Some People Don't Think Mass Transit Is So Important…

Yes, as hard as it is to believe, some people don’t believe mass transit is that important, and don’t think that Milwaukee County should invest much money into it.  But the benefits of transit keep showing themselves time and time again.

For example, just this morning, we see that mass transit attracts the employers that depend on creativity and high levels of productivity are drawn to areas with the best transit systems:

As a $22 billion company and world leader in employment services, Manpower’s focus is centered on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction. These same principles can be applied to creating wealth in our region.

Companies like Manpower and Kahler Slater continuously seek to nurture and draw creative talent – the exact kind of talent that grows a community so strongly in need of new ideas, a more risk-tolerant environment and a greater ability to envision successful investments in future infrastructure and then make them happen.

A high-functioning transit system is a prerequisite for a major city and metropolitan area looking for future growth. As members of the local business community, our recruitment efforts are well-served by showing our support for rebuilding and improving strong regional and urban transit. If we are to compete globally, it must be a priority.

I also saw this tonight, thanks to Megan Carr of UEDA-WI, which points out how much gas transit can save a community:

A new report says record-high public transit ridership in 2008 saved Illinois huge amounts of gasoline.

The report from the advocacy group Environment Illinois says overall ridership increased by more than six percent last year compared to 2007.

The report concludes that effectively saved nearly 260 million gallons of gasoline. It says that’s equal to the amount of gas consumed by more than 450,000 cars in Illinois last year.

Nationally, Environment Illinois says transit ridership saved more than 4 billion gallons of gasoline. That’s what more than 7 million cars burn in gasoline each year.

Brian Spranger of Environment Illinois cites the figures in arguing that more transportation funds should be spent on mass transit rather than on roads.

These continuing findings of all the benefits from a good, strong mass transit system makes it all the more frustrating when members of the County Board seem to lose their focus on what is really important, which is putting Milwaukee County first.

Milwaukee County First still remembers what the people voted for, and we still expect our state legislators to honor the will of the people and to pass the sales tax, as in the referendum from last year, including the property tax relief.  If you care to add your voice to ours to call for a dedicated funding source for transit, parks and EMS, please sign our online petition.  If you are not comfortable with that, please contact us at info@milwaukeecountyfirst.com to find out where our next event is to sign one of our hard copy petitions.