March 12th, 2010
Richmond, Va., March 12, 2010 – TransitTalk.com announced today that it has joined with Partnership for Smarter Growth (PSG), Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR), and RideFinders to educate and provide a voice for the Richmond Region community about transportation choices, including public transit, biking, and walking. Sheila Sheppard, PSG Coordinator, says, “PSG is thrilled to team with TransitTalk and Ridefinders to combine the forces of our networks and resources to work toward a healthier, cleaner, more connected Richmond region with the Voices 4 Transportation Choices campaign. This new campaign is now under way.“
By providing tools and opportunities to communities, this new Partnership will streamline the mutual goal of making transportation choices a priority among decision makers and the citizens whom they represent. Voices 4 Transportation Choices is a multi-pronged approach to educate, energize, and mobilize.
Debbie Schebe Lennick, Leadership Metro Richmond Class of 2009, stated, “PSG will provide the added strength and energy to deliver the clear message to decision makers that our economy needs alternatives to the car. By combining the forces of our networks, we will work to voice to our elected officials what is needed to work toward a healthier, cleaner, more connected Richmond Region.
December 16th, 2009
12/2/2009 Public Transit Projects Will Support and Create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs
Washington, D.C.—The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) called on Congress today to invest at least $15 billion in public transportation to support and create hundreds of thousands of jobs and stimulate the economy. APTA has just completed a new survey of public transit systems nationwide which identified more than $15 billion in public transportation capital projects that can be started in 90 days. It is estimated that this investment in public transportation would support and create more than 450,000 jobs. The vast majority of public transit systems also identified additional needs beyond $15 billion for federal assistance to avoid employee layoffs and service cuts.
“Let’s get Americans back to work,” said APTA President William Millar. “It is essential that a jobs bill include public transportation investment to create good-paying jobs for Americans.”
Research has shown that new jobs in public transportation provide jobs to American workers in industries which have been hit hardest by the economic downturn, particularly construction and manufacturing.
“There’s no doubt that new federal funding for public transportation will create and maintain much-needed jobs,” said Millar. “Funding public transit should be a priority since it helps local economies while also supporting our developing green economy.”
According to the “Economic Impact of Public Transportation Investment,” a report completed by the Economic Development Research Group this fall, these benefits add up to the fact that for every $1 invested in public transportation, an average of $4 is generated in economic returns. Roughly $3.6 billion of business sales and nearly $500 million in federal, state and local tax revenues are also generated.
Public transit systems have demonstrated that they are effectively implementing projects and creating jobs. To date, more than 90 percent of the federal funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have been obligated.
# # # # #
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of over 1,500 public and private member organizations, engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne passengers services, and high-speed rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA member systems.
Contact:
Virginia Miller
202-496-4816
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
September 15th, 2009
Va. isn’t well-served by independent-city structure
Richmond Times Dispatch
HOLLISTER LINDLEY GUEST COLUMNIST
Published: September 14, 2009
I grew up in the city and county of Honolulu in Hawaii. We moved there from Chicago in 1954, several years before Hawaii achieved statehood.
I was a keiki (little kid) so I certainly wasn’t thinking about the structure of my local government and how it affected my day-to-day life.
After college, I followed a career path that took me to Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Delaware and then on to the great commonwealth of Virginia. Yes, it was my choice. I actually pursued a job here to enable the relocation.
When I moved to Richmond in the early 1990s, I noticed that every county had its own library system and its own law enforcement. There seemed to be expensive redundancy everywhere I turned.
Wouldn’t it just be better to have lots of books in one library system? I mistakenly tried to return a book to the wrong system and was greeted with amazement and confusion.
In Hawaii, each major island is its own county. This makes a great deal of sense for that state, as the ocean channels between the islands are formidable. But why all this crazy redundancy in Virginia? I hadn’t seen it in any other areas of the Lower 48 that I had lived in.
What made Virginia different?
Let me introduce you to the independent-city issue. If you live in Chicago, you also live in Cook County. This gives the city and county governments a structure to play nice together. They live in the same house and have to get along. There are no barriers to cooperation. They can create a regional police department, great schools and amazing libraries.
Now let’s look at Virginia.
There are 45 independent cities in the United States, and 41 are in our fair state. What does that actually mean? That means the cities operate independently from the counties, keep their own records and operate as a politically separate unit. Lots of scholarly papers and books have been written on this subject, but what does it mean to those of us who are paying the government’s bills and using its services?
The advantages are clear:
• Responsibilities are clear (everyone knows what he or she is supposed to do, kind of like a military organization where there is no overlap and there are clear job descriptions).
• Tax structures are clear.
• It controls the number of players (because you can’t add or subtract taxing authorities).
But the disadvantages are stunning:
• Expensive duplication of services.
• Absolutely no incentive to play nice and cooperate.
• Competition for taxes, such as car registrations and sales tax.
This is not rocket science. The advantages of keeping cities and counties separate DO NOT exceed the disadvantages.
This is just plain wasteful.
It is not human nature to play nice. We certainly wouldn’t need “Sesame Street” if cooperation came naturally. We need to be motivated to cooperate, and this independent-city structure does just the opposite. It makes it really tough for cities and their surrounding counties to work together.
We can drone on about regional teamwork all we want, but we simply are not structured to do so. We just went through the address change brouhaha (Henrico versus Richmond) because of this independent-city structure.
It is all about money and power. Everyone has his own little kingdom and is not going to voluntarily share his toys and cookies. It is human nature to protect what we think is ours.
But these are our tax dollars being used, and I hate to see them wasted. So should you!
We need to talk about this city-county arrangement and change it. “It has always been this way” is absolutely no reason to keep doing something.
We can do better, Virginia. Create a government structure that uses our tax dollars wisely.
Hollister Lindley is a freelance writer and a retired medical-industry executive. She can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
September 4th, 2009
RIDING PUBLIC TRANSIT SAVES INDIVIDUALS $9,147 ANNUALLY AS GAS PRICES REMAIN LEVEL
Helps individuals save money and the environment
WASHINGTON, DC – Individuals who ride public transportation can save on average $9,147 annually based on the September 3, 2009 national average gas price and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.
“The Transit Savings Report” released monthly by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) calculates the average annual and monthly savings for public transit users. The report examines how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.
Transit riders can save on average $762 per month. The savings amount is based on the cost of the national averages for parking and driving, as well as, the September 3 national average gas price of $2.596 per gallon for self-serve regular gasoline as reported by AAA, a slight decrease from last month’s price.
Taking public transportation provides a safe and affordable way for individuals and families to cut household costs, according to APTA. In addition, local public transit offers a travel option that has an immediate, positive impact in reducing an individual’s overall carbon footprint while helping reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.
The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $154.23, according to the 2009 Colliers International Parking Rate Study. Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,850.
The top 20 cities with transit ridership (total annual unlinked passenger trips) 60 Million and below are ranked in order of their transportation savings based on the purchase of a monthly public transportation pass and factoring in today’s local gas prices and the local monthly unreserved parking rate.*
Top Twenty Cities – Transit Savings Report
City Monthly Savings Annual Savings
1 Riverside $858 $10,298
2 Hartford $841 $10,096
3 St. Louis $825 $9,896
4 Sacramento $813 $9,757
5 Tucson $778 $9,337
6 Austin $765 $9,179
7 San Jose $761 $9,131
8 Providence $756 $9,071
9 Milwaukee $749 $8,991
10 San Antonio $735 $8,824
11 Buffalo $735 $8,820
12 Louisville $729 $8,752
13 Kansas City $729 $8,746
14 Tampa $729 $8,743
15 Charlotte $728 $8,741
16 Virginia Beach $721 $8,649
17 Orlando $691 $8,297
18 Richmond $661 $7,936
19 Salt Lake City $633 $7,595
20 Cincinnati $628 $7,535
*Based on gasoline prices as reported by AAA on 9/3/09.
Methodology
APTA calculates the average cost of taking public transit by determining the average monthly transit pass of local public transit agencies across the country. This information is based on the annual APTA fare collection survey and is weighted based on ridership (unlinked passenger trips). The assumption is that a person making a switch to public transportation would likely purchase an unlimited pass on the local transit agency, typically available on a monthly basis.
APTA then compares the average monthly transit fare to the average cost of driving. The cost of driving is calculated using the 2009 AAA average cost of driving formula. AAA cost of driving formula is based on variable costs and fixed costs. The variable costs include the cost of gas, maintenance and tires. The fixed costs include insurance, license registration, depreciation and finance charges. The comparison also uses the average mileage of a mid-size auto at 23.4 miles per gallon and the price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline as recorded by AAA on August 7 at $2.596 per gallon. The analysis also assumes that a person will drive an average of 15,000 miles per year. The savings assume a person in two-person household lives with one less car.
In determining the cost of parking, APTA uses the data from the 2009 Colliers International Parking Rate Study for monthly unreserved parking rates for the United States.
To calculate your individual savings with or without car ownership, go to http://www.publictransportation.org.
August 28th, 2009
VCU Commuting 101
By Trevor Dickerson | For Richmond.com
Published: August 26, 2009
I’m part of that group, which Virginia Commonwealth University officially calls the “Mobile Majority.”
The commute from my house, just north of Short Pump, is right around 18 miles. Ideally, that trip takes just under 30 minutes. Not too bad, right? Well, don’t forget that you’re not the only one trying to break a land speed record getting downtown. Everyone and his brother are usually riding right along side you. Factor in weather and accidents and you could be looking at an hour in the car on a bad day.
Going into my third year of being a commuter student, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks. Maybe you’ll find a few of them useful, too.
I-95, 64 and 295. And if you’re anywhere near I-295, your best bet is to take it. It won’t get you all the way to the city, but there seems to be some sort of incident every single morning on 64. I-295 is typically free and clear, and takes you to I-95. Though 95 has its own share of backups, they’re usually not as bad as 64. If traffic is moving along at a good clip, there’s usually a handful of State Troopers waiting to write tickets. This section of 95 is a “Highway Safety Corridor” too, so additional hefty fines are tacked on for moving violations.
The Bryan Park Interchange, or what I like to call the Bryan Park Bottleneck, gets kind of sticky sometimes. You have two major highways converging on one another and backups start around 8:15 every morning. That seems to be the magic time. If I can get through before then, I’m usually golden. If there’s even the smallest fender bender, though, the delay is often unavoidable. Richmonders sure do love to rubberneck.
Of course, there are other options besides the highways. You could always take Broad Street. That is, if you enjoy sitting through dozens of traffic lights. Pick your poison.
Parking. My dad, who went to VCU in the ‘80s, always jokes about how he practically minored in parallel parking. Back then, there were few if any parking decks. Now, there are plenty of options. Sure, you can still try your luck at finding a space around campus, but give yourself plenty of time and prepare to be frustrated. I’ve found it’s so much easier to just pony up between $150 and $175 per semester for a deck parking pass. Plus, those little checkered scooters driving around town don’t belong to Shriners who lost their way from a local parade. They’re eagerly waiting to leave a neon green envelope on your windshield with a big, fat bill inside.
Many mornings driving into school seem like something out of a video game you’ve played a lot: you know the obstacles and what to avoid, plus you have an ever-increasing strategy to “win” the game. Plus, making all the green lights on Belvidere is like getting bonus points.
In that case, let the games begin and have a great commute this semester.
That’s the take on the Short Pump commute; do you have another perspective to add? Leave it in the comments below.
August 12th, 2009
How Will McDonnell Pay for Transportation?
Editor, Times Dispatch:
It would be of more than a little interest to learn how gubernatorial prospect Bob McDonnell plans to fix our roads and bridges with no tax increase. The state’s gasoline tax has been dormant for years and our highways, roads, and bridges bear witness to this completely outdated system’s fees.
I am not a fan of more taxes, but one must remember the old cliche’: If you dance you must pay the fiddler. We also should remember that all of the state’s roads need care-not just those in the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
-James C. (Jim) Martin.
Vinton.
July 13th, 2009
Try Transit Day 5 will be taking place on Thursday September 10, 2009 at Kanawha Plaza from 11:30AM to 1:30PM!
Starting on Monday, September 7th through Thursday, September 10th, every person who uses GRTC transit services will receive a blinking purple “I Tried Transit Today” button. Everyone wearing one of these buttons will be granted free admission to an exciting concert on Thursday, September 10th at Kanawha Plaza from 11:30am-1:30pm, and featuring the live music which will be announced soon. Free lunch and drinks will be provided, courtesy CBS6. More Details to come in the next few weeks!
The first official TransitTalk.com meeting will take place at this event. Please drop by the TransitTalk.com booth to talk about issues and find out what you can do to help!
June 12th, 2009
Unless you drive a Prius clown car packed tight with 12 big-shoed circus employees, you’re bound to get judged for the size of your carbon footprint.
We’re made to feel guilty if we don’t carpool with strangers or walk down West Broad Street for several miles, sweating through our business casual attire while passersby toss quarters into our Starbucks cups.
But thanks to GRTC and Google Transit, you’re jam-crammed guilt trip just got a bit more leg room.
Here is why: I was checking out directions to get to a party this past weekend on Google Maps, and I noticed in the dropdown box that not only could I retrieve driving and walking directions, but now I could learn how to get there via public transit.
It’s called Google Transit, and the functionality is intuitive and pretty sweet, especially for someone who failed reading the GRTC maps correctly in my one previous attempt at riding the bus. To use it, simply enter Point A and Point B in the Google Maps’ online interface, and you get detailed steps complete with bus numbers, pick-up/drop-off spots, times and even links to GRTC.
The Google Labs creation has actually been running in Portland, Oregon since 2005, and grew from there to now cover more than 400 cities worldwide, including the RIC.
Now we all have one less excuse for not taking the bus. And no, Swine Flu doesn’t count anymore, either.
Thanks to Richmond.com for posting this!
