In order to successfully respond to critics of public
transit, the Center for Transportation Excellence has developed
a package of materials designed to refute the critics and bolster
the work of transit advocates. We hope you find these tips, tools
and resources helpful.
Evaluating
Rail Transit Criticism
This report evaluates criticism of rail transit. It examines claims
that rail transit is ineffective at improving transportation system
performance, that rail transit investments are not cost effective,
and that transit is an outdated form of transportation. It finds
that critics often misrepresent issues and use biased and inaccurate
analysis. This is a companion to the report "Rail Transit in America: A Comprehensive
Evaluation of Benefits." (PDF)
Rail
Transit in America: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Benefits
This report evaluates the benefits of rail transit based
on a comprehensive analysis of transportation system performance
in major U.S. cities. It finds that cities with larger, well-established
rail systems have significantly higher per capita transit ridership,
lower average per capita vehicle ownership and mileage, less traffic
congestion, lower traffic death rates and lower consumer transportation
expenditures than otherwise comparable cities. (PDF)
How
Transit Benefits People Who Do Not Ride It: A Conservative Inquiry
Transit
Means Business: Ten Reasons Why Conservatives Should Supprt New
TEA Legislation
Twelve Anti-Transit Myths: Some Conservative Advice
Winning Transit Referenda: Some Conservative Advice
All four of the above reports are by Paul M. Weyrich and William
S. Lind of the Free Congress Foundation. They offer four useful
perspectives from those on the right side of the spectrum.
Wendell
Cox & His Techniques
Written by Leroy Demery, this paper takes a brief look
at some of the tactics used by pro-road, pro-auto, and pro-sprawl
advocate, Wendell Cox.
Smart
Growth America Critics Toolkit
SGA has prepared materials to "Manage the Opposition",
including information on the familiar players, like Wendell Cox,
a dossier, and information on how to discredit the critic and
his/her arguments.
Think
Tanks' "Research" Comes Pre-digested
An article from Fair and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), a national
media watch group, that highlights how conservative think tanks
recycle and re-use the same arguments under the auspices of originality.
How
To Respond To Wendell Cox: A Report By G.B. Arrington
Point-by-point
refutation of common claims made by the critics
Template Letters to the Editor
to send to your newspaper
Template op-ed columns to include in local community papers (coming
soon)
Letter and Op-ed submission
information for the top 100 newspapers in the U.S.
Template resolution
for local officials and groups to adopt in support of transit
Case studies of what
has worked in other communities
“How-To” manual on holding a pro-transit conference
in your community (coming soon)
