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Issue Archive
CFTE Update
October 30 , 2007 - Vol. 5, No.7
Any comments on the newsletter, our site, or resources you want
to be sure we know about, please e-mail us at info@cfte.org.
In this issue …
- November 2007 Election Preview
- Study Confirms Transit As Vital Tool in Combating Global
Warming
- National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates
Gears Up Services
November 2007 Election Preview
OVER $20 BILLION IN NEW TRANSPORTATION FUNDING ON THE BALLOT
With Elections a little less then 4 weeks away, transit campaigns
are in full swing. CFTE is following the progress of 6 transit
related ballot measures in regions across the country. Below is
a quick preview of what is on the ballot on Nov. 6th.
Davis, Weber & Box Elder Counties,
UT - Support Improved Mobility and Less Congestion
Voters in 3 Northern Utah counties will be asked to approve a sales
tax increase to support the development of transportation infrastructure.
The tax increase, if approved, would raise as much as $12 million
in Davis County during its first year of authorization, $8.7 million
in Weber County, and $800,000 in Box Elder County. The money would
go to a mix of about 35 road and transit projects in Weber and
Davis, and in Box Elder, it would fund expansion of commuter rail.
Campaign Website: http://www.nutahtrans.com/mission.html
Greeley, CO – 2B
YES FOR THE BUS!
Greeley, CO ballot question 2B asks residents to raise the sales
tax by .25 of a percent to pay for improvements to the city's bus
system. Members of the city's transit services asked Greeley City
Council to place the tax proposal on the ballot because city staff
is concerned that Greeley will lose federal funding for bus operating
costs when the U.S. Census compiles the next census in 2010.
Campaign Website: http://www.goride.info/Home_Page.html
King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, WA – Yes on
Roads and Transit
Voters in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties will be asked to
approve Proposition 1, the ballot measure also known as "Roads & Transit," calls
for a boost in sales and car-tab taxes to build 50 miles of new
tracks to Lynnwood, Overlake and Tacoma by 2027, along with 186
miles of road lanes and partial funding for a new Highway 520 floating
bridge.
Campaign Website: http://yesonroadsandtransit.org/
Mecklenburg, NC - VOTE AGAINST THE REPEAL
OF THE TRANSIT TAX and Keep Mecklenburg Moving!
This citizens of Mecklenburg County will be asked to decide if
they want to repeal the a special sales tax that funds mass transit.
This half cent sales tax which generates about $70 million was
first approved 1998 by 58 percent of the Charlotte area voters. However,
there is a growing group of citizen's that are frustrated with
the delays and cost overruns associated with the first phase of
the light rail project. These transit tax opponents have gathered
nearly 49,000 signatures on petitions calling for a referendum
to repeal the tax, which qualifies the measure for the November
ballot.
Campaign Website: http://voteagainstrepeal.com/index.html
San Francisco, CA – Yes
on Prop A
The Board of Supervisors put a measure on the ballot that supporters
say would help fix Muni, the troubled but popular system with almost
700,000 riders a day. A separate measure, which qualified through
the signature-gathering process, would increase the city's parking.
But voters can't have it both ways. Even if both measures receive
a majority of the vote, only one can take effect.
Campaign Website: http://www.fixmuni.com/prop_a.html
Toledo, OH - Vote For Issue
13
The 1.5-mill property tax that TARTA will have on the Election
Day ballot in Toledo, Perrysburg, Rossford, Maumee, Waterville,
Sylvania, Sylvania Township, Spencer Township, and Ottawa Hills
will replace a 10-year levy at the same rate that expires at year's
end.
Campaign Website: http://citizensfortarta.com/
For a complete list of 2007
Transportation Ballot Initiatives
Study Confirms Transit As Vital Tool in Combating Global
Warming
TRANSIT CAN CUT HOUSEHOLD CARBON EMISSIONS BY NEARLY ONE-THIRD
An independent scientific study supported by the American Public
Transportation Association has identified transit use as a major
component of the nation’s climate change strategy. The study,
conducted by SAIC, examined the impact of transit use on carbon
dioxide emissions and global warming. Not only were the impacts
of transit significant, the report’s authors noted that transit
use dwarfed other popular household emission reduction strategies.
The findings were striking:
A commuter switching to existing public transportation can reduce
their CO2 emissions by 20 pounds per day of use or more than 4,800
pounds in a year, an amount equal to ten percent of an average
family’s carbon footprint.
Switching your commute to public transportation reduces a family’s
carbon footprint more than replacing five incandescent bulbs to
lower wattage compact fluorescent lamps (445 pounds of CO2 per
year), weatherizing your home, or replacing an applicances with
energy efficient models.
An average household with two-cars can reduce carbon emissions
by 30% by switching one car’s commute to public transportation
or other modes of travel. A two-car household switching all
travel to transit can reduce their carbon footprint by up to 55%.
Public transportation is already a major net reducer of GHG emissions
saving nearly 7 metric tones per year
Mobile transportation sources represent one-third of total greenhouse
gas emissions in the United States. The study, Public Transportation’s
Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Reduction, makes plain that expanding
transit options in the nation’s communities is a cornerstone
to any effective plan for combating climate change.
“Today’s report underscores the importance of increasing transportation
choice,” said CFTE program director Jason Jordan. “It validates
the support voters from coast-to-coast have shown for ballot measures providing
local funding for public transportation.”
A recent CFTE study found that since 2000 more than 70 percent
of transportation investment ballot measures have been approved
by voters yielding $200+ billion in funding.
The new study should bolster support among those concerned about
the potentially devastating impacts of global warming for increased
transit investment and use. Transit use has been steadily
increasing in recent years with current ridership at its highest
in a generation.
The SAIC report points out the critical role today’s transit
systems play in combating global warming and it is clear from the
data that any real solution to climate change will involve transit. “Encouraging
use and expanding public transportation should be a part of our
national strategy to address global climate change,” said
James L. Oberstar, U.S. Congress (D-MN), chairman, House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee. “The report provides
further evidence that public transportation is one of the most
important tools to minimize carbon output, help the environment
and assist the nation in achieving a sustainable transportation
system.”
To view the full
report
Join the National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates
SIGN UP FOR A FREE MEMBERSHIP & PROVIDE FEEDBACK TODAY
The National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates (NAPTA)
is a national organization representing local transit coalitions
who support increasing federal investment in public transportation.
After some terrific success supporting additional transit funding
in the last Transportation Reauthorization legislation, the NAPTA
has taken a lower profile in recent years – until now!
Earlier this month, NAPTA announced that it will be resuming a
more proactive role in the Public Transportation advocacy arena
starting with several important events at Rail~Volution, 2007,
including a NAPTA luncheon at 12:15pm on Saturday November
3rd and NAPTA activities at the tradeshow reception on Thursday,
November 1st. .
As NAPTA prepares for these events, they are requesting feedback
to ensure that they are providing services that are beneficial
to advocates. Please take a few minutes to respond to the online
survey at: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB226XE48TPUV. If
you want to have a say in how NAPTA tools and strategies are developed,
here’s your chance! This is your opportunity to daydream
about what services would make your life as a transit advocate
easier.
To sign up for a free
membership
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