The Mineta Transportation Institute and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently ran a survey showing that 73.6% of Americans strongly agree that tax dollars should be used for, “expanding and improving public transportation” in their communities. 1,501 people completed the survey and support for/appreciation of transit was higher in 2013, in all categories measured. See the results of the survey here.
“‘We are experiencing this surge in support because citizens can see, touch, and feel the economic impact of investing in public transportation,” said APTA Chair Flora Castillo. “This survey emphasized that public transit plays a great role in society because it directly touches people’s lives.'”
APTA President and CEO, Michael Melaniphy, plans to take these results to Congress. Please contact your legislatures and tell them transit is a priority to you too.
“We are seeing the same type of support in the St. Louis region. MetroBus ridership increases are leading the country and MetroLink ridership ranks in the top 10. More and more St. Louisans are embracing transit. Now more than ever, we need to look at what type of service does St. Louis need in the future to meet the needs of our aging baby boomers, the millenials, new immigrant populations coming to St. Louis and those that don’t have access to cars. The answer to everyone is an expanded, integrated transit system. At the same time, we can no longer avoid the question of how do we fund this system. All possible sources locally, statewide and federall must be looked at as well as building public/private partnerships to make sure St. Louis does move forward with transit. If more than 73% of Americans want to see investments in transit, let’s find a way to do just that,” said Kim Cella, CMT Executive Director.
Article Source: http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/06/73-of-americans-favour-investing-in-public-transport-with-their-tax-dollars/