> Recent Releases:

Citizens' Agena for Transporation: With the Citizens’ Agenda for Transportation, Transit for Livable Communities has created a blueprint for reforming and modernizing Minnesota’s ailing transportation system. Reflecting on ten years of advocacy for reform at all levels of government, TLC has identified key institutional barriers to a healthy, balanced and cost-effective transportation system. We provide strategies for lowering those barriers with an eye to solutions that make sense in the 21st century. (See the full Citizens' Agenda here )

> Updated Transportation Brief:

Highway Lane Miles Per Capita: Is the Twin Cities highway system really underbuilt?: Much attention has been paid to the growth of congestion in the Twin Cities. Many have pointed the finger at our highway and freeway system – saying the solution lies in building many more lane-miles. However, before Minnesota tries to solve its congestion problem by pouring billions more primarily into new lanes it should examine what works in other major US regions. It may be surprising to learn the Twin Cities’ system is well above average in highway lane miles per capita compared to the 25 largest regions in the country. (See the full Transporataion Brief here- 80KB PDF)

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Hiawatha’s Success Challenges Metro Transit
The Twin Cities’ first modern light rail line continues to surpass projections for the eighth month in a row. March saw 552,000 rides on the train, a whopping 120,300 more than the initial goal. In a survey conducted last winter, Metro Transit found that forty percent of these rail riders are new to transit, many of whom are taking advantage of the new transitway to get to sports and entertainment events, leading to evening and weekend ridership levels that are far heavier than planned.

Overall the rail line is performing very well, but the better-than-expected ridership has caused some unforeseen challenges for Metro Transit, forcing it to use its 22 rail cars more often and longer than planned. Maintenance and repair of the vehicles must occur in a shorter timeframe as a result, straining crew schedules. To address the problem, Metro Transit has ordered three additional cars from the manufacturer, which will be delivered in 2006. Other issues with the new system are being worked out as well. Notably, the City of Minneapolis has completed physical and computer software changes this spring to reduce auto waiting time for passing trains on five rail crossings between 26th and 52nd Streets.

Transit Projects in 2005 Minnesota Bonding Bill
Transit supporters experienced both relief and surprise when the Minnesota Legislature allocated funding for five new transitways in its 2005 bonding bill. The region’s highest transportation priority, $37.5 million in state matching capital funds for the Northstar Commuter Rail Corridor, was strongly recommended by the Governor and supported by bipartisan coalitions in both houses. Legislators were motivated act this year in part because the federal government had downgraded the project after the state repeatedly failed to match a $150 million federal funding commitment.

In an unexpected turn, the legislature also agreed to fund the full amount requested ($5.25 million) for further design work on the Central Corridor transitway. Growing business and community support for the project, combined with the tremendous success of the Hiawatha light rail line, lead the leadership of both houses to agree to move forward this year. When completed, the Central Corridor will connect Minnesota’s two largest downtowns, and is expected to have one of the highest ridership levels in the country.

Bonding funds were also committed to completing the bus rapid transitway in the Northwest Corridor ($20 million), and to continuing planning for both the Red Rock Corridor to Hastings in the southeast and the Rush Corridor to Rush City in the northeast ($500,000 each).

HOURCAR Introduces Minnesota to Car-sharing
Transit riders and others that would like to gain more affordable mobility options should look into the state’s first car-sharing program: HOURCAR. Successful car-sharing programs have become increasingly common across the U.S., where 62,000 members currently are sharing over 900 vehicles. By sharing a car, the fixed costs of car ownership are spread across several people, rather than one person paying all of these costs on their own. For those that own an expensive car that sits parked most of the week - imagine no more car payments, insurance premiums, parking fees, or maintenance costs. For those who don’t have a car and need to use one occasionally - imagine having a car available for short errands or special trips.

HOURCAR gives members the freedom to use a car when needed, paying only for the time it’s used on a per-trip basis rather than a daily basis like a rental car agency. HOURCAR buys, insures and maintains a fleet of member-shared cars – taking on all the responsibilities of owning the vehicles, including paying for fuel - spreading the fixed costs of car ownership among several people. More information, including membership applications, can be found at www.hourcar.org.

Congress Ready to Pass New Federal Transportation Bill
After more than eighteen months and seven extensions, Congress recently passed a new six-year federal transportation bill. A conference committee is now resolving differences between the $295 billion Senate bill and the $284 billion House version. Complicating negotiations is President Bush’s threat to veto anything larger than the House bill. Both bills maintain the basic framework of TEA-21, the previous six year law, retaining the key programs that fund transit, congestion & air pollution mitigation, and facilities for walking and bicycling. However, the percentage of funding for transit in both bills is slightly lower than it was in TEA-21, and community and environmental protections are somewhat weakened.

Positive changes include a “Small Starts” program for transit projects costing less than $75 million, a “Safe Routes to School” program promoted by Congressman Jim Oberstar, and a plan to equalize the commute tax benefit for transit with the parking benefit. When the final bill passes Minnesota will see a revenue increase of at least 40%, or about $150 million annually over TEA-21 funding. (Click here for a more complete summary of the two bills)

Denver “FasTracks” Their Transitways System
By wide margin, Denver voters last November made a $4.7 billion commitment to a massive twelve year transit expansion plan. The passage of Denver’s “FasTracks” referendum raises Denver’s sales tax for transit from 6/10ths of a cent to a full cent (a dime on a $10 purchase). It will fund 119 additional miles of light rail and commuter rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit, 21,000 new parking spaces at transit stations, and will expand bus service throughout the region. While the Denver metro area has just slightly fewer residents than the Twin Cities, it has about 20% fewer highway lane miles. The people of Denver and Colorado have instead invested more heavily in a larger transit system, resulting in ridership 8% higher than in the Twin Cities in 2003. Denver already features two existing light rail lines, two downtown transit stations connected by a fare-free transit mall, several express bus routes on dozens of miles of HOV lanes, and the new 19 mile “T-REX” light rail line will be completed in 2006 along the region’s main I-25 corridor south of downtown. This recent commitment to the “FasTracks” projects now puts Denver firmly in the lead for scarce federal transit funding, and will eventually make Denver a new transit metropolis in the western U.S.

Phoenix Commits to Expanding Transit
Another transportation success story from the southwest is the passage of Maricopa 2020, a referendum to renew a half-cent sales tax in Phoenix and its surrounding communities for transportation infrastructure. The measure, which passed 57% to 43%, will raise $16 billion in the next 20 years for road and transit projects as follows: $9 billion (57%) would fund freeways; $2.7 billion (17%) would fund the regional bus system; $2.3 billion (15%) would fund an additional 27 miles of light-rail; and $1.5 billion (9%) would fund arterial streets. This investment in transportation is badly needed, because while the Phoenix region has 500,000 more residents than the Twin Cities (as of 2001) it has 45% fewer highway lane miles per capita - as well as a smaller transit system. These investments are in addition to Phoenix’s first light rail line (currently under construction) which will connect Phoenix to the key suburbs of Tempe, Mesa and Glendale with a 19.6 mile, 27-station corridor (due in 2008).