in prison if nothing changes during the retrial of the case, a legal expert told ABC News.

https://abcnews.go.com/WN/rod-blagojevich-trial-guilty-24-counts-jury-deadlocks/story?id=11411037

In spite of heavy spin by ABC corporate media [above] the fact remains that Blagojevich was cleared of 23 out of 24 counts by the grand jury. At that time the penalty was 5 years. Later, since they couldn't get the courts to jail him, oil-auto-sprawl had the case referred to the assembly where he was quickly given 14 years. All this for winning free public transit for seniors.

"free fares will increase ridership" -- Twin Cities

“Free fares are important for several reasons — climate, equity, safety,” said Amity Foster, of the Twin Cities Transit Riders Union, a local advocacy group. “They’re a way for us to address our climate crisis; moving people out of their cars and onto public transit is essential and free fares will increase ridership.”

http://m.startribune.com/after-kansas-city-made-transit-free-what-about-the-twin-cities/566721742/ 

Candidate for Minnesota House calls for #freepublictransit

@SoniaNeculescu

Twin Cities Transit Riders call for fare-free #publictransit

@TCTRU

Kansas City considering fare-free #publictransit

..., Kansas City Area Transportation Authority buses are seldom packed. Even at rush hour, many are less than full, and some buses run almost completely empty in the middle of the day. But in downtown, thousands of residents and visitors each month gladly hop on and off the Kansas City Streetcar Authority’s Main Street streetcar line. Cost to ride the streetcar: zero. 

Put these facts together and it seems like it might be a good idea if public transit everywhere in Kansas City became free to use.

https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/kansas-city-considers-doing-away-with-transit-fares-citywide 

Kansas City, MO, transit agency wants to end fares

Free public transportation is a bold initiative, and the head of Kansas City's regional transit agency thinks it's viable for Kansas City.

https://www.kcur.org/post/head-kansas-city-s-bus-system-says-public-transportation-should-be-free#stream/0 

Polls consistently show that Americans want more #publictransit and are willing to pay taxes to get it

Almost six in 10 Minnesota voters are willing to pay higher taxes or user fees to support more spending on transit

https://finance-commerce.com/2018/10/minneapolis-chamber-poll-finds-support-for-transit-investment/ 

Indianapolis, better service means more riders

The city of Indianapolis is learning that beefed-up transit service quickly translates to more riders — with local transit agency IndyGo reporting this week that ridership was up 3.4 percent this August compared to the previous year.

streetsblog

Chicago students should have #freetransit

chicagotribune On Sept. 4, about 370,000 Chicago Public Schools students will navigate our city streets, many using public transportation, to the first day of school. For these students, this is the only day of the year that their transportation fees will be free — unlike many students in other schools across the state whose transportation is provided for the entire school year.

Pro-growth argument for more #publictransit

chicagotribune Sadly, Illinois state government has — unlike other states like Indiana or Texas that are investing more — cut mass transit funding by hundreds of millions. Mass transit grows the private-sector economy in studies showing $4 in returns for each public $1 invested. Every workday, one-sixth of Illinois’ population, over 2 million riders, take mass transit to work, school, doctor visits or for leisure.
Nationally in the past two election cycles, nearly 70 percent of all mass transit referendums to expand or improve service passed. Where transit goes, the economy grows.

My BLOCK MY HOOD MY CITY

My BLOCK MY HOOD MY CITY: "MBMHMC provides youth with new experiences, exposing them to possibilities beyond their own communities. Our mission is to help teenagers overcome the poverty and isolation they face, boosting educational attainment and opening them to opportunities that make a difference in their lives.
"

Fare-free CTA would save Chicago $$$billions

Should the CTA be free? Why not? | Transportation | Chicago Reader: "But is it really such a crazy idea from an economic point of view? Transit helps people get to schools, jobs, and preventative health care, and if a higher percentage of current Chicago residents were well educated, employed, and healthy, that could save a lot of money for society. And coaxing more people out of cars and onto buses and el trains would mean less congestion, pollution, and crashes, which would lead to less lost productivity and property damage, lower bills for public health and first responder services, and less wear and tear on roads.

For example, a 2014 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that U.S. traffic crashes cost $871 billion a year in economic and societal costs. Since the city of Chicago represents about 1/120th of the nation’s population, our share of that loss could be roughly $7.3 billion."

Go to jail for bus fare?

How many arrests for jumping turnstiles would the police be able to make if public transportation was free? Seems like an easy way to save the environment and provide a solution to cities like New York and their #NYPD who might still be unsure what to do. https://t.co/C68YQov84U

— CNP Evanston (@CnpProtect318) February 20, 2018

Rahm Emanuel's Commitment to Lowering Emissions Falls Short of Addressing Pollution Hotspots Across the City of Chicago.

LVEJO: "LITTLE VILLAGE, CHICAGO, IL – Mayor Rahm Emanuel along with various municipal leaders from across the Country, Canada and Mexico are gathering to articulate commitments to the Paris Agreement. Although this is a great step in the right direction, environmental justice communities suffer first hand the consequences of climate change therefore should have a say in the direct demands and actions needed to make our communities healthy and safe. The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) along with community members and allies such as Moms Clean Air Force, Blacks in Green, Southeast Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke and others, will come together to give testimony on the hardships and health harms that have affected our communities due to the industrial legacy in our backyards. We hope to shine light and bring policies and regulation that are inclusive of environment and health to our industrial corridors which currently do not protect us."

Nebraska: Tri-City Roadrunner begins fixed route public transportation

starherald.com: "“A lot of them can’t afford a car, or maybe they can’t drive anymore,” he said. “This is going to be a big asset to them.”"

Polar ice melting, action? Reduce #publictransit ridership

Chicago Tribune: "The rule of thumb in the transit industry is that a 10 percent hike can reduce ridership by about 3 percent, said Ian Savage, a Northwestern University economics professor who specializes in transit issues."