Transport workers oppose Koch plan to destroy unions

Transport workers have a critical role to play in the future of this country. Will we have more public transport or more sprawl? Will workers have a living wage?

This is what Lansing looks like this morning as around 15,000 people have converged on the capitol (occupywallst.org)

Troy recalls embattled [anti-transit, anti-gay] Mayor Janice Daniels | Crain's Detroit Business

Troy recalls embattled Mayor Janice Daniels | Crain's Detroit Business: "Embattled Mayor Janice Daniels was ousted from office Tuesday by a recall effort that appeared on the ballot in the city of Troy.

Also in Oakland County, the election resulted in a board of 14 Republican and seven Democratic county commissioners.

Daniels, who had opposed taking federal money for a regional transit center in the city and drew fire from a former city manager and gay rights supporters in just one year of public office, had 47.8 percent of the votes in her favor in a local recall election ballot measure. The recall effort passed by 1,800 votes."

'via Blog this'

Urge state Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville to schedule a vote on creation of a regional transit authority

Transportation Riders United urges us to urge state Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville to schedule a vote on creation of a regional transit authority, senate bills 909 and 911. This is a necessary first step toward workable mass transit options for the Detroit area. They've set up an online petition here.

LaHood to region: Get act together on transit | Crain's Detroit Business

LaHood to region: Get act together on transit | Crain's Detroit Business: "DETROIT (AP) — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he's ready to start funding a light rail passenger line and fast bus lines in the Detroit area if state and regional officials can finally work together on ending the metro area's status as the nation's largest without mass transit."

'via Blog this'

Debate on #transit is splitting the 1%

Business leaders press Lansing to back metro transit authority | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com: "Eight major corporate and education leaders wrote the state Legislature's top two Republicans urging them to quickly pass legislation establishing a regional transit authority in Metro Detroit."

'via Blog this'

Request a Regional Transportation Authority from your state senate. h/t 2 women, 4 wheels

Text for bus wait time in Detroit

DDOT will now give bus ETA via test message! h/t 2 women, 4 wheels.

VIDEO: BATA Offers Free Public Transit at Film Festival | MI News 26

VIDEO: BATA Offers Free Public Transit at Film Festival | MI News 26: "The Bay Area Transportation Authority is providing free bus service at this year’s film festival. Busses are running every 15 minutes during this year’s festival, and offer transit to numerous locations around the city.. A group of film festival ambassadors are on-hand to help out festival-goers who are using public transportation."

'via Blog this'

Holland, Michigan, free transit this Saturday

Saturday is Clean Air Action Day - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel: "Holland —
Saturday has been declared a Clean Air Action Day by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

It has been listed as unhealthy for sensitive groups. Temperatures are expected in the low to mid-90s with high humidity and those who are sensitive to it should stay hydrated and limit strenuous activity outdoors.

With the mild winter and early heat there will likely be more action days this year, this the 22nd for the Grand rapids/Holland area. A total of eight were declared in 2011.

A DEQ Air Quality Division spokesman said in a previous interview with The Sentinel that West Michigan tends to see more because the chemicals in weather masses moving slowly over Lake Michigan will essentially cook from the reflection of the sun on the water.

To limit environmental impact on Clean Air Action Days, people could walk, bike or take public transportation instead of driving, not fuel vehicles or use gas-powered lawn equipment or charcoal lighter fluid.

The Macatawa Area Express Transit Authority offers free rides on its eight fixed route on Air Action Days."

'via Blog this'

Under Pressure, Michigan Gov. Snyder Vetoes Voter Suppression Bills « Main Street

Thank you, #wiunion. Teabag governors are being forced to be sneakier.

Under Pressure, Michigan Gov. Snyder Vetoes Voter Suppression Bills « Main Street: "But it does mean that the voter suppression issue has been exposed and made public such that Snyder – a consummate politician – didn’t want to be associated with it. And even as we fight Snyder and hits allies for Michiganders’ right to bargain collectively and control their own local governments, the crack in the Republican front in the war on voting rights is a victory unto itself."

Anti-transit, anti-gay mayor may face recall vote

Signatures Submitted In Effort To Recall Troy Mayor « CBS Detroit: "Kulesz adds that others are upset that Daniels voted against a transit center, accusing her of not listened to the Troy business community.

“The transit center issue was important.  She ignored the business community and their absolute want for the transit center,” said Kulesz.  “The business community said it will bring jobs and investment to the city.”"

'via Blog this'

Senior citizens in the city of Muskegon expected to rally around transit program target for budget cut | MLive.com

Senior citizens in the city of Muskegon expected to rally around transit program target for budget cut | MLive.com: "The residents can’t understand why senior citizens have been targeted for budget cuts in the proposed 2012-13 city budget. That relatively status-quo spending plan eliminates the $77,000 senior transit service beginning July 1."

'via Blog this'

PressTV - Turn out the lights - The largest US cities are becoming cesspools of filth

PressTV - Turn out the lights - The largest US cities are becoming cesspools of filth: " In fact, some major U.S. cities are literally turning out the lights. In Detroit, about 40 percent of the streetlights are already broken and the city cannot afford to repair them. So Mayor Bing has come up with a plan to cut the number of operating streetlights almost in half and leave vast sections of the city totally in the dark at night. I wonder what that will do to the crime rate in the city. But don't look down on Detroit too much, because what is happening in Detroit will be happening where you live soon enough.
 "

'via Blog this'

Even casual users can recoup their annual #publictransit investment in 3 months

Wake Up, Washtenaw!: Some Perspective on Transportation Costs: "Of course, that's only half the "reality check". The other half is what - if anything - most people would actually save. Most people won't be able to reduce their car use much, but suppose they're able to let a kid ride the bus to a practice, and possibly take the bus to work once a week. Even saving one gallon a week, at $3.799 (assuming the price doesn't go up - ha!) would amount to $50 in just over three months.

As a business decision, that would make a lot of sense, because a three-month payback period is really good, and the investment ($50) is pretty darn small."

'via Blog this'

Twitter / @SeniorTransInfo: 92-year old trumpet player Quinton Kimble takes #publictransit...

Twitter / @SeniorTransInfo: 92-year old trumpet player ...: "92-year old trumpet player Quinton Kimble uses public #transit to go to #Detroit to play his music. pic.twitter.com/8T5iWwuC"

'via Blog this'

Detroit bus riders fear new round of cuts will decimate service | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Detroit bus riders fear new round of cuts will decimate service | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: "Riders and transit advocates said Monday that they are not sure what they will do if Detroit keeps slashing its bus service, as the city proposes to do again by cutting another $12 million from its general-fund bus subsidy.

"Everybody's going to need a car or a bike," said Danzell Thompkins, 18, an engineering student at Wayne County Community College District who relies on Detroit Department of Transportation buses to get to work and school."

'via Blog this'

Two Women, Four Wheels - great #carfree blog

Two Women, Four Wheels: "We built this city on walk and roll! This is the true story of adventures two ladies encounter while navigating southeast Michigan via bike/bus sober and not sober. We hope these stories entertain and inspire you to explore your community in a car-free way. Our small bus investment pays big dividends. ENJOY!!!"

'via Blog this'

Washtenaw Master Transit Plan Public Meetings

Washtenaw Master Transit Plan Public Meetings: "After completing Transit District Advisory Committee Meetings in eight Washtenaw County districts in November, 2011, we're pleased to announce the next phase of public input sessions.  Residents, business owners, and employees in each district are welcome to attend, and are encouraged to voice local transit improvement needs and suggestions."

'via Blog this'

Republican Congressman called out for his lies

Republican Congressman Scolded And Mocked By Senior Citizens For Embrace Of Ryan Budget | ThinkProgress: "“There are no government subsidies for oil,” "

'via Blog this'

Cars Before Houses - Death by Car

  Cars Before Houses - Death by Car: "Seems that, among the population who incur both forms of debt (and the rich pay cash for cars, by the way), people are four times more likely to make late payments on their mortgages than on their car loans."

'via Blog this'

Grand Rapids leads fight against climate change with #transit

PWIR: The Changing Climate of Climate Change | MLCV-Michigan League of Conservation Voters: "One way to use less oil and put less carbon into the air is to use public transit, and Grand Rapids is becomming a leader in just that. It's Rapid bus transit system showed a 16% increase in ridership over the last year, thanks to expanding service achieved through a $150 million mileage approved last year. "

'via Blog this'

Must-see Boston April Fool March

April 4:National Day of Action for Public Transportation

Occupy Detroit is endorsing and participating in a National Day of Action for Public Transportation and Memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Further details here.

Environment for support of public transit is changing in Michigan (Rick Haglund column) | MLive.com

Environment for support of public transit is changing in Michigan (Rick Haglund column) | MLive.com: "But the environment for public transit appears to be changing.
That’s mostly a result of ambivalence toward cars by young people, and growing support from business and governmental leaders who see mass transit as a key driver of economic development."

'via Blog this'

Do you like having talent in your state? Then get #transit!

The Future of Transportation in Michigan: "When Andy Crosby travels around Michigan, he rarely drives a car. Instead, the graduate student, a longtime resident of Grand Rapids, uses trains or buses when he visits his friends or works on academic projects around Michigan.
...
“When I ride the train, I can get a lot of work done,” he says. “It just makes sense.” But Crosby admits that getting around the state using bus and rail can be quite a challenge."

Grand Haven's Harbor Transit reports bus ridership up | MLive.com

Grand Haven's Harbor Transit reports bus ridership up | MLive.com: "More people are taking the bus to get around north Ottawa County, Harbor Transit reports.
Harbor Transit Transportation Director Tom Manderscheid said buses gave 7,360 rides in the first two weeks of February, a 30 percent increase from the same period last year.
“We’re delighted with the reception that we’ve gotten,” Manderscheid said. “We think it will only grow.”"

'via Blog this'

The Ann Arbor Chronicle | Ann Arbor Council OKs Transit Agreement

The Ann Arbor Chronicle | Ann Arbor Council OKs Transit Agreement: "After more than three and a half hours of deliberation ending after midnight at its March 5, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council gave approval to a four-party transit agreement – with the city of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. The agreement would provide a framework and chronological sequence for the transition of the AATA to a new governance and funding structure. The Ann Arbor approval leaves several steps that would still need to be completed, before such a transition would be possible."

'via Blog this'

Outraged Detroit bus riders to seek federal help on bus cuts | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Outraged Detroit bus riders to seek federal help on bus cuts | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: "Detroit transit riders outraged over huge bus cuts and Mayor Dave Bing's hiring of a private contractor to manage the city's troubled transportation department said Tuesday that they are fed up and will seek federal help in reversing the mayor's decisions."

'via Blog this'

Public #transit is key to southeast Michigan economy

MANDI WRIGHT/Detroit Free Press

Editorial: Move forward on transit with authority | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: "Nearly everyone agrees that functional transit -- in Detroit, in the suburbs, and between the two -- is key to building the local economy.

But politics -- and, specifically, the politics of race and poverty -- threaten to once again throw the plan into limbo."

'via Blog this'

Bills creating regional transit authority introduced in Legislature | Crain's Detroit Business

Bills creating regional transit authority introduced in Legislature | Crain's Detroit Business: "The long-awaited bills that create a regional transit authority have been introduced in Lansing."

'via Blog this'

Grand Rapids-people vote in tiny millage, save thousands by going #carfree

Students board The Rapid's DASH to the Hill bus. The free route serves Grand Rapids' growing 'Medical Mile' and several colleges nearby.

Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio

Grand Rapids-area bus system improvements begin today | Michigan Radio: "The Rapid busses start a new schedule Monday that will better serve riders late at night, on the weekends, and more frequently during the workday. The bus service is improving thanks to a millage voters passed back in May.

Grand Rapids resident Mike Ewer and his wife don’t have a car anymore. He says about a year and a half ago both of their cars broke down within a span of two months. “We just said ‘well, we get about okay on the bus so why are we spending money on cars, on maintenance, taxes, gas, insurance and all that stuff?’ So we said ‘let’s just ride the bus.”"