Responding to Critics Toolkit:
Sample Letters to the Editor
Getting the word out about the benefits and contributions
of public transit is easy with CFTE’s template Letters to
the Editor. Use these brief sample letters to craft your own letter
in response to stories in the paper or events in the community.
Feel free to change the text of these letters to suit the individual
situation and make sure to add a couple local examples. If you need
assistance, please feel free to contact us at: info@cfte.org.
Questions:
What is a Letter to the Editor?
A Letter to the Editor is a short letter written in response to
an event, an article, an editorial or even another Letter to the
Editor. Most newspapers prefer that the letter not exceed 150-300
words, but you should check with the individual paper for their
specific word count limits. If you go over their limit, they will
likely cut material from your submission and you may not like
what they decide to delete.
How do I write an effective Letter to the Editor?
Keep your letter short, clear and on-point. Use local examples
and observations. Avoid lengthy statistics, professional jargon
and name-calling. Additionally, if you are responding to a particular
article or event, submit the letter within a day or two of publication
for the best chances of getting published.
Where should I send my Letter to the Editor?
CFTE has compiled contact information for close to 100 newspapers
in the U.S., including their requirements and preferences for
submitting Letters to the Editor. To view this information, visit
our newspaper contact
information page. You can also check out the newspaper’s
website or call them for information on how to submit a letter.
Most newspapers have an email address or an online form that you
can use to submit a letter. Make sure you include your full name,
address, title and phone number. Whenever possible, avoid submitting
your letter as an email attachment because security filters may
block the delivery of your submission. CFTE’s state-by-state
database has information on the various media outlets in your
state. Or, feel free to contact CFTE at info@cfte.org
for information about stories in your community.
Template Pro-Transit Letters to the Editor:
Promoting a clean environment through public transit:
We frequently read stories about declining air quality,
increasing water pollution and the changing global climate. Rarely,
however, do we realize the positive impact that public transportation
could have in reversing these trends. Even a fairly small increase
in public transit use would generate considerable gains in improving
the environment in congested areas where pollution poses the greatest
risk. Here’s how it works: public transportation promotes
cleaner air by reducing automobile use and either reducing or avoiding
the emission of smog and respiratory disease-causing pollutants.
Increased use of public transportation reduces carbon dioxide emissions
(the greatest contributor to climate change), 20 percent of which
come from personal vehicles. Our automobile oriented transportation
system also has a significant impact on water quality by increasing
the runoff that in turn pollutes drinking water, watersheds, rivers
and streams. We can lead the way in protecting our air, water and
prosperity by investing in and using our public transit system.
Addressing the public health benefits of transit:
Public health debates about rising asthma rates, increasing obesity
and escalating stress share a common denominator—the role
that public transportation can play in reducing their threat. By
reducing polluting emissions, promoting an active lifestyle and
providing a stress-free commute, public transportation deserves
to be discussed as part of the solution to these public health woes.
Childhood asthma rates, for example, have doubled since 1980 and
health officials site air pollution as the primary cause. How can
public transit help relieve this situation? Compared with private
vehicles, public transportation produces, on average per passenger
mile, 95 percent less carbon monoxide, 92 percent fewer volatile
organic compounds, 45 percent less carbon dioxide and 48 percent
less nitrogen oxide. Increased availability and use of public transportation
can dramatically reduce motor vehicle emissions and improve air
quality. Additionally, public transportation encourages people to
get out of their cars and adopt more active lifestyles—a key
element in combating the nation’s soaring obesity rates. An
apple a day and a ride on public transit will help keep the doctor
away.
Asking questions about bus rapid transit:
As the new kid on the transit block, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), offers
a potential transportation alternative, but much is still unknown
about this option. BRT can be built quickly, incrementally and economically,
often for a lower price tag than light rail and other transit options.
At the same time, it is unclear whether BRT offers any long term
benefits in terms of reducing air pollution, traffic congestion
or costs of public transportation sevices. BRT has received notoriety
recently due to a national marketing program designed to support
BRT expansion, but are we sure it’s the right choice for us?
I propose that we ask our transportation leaders and ourselves the
following questions: What would BRT look like in our community?
What makes it the strongest transportation investment choice? How
many other communities have successfully implemented similar BRT
lines and what can we learn from their experiences? Do we plan to
relieve traffic congestion, attract new riders, spur economic development
or improve air quality and how will BRT meet those goals compared
to light rail transit and other alternatives? Asking the right questions
today about BRT standards, performance guidelines and goals will
hopefully keep us on the right track tomorrow.
Traffic congestion and public transit:
After sitting in yet another traffic jam in rush-hour traffic, I
decided to respond to the growing number of stories about traffic
congestion. As increasing numbers of vehicles pack the roads, highways
and freeways, more and more of us are feeling the debilitating effects
of congestion in our area. The most obvious and primary cause of
road congestion appears to be too many personal vehicles on the
roads together with a lack of alternative travel options. The victims
are not just bored drivers behind the wheel, but business, industry,
the economy and the environment. We all pay a higher price for mounting
congestion through delays, lost opportunities, higher costs, increased
accidents, reduced competitiveness, pollution, frustration and much
more. The clear solution lies with public transportation. To ease
congestion, we must dramatically shift our emphasis toward an expansion
of high-capacity public transit systems. It’s time to put
our transit system, not more drivers, behind the wheel.
Promoting light-rail transit:
Light rail transit continues to outshine the competition in the
debate over public transit options. Not only is light rail increasingly
popular among riders and communities in the U.S., but new urban
rail lines help manage problematic traffic congestion. During peak
travel times, Americans waste an average of 62 hours a year in traffic
delays. This congestion costs our nation over $100 billion a year.
Light rail transit can alleviate a number of the negative effects
of congestion and offers urban travelers something they place a
high value on—predictable and regular travel times. Riders
obviously like light rail--between 1992 and 2001 light rail ridership
in the U.S. increased by nearly 100%, from 56.9 million rides to
152.4 million rides. Light rail transit also has several service
and economic development advantages over non-fixed alternatives
and has been built in most cases on time, under budget and with
impressively large numbers of new riders. With a proven track record
and an easy ride, light rail transit works for me and for our community.
Expressing general support for public transit:
In communities throughout the United States, public transportation
is helping achieve national goals in energy conservation, environmental
protection, economic growth, public health and personal safety.
Every day, more than 14 million Americans use sound, dependable
and convenient public transportation. But all Americans –
whether they live in urban, suburban or rural areas – benefit
from public transportation, whether they use it or not. Experts
agree that transit use eases congestion, reduces air pollution,
saves energy, spurs economic development and job creation, increases
business activity and real estate values, and improves quality of
life. Every dollar of public funds invested in transit returns up
to $6 in economic benefits, and every $1 billion in capital expenditures
creates 47,500 new jobs. Americans who use public transportation
in communities with energetic transit systems save $22 billion each
year and a week or more of time commuting. In addition, public transportation
is necessary for maintaining a vibrant business community and a
strong economy. In fact, employers are frequently the compelling
force behind local efforts to increase public transportation investment
and use. Public transportation has the potential to make a real
difference in our quality of life.
Defending public transit against funding cuts:
Recent news of cuts to public transportation programs in this community
should sound alarms with anyone concerned about traffic congestion
and budget priorities. These cuts come at a time when the entire
public transit system needs additional investment to maintain and
improve performance. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation,
in today's dollars, $20.6 billion is needed annually to maintain
and improve performance of the nation's transit systems, while the
American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
has documented investment needs of up to $43.9 billion annually
for public transportation. Moreover, transit use has grown by more
than 21 percent since 1995, and the numbers continue to swell. To
accommodate this growing demand and provide basic upkeep for many
systems already under severe stress, it is imperative that our community
maintains strong funding levels for public transportation. Unfortunately,
we do not face this crisis alone--the majority of cities and states
report dire economic situations and so far this year, a total of
26 states have made cuts to transportation programs. Let’s
end this cycle of funding cuts now by exploring innovative financing,
increasing revenue sources and budgeting responsibly.
Arguing for more transportation choices:
Our love affair with the automobile may be preventing us from appreciating
the full range of transportation choices available in today’s
cities, towns and even rural areas. Building and planning exclusively
for automobile travel leaves us with only one choice for mobility—and
it’s an option that results in burdensome traffic congestion,
harmful air pollution and limited transportation access for many
individuals in our community. For young people, low-income citizens,
our seniors and individuals with disabilities, a driver’s
license or private vehicle may be difficult to acquire, leaving
them without access to essential destinations. By providing more
transportation choices for our community we can make it possible
for everyone to maintain their mobility without an automobile. Additionally,
a strong transportation system that includes public transportation
choices ensures mobility during emergencies, as we learned by watching
New York’s transit system move people safely away from the
World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001. We can and should
choose from an enormous array of transportation options that include
safe walking routes, bike paths, commuter rail, bus service, community
transit for seniors and the disabled, rapid transit such as light
rail or express bus service and carpools or vanpools.
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