On the Way
Volume 2, Issue 3
March 2008

Transit Advocates Secure Grassroots Victory for a Region-Wide Transit System
The 2008 legislative session started off with a bang for transit advocates. Over Governor Pawlenty’s veto, the Minnesota legislature passed a transportation bill that included a significant, dedicated source of transit funding—over $117 million to be exact.  Behind the obvious victory lies an even greater one—a story about how grassroots advocacy can make real change in Minnesota.

What Does the Transportation Bill Mean?
The 2008 transportation bill was a long-awaited victory for transit, securing funding to help build eight new transitways (e.g. light rail, commuter rail, and express buses) and to double the bus system. It will even help create better transit facilities and new park and ride capacity, provide revenue to local governments for bicycle and pedestrian projects, and expand transit in Greater Minnesota. There is still plenty to do, though. Seriously. 

Barb Thoman an Active Member of Governor's Climate Change Advisory Group
Barb Thoman, co-founder and program consultant for Transit for Livable Communities, helped to shape key transportation policies on Governor Pawlenty's Climate Change Advisory Group. The recommendations from the Group mirror many of the policies that Transit for Livable Communities has advocated for over a decade. As a result of Thoman's efforts in the Working Group, more people will understand the connections between transportation and land use. Barb's recent work continues that trend. 

Volunteer Advocacy Key to Transit Success
Transit for Livable Communities' advocates were vital to the success of the 2008 transportation bill. Advocates contacted legislators, provided testimony at legislative hearings, wrote letters to the editor, and showed up at early-morning media events--all to ensure legislators knew that transit was an important part of the package. Learn More.  

Bike/Walk Twin Cities Initiative 'Gears Up' for 2008
Transit for Livable Communities' Bike/Walk Twin Cities initiative aims to get more people walking and bicycling in our region. From workshops to a $5 million "livable streets" solicitation for infrastructure, the initiative is "gearing up" for a successful year. Learn More.

Maps That Help You Find Your Way...to the Future!
Transit for Livable Communities has released two new project maps. Transit for Livable Communities' "Minneapolis-St. Paul Transitways 2020"(2MB PDF) map is a vision for the future: a region-wide transit system to be completed by 2020. Transit for Livable Communities has also completed a project map for its Bike/Walk Twin Cities initiative: this map is a Google Map highlighting every new walking and biking corridor in Minneapolis funded with federal NTP (Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Project) dollars, plus the corridors where surveys and research have laid the groundwork for future projects. Check out the full story.

Events
March 26, 2008. Minneapolis Pedestrian Master Plan Open House. At the Minneapolis public library, there will be an open house to gather public input on the Pedestrian Master Plan (funded with federal NTP dollars) and discuss some of the major challenges the city faces in meeting pedestrian needs. The open house is from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Arrive any time, and stay as long as you like. More details at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/pedestrian/participate.asp. 

April 7, 2008. Bike/Walk Streets in the Twin Cities: Innovations for Livability. As part of Transit for Livable Communities, Bike/Walk Twin Cities initiative, Mia Birk, a principal of Alta Planning and Design, will hold a discussion on bike/walk streets. The presentation will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Radisson University Hotel, 615 Washington Avenue SE in Minneapolis. Free, and no registration required.

For more cool events, check out Transit for Livable Communities' calendar.

The Details
If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, please contact Katie Eukel at 651-767-0298 x115 or KatieE@tlcminnesota.org. Also, if you have questions, comments, or story ideas, please let Katie know.