Public Transit:

On Track or Derailed?

You Choose!

Come to Your

Regional Transit Action Kickoff!

OR

Western WAYNE - July 7^th, 7pm, Arab Amer. Museum, Dearborn

MACOMB County - July 9^th, 7pm, Roseville Rec Center

Outer Oakland – July 13^th, 7pm, Covert Ctr., Waterford

Join the Fight for Better Transit!

More info and RSVP at www.DetroitTransit.org

Riding a transit bus is 26 times safer than car travel, and transit rail riders are 14 times safer than those traveling by car.

Source: "Injury Facts," National Safety Council, 2005-2006.

These next six weeks are CRUCIAL for Transit. We need YOU to: Talk to Your Representative! Get to your Regional Transit Action Kickoff! Sign Up for the Summer Transit Outreach Team! Click above or on the Get Involved tab to help make Transit a reality!  This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, so come work with us and let's make this happen!

The Southeast Oakland Regional Transit

Action Kickoff is

TOMORROW

NIGHT!!

(Tuesday, June 23rd,

7PM, Ferndale Kulick

Community Center,

1201 Livernois St)

RSVP HERE or Find Your Regional Kickoff!!

According to the Associated Press:

High-speed rail plans in California and the Midwest appear to be front runners in the race for $8 billion in stimulus cash based on federal criteria released Wednesday that favor projects with established revenue sources and multistate cooperation.

California voters last November approved nearly $10 billion in state bonds that could be combined with federal money to build 800 miles of high-speed track. Eight Midwest states have cooperated closely to promote a network, with Chicago as its hub, that would join 12 metropolitan areas within 400 miles.

Karen Rae, deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, stopped short of naming favorites, but she praised Midwestern states for their cooperation and pointed to California's bond issue.

Improvements to tracks and equipment on many existing routes could enable Amtrak trains to reach top speeds of 110 miles per hour.  The Midwest project foresees upgrades of three existing routes: Chicago-St. Louis; Chicago-Madison, Wis., via Milwaukee; and Chicago-Pontiac, Mich., through Detroit.  The governors of the eight Midwest states Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin wrote Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in April appealing for money for the region, one of the hardest hit by the recession.

FIND YOURS NOW:

... then click HERE to sign up!!

SMART may be increasing bus fare and wants to know what you think of it.  Come to SMART hearings tonight, Wednesday night, or later in the month to share your thoughts. 

SMART is seeking public input on a proposed bus fare increase.  Due to an increase in the cost of operations and declining revenue, SMART is considering a 50-cent increase in base fare on most buses, up to $1 increase on ADA Connector service, and a $2 increase in full fare Connector service.  Impacts on other costs, such as other fares, transfers, and regional passes will also be considered. 

Please attend and inform SMART how the fare increase would affect you!  You can also share other thoughts and concerns.  For talking points or more information, contact TRU’s bus project leader Patty Fedewa at 313-590-2493 or p_fedewa@hotmail.com.  

Macomb County

Eastpointe City Hall, City Council Chambers (23200 Gratiot)

• June 8, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Mt. Clemens Library (150 Cass Ave)

• June 25, 2009, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Oakland County

Royal Oak Transit Center (202 Sherman Drive)

• June 4, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• June 30, 2009, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Wayne County

Buhl Building, SEMCOG Board Room, 3^rd Floor (535 Griswold Street, Detroit)

• June 10, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• July 2, 2009, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

For more information, go to www.smartbus.org or call Customer Information at 866-962-5515.  Written comments should be addressed to “Fare Changes”, 535 Griswold Street, Suite 600, Detroit, MI 48226 or emailed to PublicHearing@smartbus.org

According to Model D:
"The Detroit Greenways Coalition has released a nifty map and guide to greenways that exist and are planned in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck. Entitled "Building Pathways that Unite a City," the brochure unfolds to a full-color map that reveals off-road and on-road routes all over town, some denoted as existing, some as planned and a few that are merely conceptual at this time. . . ."

There is new information and images available on the M-1 Rail project - the Woodward light rail line proposed for downtown to New Center and to be paid for largely by private and foundation funds.  Crain's Detroit Business and the Detroit Free Press were among several media that attended a briefing by Matt Cullen and other M-1 Rail leaders on Friday.  Here are a few highlights:

• The goal is to begin construction by the end of the year and have the line running no later than 18 months later. “It’s an aggressive timeline,” Cullen said. Survey crews are already at work.
• Ten individuals, foundations or corporations have donated at least $3 million each, Cullen said.
• The line will be in the second lane from the curb.  The cars, which will be a hybrid between modern street cars and traditional light rail, will typically carry 100-125 people, and more than 200 during major events such as ballgames.

It's Gonna Be Big.

Will YOU Be There for Transit in Your Region?

The latest from our partners at T4America: 

"Today, Sen. John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced legislation that lays out clear objectives for the upcoming national transportation bill, designed to meet the economic, energy, environmental, and social-demographic challenges of the future.

"As Congress prepares to debate a six-year authorization bill — the current one expires Sep. 30 — the Rockefeller-Lautenberg measure highlights a growing consensus among legislators and the public that a continuation of the status quo will not do. The bill articulates a bold new vision for our transportation policy that addresses the 21st century needs of our economy, energy, our climate and our health. In introducing this bill before the debate over allocating transportation funds commences, the senators are acknowledging that Americans want to see a vision for what the transportation bill will achieve before they will be willing to spend more money.

"Transportation for America applauds the measure’s aggressive performance targets, including goals to increase system safety, repair and maintain our existing networks, and reduce national surface transportation-generated carbon dioxide. Setting such concrete goals is a bold departure from current practice, whereby transportation agencies receive what amounts to a blank check, without being asked to account for achieving national objectives."

Yesterday, as part of the Commuter Challenge, TRU surveyed OVER 250 PEOPLE from throughout the region and provided them with bus passes, including many first-time riders!!

We were at NINE LOCATIONS throughout the day. Everybody worked extremely hard to make this happen. This is only the first in a very long line of huge, successful and tangible steps to making Transit happen for Greater Detroit!

We would like to especially acknowledge the efforts of:

Donna Joy Walker, Jim Hinkins, Rob Anderson, Aaron Thomas, Ed Spillers, Katey Aquilina, Frank Goeddeke, Ron Maris, and Kelly Logan, for walking the streets of our communities to advertise the event, and then waking up at 5AM to facilitate new riders on six different bus routes throughout the region!

Chris Frey, our Board Chair, who helped Megan facilitate the noontime session downtown.

Plus, our awesome interns Brad Lepore, Andrzej Bolek, and Karen Zarowny for advertising the event and data entering the results, which we'll use to make bus service better in the region!

And, of course, the good people at SEMCOG, SMART, DDOT, Cadillac Place, the Guardian Building, and Wayne State University, who provided facilities, attended the events, and made it happen.

Thanks everyone!

Moving forward,

- Josh and Megan

TRU is partnering with the local transit agencies, carpool groups, bike advocates and others to promote alternatives to driving solo with the Commuter Challenge. We’ll kick it off with a Transportation Information Fair and a week of mode-specific promotional activities.

Check out all these great events!!

• Friday, May 8 – Transportation Choices Fair
  • Come to Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit between 11am and 2pm to learn about the wide variety of transportation choices available to southeast Michigan commuters. Check out SMART and DDOT buses. Learn about carpool and vanpool matching services. Talk with local bicycle commuters. Learn the latest from the People Mover. Find out about new transit options coming soon. Sign up for the Commuter Challenge to win prizes when you try out new ways to travel.

• Saturday, May 9 - National Train Day
  • At the Detroit Amtrak Station, as at hundreds of stations around the country, rail supporters will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Come by the station (at 11 W. Baltimore, just west of Woodward at New Center) between 9am and 12noon to witness the presentation of a proclamation presented to Amtrak's Wolverine train from the Mayor of Detroit, followed by train exhibits, trip planning, and much more.  Hosted by the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP).
    
• May 11 – 22 – The Commuter Challenge
  • The Commuter Challenge invites southeast Michigan commuters to Go Green and $ave Green with a contest and prize drawing for people who try new transportation options those two weeks. Participants can try riding the bus or People Mover, sharing a carpool or vanpool, biking, walking, or telecommuting. Each day of using a new commuting mode can enter participants in a drawing to win an Ipod, restaurant gift certificates, and much more.  Learn more and sign up at www.SEMCOG.org/MIrideshare.aspx.

• Monday, May 11 – Carpool / Vanpool / Flextime day
  • Explore your options about saving money with carpooling and vanpooling from 11am – 1pm in front of Compuware. Try your luck to win a gas card and other prizes with a kiddie “car”pool and by guessing the number of balloons in a MichiVan.

• Tuesday, May 12 – People Mover day
  • The Detroit People Mover will hold its first ever "People Mover Midway - Lunchtime Carnival." Arcade games will be located at four People Mover stations from 11am - 2pm with a chance to win exciting prizes. The stations are: Renaissance Center, Cobo Center, Michigan Avenue and Financial District.

• Wednesday, May 13 – Ride the Bus day
  • Ride the Bus day will provide commuters everything they need to try riding the bus for the first time, including guided morning bus rides, Bus 101 information sessions, and even some free bus passes.
    

• Thursday, May 14 – Walking day - Dequindre Cut and non-motorized presentation
  • Join the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and its partners in celebrating the official opening of the Dequindre Cut Greenway. A grand opening ceremony will take place at 10am at the Woodbridge St. entrance of the Cut followed by food, activities and entertainment taking place at all three entrances of the Cut (Woodbridge St., Lafayette St., Gratiot Ave.) until 2pm. Enjoy cooking demonstrations from Eastern Market, guided walking tours of the Dequindre Cut from Inside Detroit and much more.
  • Model D is talking Detroit Bikes and Trails at its speaker series that evening, with Todd Scott of the Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance and Bil Lusa of the Tour De Troit.  The free event is at 5pm at the Green Garage in Midtown.  Also check out the afterglow with Great Lakes Urban Exchange, Bureau of Urban Living, Inside Detroit and Motor City Brewing Works.

• Friday, May 15 – Bicycle day - Annual Bike-to-Work ride
  • Join dozens of other cyclists and ride your bicycle to work downtown along Woodward (from Royal Oak or Ferndale) or Jefferson (from Grosse Pointe or Indian Village). A great way to get exercise and see the city in a new way, while commuting to work.  Voted by the MetroTimes as "the best reason to ditch your car 2006"!  All the details are at the Detroit Bikes! website.