Folks,
The Bake Sale effort was a roaring succes. Sales were held in Detroit, Lansing, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. We got media coverage in all the major markets and we raised over $150. At that rate, it will take slightly more than 82,000 bake sales to make up the cuts proposed by the Senate.There aren't enough cupcakes in Michigan to make that happen. Here in Grand Rapids, things went well between showers. TV-8 showed up and did an interview with Casey, one of our County Commissioners spent the hour with us and we passed out some information (below). Oh, and we raised $25.75. We're still trying to figure out what do do with the proceeds.
Transportation Asks & Talking Points- Restore Local Bus Operating Funding.
The Michigan Senate on 6/11/2009 slashed Fiscal Year 2010 Local Bus Operating funds from the Governor's recommended $166,624,000 to $162,340,600 - a $4.28 million cut. What this means in real life (for example): a 10% decrease in operating revenue for DDOT resulting in route cuts. Focus on House and Senate conference committee. "Please restore Local Bus Operating funding to 2009 levels in this year's transportation budget."
The Michigan Senate on 6/11/2009 dramatically slashed Fiscal Year 2010 AMTRAK funds to the extent that two of the state's three train routes will cease to operate before this time next year. Focus on House and Senate conference committee. "Please restore AMTRAK funding to 2009 ($7.1 million) levels in this year's transportation budget."
Total Public Transportation shortfall for 2009-2010 fiscal year will be about $45 million by conservative estimates. (The American Society of Civil Engineers has estimated a bigger shortfall.)
- Support HB 4965 - the Transit Regionalization Grant Program bill.
This bill would amend PA 51 to establish a Transit Regionalization Grant Program. This program would require MDOT to fund and oversee an employee who would work with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to develop a "Transit Regionalization Work Program." The "Transit Regionalization Work Program" would essentially encourage transit authorities to collaborate in the planning and delivery of transit service within an MPO region. This is part of the TF2 bill package (Transportation Funding Task Force). "Please vote in support of HB 4965 when it comes up for a vote."
- Support HB 4967 - Transit Investment Zones.
This bill would create a new Tax Increment Financing Authority (TIFA) statute that is specific to transit investments. Generally, TIFAs are zones created by a local entity (municipality) in which the property tax increase that occurs from a defined point in time is prospectively "captured." The "captured" revenue is then used for a specific purpose. This bill anticipates that Transit Oriented Development (TOD) will occur near transit locations, thus increasing property values. The "captured" money would be used for public facility upgrades which would encourage public transit in this instance - but not for transit operating expenses. This is part of the TF2 bill package. "Please vote in support of HB 4967 when it comes up for a vote."
- Support HBs 4958 and 4959 - Penalties for Injuring Vulnerable Road Users (Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Inline Skaters, Etc.).
These bills would impose criminal penalties on those who commit a moving violation while operating a motor vehicle and as a result cause injury or death to a "vulnerable roadway user" on a road. These bills help recognize that pedestrians and bicyclists use our transportation system, too - not just passenger vehicles. "Please vote in support of HBs 4958 and 4959 when they come up for a vote."
- TF2 Funding Bills and Transportation Funding Generally.
Our transportation system is currently under-funded. The TF2 funding bills are a good start in addressing how Michigan funds its transportation system. But, MDOT should not build or expand new roads; it should use its money to fix the roads that we have that are in a state of disrepair. "Please support a Fix-It-First policy that would direct MDOT to use its funds to repair Michigan's roads and bridges, and not on road expansions."
More Important but boring transit stuff :Even under the Governor's recommendation, public transit agencies in both urban and rural communities will see their percentage of state support drop. This continues a steady trend of decreasing state support for transit that began in 1999.
Under state law, urban transit agencies are eligible for up to 50% of their operating costs to be borne by the state, while rural agencies may be reimbursed for up to 60% of their operations by the state. For 2010 the Governor's recommended funding levels would be roughly 29% urban and 35% rural. The Senate recommendation would reduce those levels of state support by approximately another one percent.
Dave will be back with a more concise message next week but that gives you an idea of where we are going on a state level.
Frank the Ghost writer for Dave
David Bulkowski, J.D.
Executive Director
Disability Advocates of Kent County
Empowering Independence
3600 Camelot SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 949-1100, ext. 228; dave.b@dakc.us
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