{"id":150585008,"date":"2009-10-09T21:10:08","date_gmt":"2009-10-09T21:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=150585008"},"modified":"2009-10-09T21:10:08","modified_gmt":"2009-10-09T21:10:08","slug":"metro-needs-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=150585008","title":{"rendered":"Metro Needs You!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Coalition<\/a>
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We Need Metro More Than
\nEver<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear smart growth supporters,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Please sign our
\npetition calling on our region’s elected officials to commit to
\nfully funding our Metro System<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Last year, transit ridership
\nin the Washington region surged. Metro had a record-breaking
\nyear with thousands of new riders, saving 255 million gallons of
\ngasoline and cutting our region’s carbon emissions by 2 million
\ntons, according to a report released by Environment America. As
\nour region grows, Metro will continue to be one of the most
\nimportant solutions for reducing our carbon footprint. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Metro system is also the
\nlifeblood of our economy. Yet, Metro hasn\u2019t received the
\noperating and maintenance funds it critically needs or the
\nresources to add enough new rail cars and buses to keep up with
\ngrowing ridership.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"photo\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Metro is convenient, offering a way to avoid
\nfrustrating and often unpredictable traffic, and saving us time
\nand money compared to the increasing cost of owning,
\nmaintaining, and fueling our cars. Our roads couldn\u2019t
\nfunction without Metro\u2019s help. Metro has sparked billions
\nof dollars in transit-oriented development and helped revitalize
\nDC, Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda and Silver Spring. <\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

Metro Needs Sustained
\nInvestment<\/h3>\n

Join the Coalition for
\nSmarter Growth and the Transit First coalition in a campaign to
\nensure Metro has the investment it needs in three key areas:<\/p>\n

1) Funding for annual operating and maintenance expenses
\n($160 million shortfall next year);
2) Funding for
\nreplacement of track, switches, electrical power systems, and
\nstation platforms;
3) Funding for new buses and rail cars to
\nkeep up with growing transit ridership. <\/p>\n

Total replacement (2) and capacity needs (3) between 2011 and
\n2020 is $11.4 billion. A bill currently in Congress would
\naddress some of this need. Part of a 10-year proposal to match
\n$1.5 billion in federal funds to $1.5 billion in state and local
\nfunds, this year\u2019s bill would allocate $150 million in
\n2010. But we will need additional commitments each year from
\nlocal, state, and federal governments for not just the $3
\nbillion, but the full $11.4 billion in needs.<\/p>\n

For comparison, the region has spent about $4.6 billion on
\nthe Beltway (Wilson Bridge, Springfield Interchange and HOT
\nLanes) and $3 billion on the Intercounty Connector in recent
\nyears, and Maryland DOT is now proposing $4 billion to widen
\nI-270 to Frederick. Clearly, we have to make choices — we
\nbelieve that investing in Metro should be a top priority,
\nbecause of the many benefits it offers.<\/p>\n

Please sign the
\npetition<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transit Ridership
\nSurges & Offers Range of Benefits, New Report Shows<\/h3>\n

We co-released a report with
\nEnvironment America about the increase in transit ridership
\nacross the country in 2008. This comprehensive
\nreport<\/a> (pdf) is the first to quantify the increase in
\ntransit ridership and decrease in vehicle miles traveled as
\npeople shifted to transit to escape high gas prices. Read our press
\nrelease<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The report also quantifies
\nthe savings in oil consumed and reduction in greenhouse gas
\nemissions. Our dependency on imported oil and driving impacts
\nboth our wallets and our national security. Transit increases
\nour energy independence and will ensure we have travel options
\nas gas prices remain high over the coming years and decades. The
\nDC region should be a national and world leader in sustainable
\ntransportation and land use, and should make funding our transit
\nsystems our top priority.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rebecca Perring
Coalition For Smarter
\nGrowth
action@smartergrowth.net<\/a><\/p>\n


\nhttps:\/\/citizen-networks.org\/csg\/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=27978406<\/a>oldId.20091009211008307<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We Need Metro More Than Ever   Dear smart growth supporters,   Please sign our petition calling on our region’s elected officials to commit to fully funding our Metro System.   Last year, transit ridership in the Washington region surged. Metro had a record-breaking year with thousands of new riders, saving 255 million gallons of … <\/p>\n

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