MassBike Action Alert: Call Your Rep Now To Support Cleaner Better More Bicycle Friendly Transportation

ACTION ALERT

SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION REFORM: CALL/EMAIL TODAY!

Governor Patrick has introduced a bill to implement his plan to reform the transportation system in Massachusetts. The plan addresses not only our failing transportation system, but also urgent economic, environmental, and public health issues. The Governor’s plan has three main components:

Restructure the transportation agencies to decrease costs and better implement a unified transportation
Raise revenue by increasing the gas tax to prevent toll increases, maintain MBTA services and prevent a fare increase, support public transportation and rail projects statewide, and more
Create a more sustainable transportation system, including increasing biking and walking, requiring “Complete Streets” that work for all users, expanding the Safe Routes to School program to encourage children to bike and walk, and strengthening the connection between transportation options and public health initiatives.
The sections of the bill most directly supporting bicycling are Section 10 (establishing the Office of Transportation Planning), Section 12 (establishing the MA Mobility Compact), and Section 13 (establishing the Healthy Transportation Compact, including Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School). In addition, people who bike or walk to public transportation will bear a significant share of any reductions in public transportation services or fare increases, so it is in our interest to support the Governor’s plan to prevent this. Though many of us may be impacted by a gas tax increase, it will encourage everyone to drive less and convert more trips to biking, walking, and public transportation.

Click here to see the Governor’s plan.
Click here to see the full text of the bill.

What can you do to help?

1. Call or email your State Senator and ask him or her to support the Governor’s bill to fix the transportation system.

2. Call or email your State Representative and ask him or her to support the Governor’s bill to fix the transportation system.

3. Attend one of the public hearings being held by the Joint Committee on Transportation (you do not have testify – your presence alone will demonstrate grassroots support):

Springfield : Wednesday, March 4, 4pm, Springfield Technical Community College
South Shore : Thursday, March 5, time and location TBD
Methuen : Tuesday, March 10, 5pm, Methuen City Hall, 41 Pleasant Street
Boston : Wednesday, March 11, 1pm, State House, Room A-1

Click here to find your State Representative (called “Rep in General Court”) and your State Senator (called “Senate in General Court”), then click on their names to get phone numbers and emails.

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