News
What you saved if you used transit in
October/November, 2009:
$766, or $9,190 annually.
This is the national average caluculated by APTA
based on gasoline prices 2009-11-09. The cost for Southeast Michigan isn't
listed, but other Great Lakes metros are: Pittsburgh $677; Cleveland $795;
Minneapolis $818; Chicago $943.
Builders of roads and transit see a bleak future
in 2010
Because of lower state and regional transportation spending, contractors have
halted equipment orders and laid off workers in 2009. Because Congress has
postponed overhauling Federal highway and transit legislation until late next
year, and because of declining state revenues, contractors have had to tightened
their belts in spite of $17B in stimulus funding for highways. Though helpful,
Transportation
Construction Coalition (TCC) members felt ARRA's requirement for "shovel-ready"
projects discouraged the long-term and large-scale projects on which they
depend to hire permanent employees and purchase new equipment. See
complete results of the survey released Nov. 13, 2009. In a separate
study conducted by the Pacific Institute
for Research and Evaluation, TCC reports that 22,000 Americans die each
year because of roadway deficiencies, apart from speeding or DUI. Another
good reason to invest in both roads and rail transit.
Upcoming Events
- 2009-11-16 (Monday evening): Transportation Riders United (TRU) 10th Anniversary Celebration, Majestic Theater, Detroit
- 2009-11-17 (Tuesday, 17:00-19:30): Forum - Regaining American Prosperity: Building an Economy that Works for Everyone. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, 1000 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor 48109. (Contact the Ford Library by email or 734-205-0555 if you would like to attend.)
- 2009-11-18 (Wednesday, 09:30): WATS Policy Committee. Scio Township Meeting Room, 827 North Zeeb Rd.
- 2009-11-18 (Wednesday, 18:30): Ann Arbor Transportation Authority Board, AATA Headquarters Board Room, 2700 S. Industrial, Ann Arbor
- 2009-12-08 (Tuesday, 10:00): Ann Arbor Transportation Authority Local Advisory Committee. AATA Headquarters Board Room, 2700 S. Industrial, Ann Arbor.
- 2009-12-08 (Tuesday, 15:00): Ann Arbor Transportation Authority Planning and Development Committee. AATA Headquarters Board Room, 2700 S. Industrial, Ann Arbor.
- 2010-02-04+ (Thu-Sat): 9th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth "Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities". Sheraton Downtown, Seattle.
- 2010-02-09+ (Tue-Thu): International Practicum on Implementing High-Speed Rail in the United States. Hilton, Chicago.
- 2010-10-19+ (Tue-Thu): Rail~Volution 2010 "Building Livable Communities with Transit". Portland, Oregon.
We are...
A citizen organization with a vision and a plan for sustainable, transit-oriented development in Washtenaw County, Michigan.
The vision...
We seek to bring together people and enterprises to...
- Develop communities that are attractive,
- Use the most environmentally friendly technologies,
- Provide meaningful alternatives to automobile transportation,
- Offer a range of housing options,
- Let residents walk to shops, schools, transit, worship, and entertainment,
- ...and make a profit doing it.
What is "transit-oriented development"?
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is an area of compact development, incorporating commercial, residential and professional uses, within walking distance of a major transit stop, that facilitates walking and transit use. The urban design focuses on the pedestrian over the automobile.
What is "sustainable development"?
The simplest, most forceful and practical definition of sustainable development is from the World Commission on Environment and Development (The Brundtland Commission report):
The reasons...
- Housing development will happen in Washtenaw County. The county is projected to grow by 25,000 residents by the year 2020, even though other parts of Michigan are losing population.
- Sprawl development is not sustainable. It is too costly to the environment, and too costly to residents who must drive to work, shop, and play.
- Gen-Xers and Millenials are disenchanted with suburbia, and want real communities - ones that are kind to the environment.
- Boomers are beginning to retire, are fed up with having to drive everywhere, and are increasingly unable to drive as they age.
- The increasing cost of energy makes more efficient transportation a necessity for many Americans. Rail-based transportation is the most efficient per passenger-mile.
- Michigan needs a new approach to meet the challenges of post-industrial era realities.
- And the increasing cost of energy means "green" enterprises will be the ones that profit most.
The plan...
- Unite citizens, enterprizes, and environmental groups, to...
- Build a demonstration community,
- Using compact, energy-efficient, and attractive design;
- Sited along an existing railroad running through Ann Arbor,
- Connected by frequent, affordable rail transit to Ann Arbor and surrounding areas,
- To serve as a model of what can be done,
- Using only private, for-profit funding; and,
- Develop similar communities when the first has demonstrated its merits.