It’s Not Too Late To Make Your Voice Heard For Better Transportation
Written by Boston Biker on Apr 12from Livable Streets:
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Thank you to all who emailed and called your representatives, forwarded our action e-lerts to friends and family, and took action at the State House steps last week.
Your voice is begin heard, but the fight is not over.
Latest update -decisions are being made in next few days! Monday night, the Massachusetts House passed the Joint Ways and Means transportation package. The package provides an average of $500 million in new funds for transportation. By approving only $500 million, the House rejected Governor Deval Patrick’s push for a heftier tax hike he said was needed to upgrade the state’s aging and debt-ridden transportation system. On Wednesday, the Senate released its bill that is a step in the right direction, but still falls short. It allocates an average $600 million per year to transportation.
The plan still falls short for 3 reasons:
1. There isn’t enough funding to fix and modernize our system as we need and begin work on projects like Green Line extension.
2. There isn’t enough funding to ensure that tolls, fees and fares do not rise sharply.
3. There is no dedicated funding for biking and walking improvements in either bill!
LivableStreets Alliance and thirty other coalition members of Transportation for Massachusetts agree that at least $800,000 million is needed to make our transportation system an equitable, safe and world-class system.
Amendments are due TOMORROW and final decisions will be made in next few day. The next two days are crucial for taking action!
We need you to please…
- Contact your Senator asking them to please work to improve the Senate’s proposal by increasing the amount of revenue dedicated to transportation.
- Continue to talk with friends and family about this.
- Forward this email and use it for talking points.
LivableStreets has…
1) Represented you at the State House on Transportation Day on April 2nd
2) Spoke with elected leaders and staff, and delivered letters for Senators and Representatives explaining benefits of investing in biking and walking in Massachusetts
3) Answered your questions during the Twitter Town Hall on April 1
4) Collected postcards from you asking the State House to “stop kicking the can”
5) Signed on Transportation for Massachusetts’ transportation funding legislation and letter to the Senators in response to the House Bill
We will continue to work day in and day out to advocate for better transportation choices for you.
Together, we can secure long-term dedicated transportation funding for biking, walking and public transit. Make your voice heard now! Thank you.
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