Hi Sustainable Arling

ton.    

This is not about Sustainable Arlington directly, but it is about public transit – which helps make sustainable and greener communities.  I hope you do not mind my posting it here.    

I am on the Executive Committee of Transportation for America (www.t4america. org). We are fighting to make sure that whatever new transportation bill and related spending emerge from DC do a better job of funding public transit and fostering livable and walkable communities than the current federal transportation bill, which is very highway-centric.    

Congress is proposing a jobs bill this week that is supposed to help create jobs...but it doesn't include a single cent to address the crisis in transit funding, which means all over the country bus routes will get canceled, subway service slashed, and thousands of people will lose their jobs.  As you know, the MBTA has a massive debt and is in deep financial trouble.  A bill that provides operating funds for public transit can help keep the T from cutting service and raising fares significantly.  That will help keep people out of cars and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This is a huge wasted opportunity for the Senate - every dollar invested in public transportation does so much more for the economy and environment than a dollar that goes to things like highway expansion.

It takes less than five minutes to make a difference, so please go to this website and send a message to your senators...I did:

Click here to Take Action!

If we are serious about creating and saving jobs, and having the right priorities, our senators need to insist on investing more in public transportation. We can't let our senators squander this opportunity.

Thanks so much.

Gene

Gene Benson