Thursday, December 4, 2008
Developing the Plan
MTA's recent public meetings were geared towards the development of their next Strategic Master Plan. Today they posted on their web site the background information they presented during those meetings. They're still looking for input from you!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Asking For a Little in Return
This op-ed in the New York Times ponders what we should be asking from the Big 3 automakers in return for our billions of taxpayer dollars:
The federal government is giving General Motors, Ford and Chrysler $25 billion in low-interest loans, and the companies are asking for up to $25 billion more. These same companies have spent millions of dollars lobbying against federal fuel-economy standards and are suing to overturn the emissions standards imposed by California and other states. In exchange for the loans, Congress should first insist that the automakers stop fighting these standards. But it should also make sure that better outcomes will result from these billions than just fuel-efficient cars.
The Obama administration should ask the companies, as a condition of financial assistance, to begin shifting from being just automakers to becoming innovative “transportmakers.” As Barack Obama’s new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, recently said: “You don’t ever want a crisis to go to waste. It’s an opportunity to do important things you would otherwise avoid.”
No doubt this is an ugly situation no matter what... but ultimately maybe some good can come of it. Link
Tweet
The NYC MTA has just started posting updates on Twitter. Only problem so far: too many messages!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
That Dedicated Funding Thing
I wasn't able to attend the Music City Central dedication ceremony, but I was able to catch a broadcast of it on the metro government cable channel a few days later. It was encouraging to see so many people get up to the podium and talk about the need for a dedicated funding source for mass transit in our area.
But some are worried that with a Republican state legislature, that such a thing might never happen. (Or, alternatively, if you are Republican, you might be worried that it could happen.)
Martin Kennedy at the Tennessee Transportation Report blog makes the case for the fiscal conservatives.
By the way, check out Transit Now Nashville!
[update]: Oh, I already plugged Transit Now Nashville, didn't I? Hah, can't hurt to do it again!
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