More great transit in the news in the past week:
The Detroit Free Press’s Rochelle Riley named Atanas Ilitch one of the Heroes of Detroit’s Renaissance, explaining that he "is the one leading the charge to bring mass transit to southeast Michigan." It started with the extremely popular Foxtown Tiger Train (see the July 28 blog or Tiger press release), "but he sees an even bigger picture. He thinks those six Amtrak trains could be a foundation for the mass transit system Detroit needs."
CNN honored local attorney Richard Bernstein on the national news for winning an online poll as top watchdog for CNNs "Keeping Them Honest" TV show, which focuses on challenging authority and corruption. As the Free Press reported Tuesday, "Bernstein, who was born blind, represented Detroiters with disabilities in a lawsuit against the city over inoperable wheelchair lifts on city buses. The lawsuit ended in a settlement in which the federal Department of Justice will monitor wheelchair access on buses." Bernstein was quoted as saying "I guess the voters realized that public transportation is vital for people’s lives and independence."
Crain’s Detroit Business also reported that "Wayne County Commissioner Jewel Ware, D-Detroit, was unanimously re-elected Tuesday to serve her third two-year term as chair of the county’s legislative body at the commission’s organization meeting for the 2007-2008 legislative session. Ware said her agenda for the commission this term includes supporting key regional projects such as public transit."
Another interesting note – SMART General Manager Dan Dirks has been elected President of the Community Transportation Association of America, a national nonprofit membership association of 4,000 organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the mobility of all Americans regardless of age, geography, destination or ability. Congrats Dan!