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Matt Helms in the Detroit Free Press: Debunking public transportation myths
http://www.freep.com/article/20111211/NEWS05/112110542/Debunking-public-transportation-mythsThere are a lot of misconceptions about public transit, despite its critical role in getting people around.
It's a $55-billion industry in the U.S. and a system that has been stretched by record-high gas prices and ridership levels not seen since the 1950s even as a troubled economy reduces funding nationwide.
The American Public Transportation Association says the long-term trend is clear: Ridership on the nation's buses, subways, commuter rail lines and other transit systems grew 34% in 1995-2009, outpacing 23% growth in the number of vehicle miles driven on highways in that period. The number of workers who rely on transit regularly grew by a million, to nearly 7 million nationwide, in 2005-09.
As state and local leaders explore setting up a regional public transportation system to help stabilize and ultimately improve service in southeast Michigan, they'll have to battle misunderstandings about public transportation:
It's a $55-billion industry in the U.S. and a system that has been stretched by record-high gas prices and ridership levels not seen since the 1950s even as a troubled economy reduces funding nationwide.
The American Public Transportation Association says the long-term trend is clear: Ridership on the nation's buses, subways, commuter rail lines and other transit systems grew 34% in 1995-2009, outpacing 23% growth in the number of vehicle miles driven on highways in that period. The number of workers who rely on transit regularly grew by a million, to nearly 7 million nationwide, in 2005-09.
As state and local leaders explore setting up a regional public transportation system to help stabilize and ultimately improve service in southeast Michigan, they'll have to battle misunderstandings about public transportation:
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that goes to Chicago in 4 or 5 hours. This isn't really a solution to anyone's day to day transportation needs. 
Meanwhile, the local SMART bus service began its service cuts today.
U.S. OKs $150M for Chicago-Detroit high-speed rail
Kalamazoo— U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he's awarded $150 million to Michigan to buy a rail line for high-speed passenger service between Chicago and Detroit.
...
The money enables the Michigan Department of Transportation to buy much of the Chicago-Detroit rail corridor.
On Oct. 5, Michigan said it had agreed to buy the tracks between Kalamazoo and Dearborn in suburban Detroit. The U.S. said then that it was giving Michigan $196 million for signal and track improvements.
The project allows speeds of up to 110 mph on 77 percent of the Detroit-Chicago line, cutting travel time by 30 minutes.
http://detnews.com/article/20111122/METRO05/111220430/U.S.-OKs-$150M-for-Chicago-Detroit-high-speed-rail
Kalamazoo— U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he's awarded $150 million to Michigan to buy a rail line for high-speed passenger service between Chicago and Detroit.
...
The money enables the Michigan Department of Transportation to buy much of the Chicago-Detroit rail corridor.
On Oct. 5, Michigan said it had agreed to buy the tracks between Kalamazoo and Dearborn in suburban Detroit. The U.S. said then that it was giving Michigan $196 million for signal and track improvements.
The project allows speeds of up to 110 mph on 77 percent of the Detroit-Chicago line, cutting travel time by 30 minutes.
http://detnews.com/article/20111122/METRO05/111220430/U.S.-OKs-$150M-for-Chicago-Detroit-high-speed-rail
A tourist line to Chicago is nice and all, but wouldn't a tiny portion of that money be better spent on supporting existing services?
SMART service reductions start Monday as Metro Detroit looks to Lansing for regional authority
Many bus riders in Metro Detroit may need to find a new route to work on Monday as the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation significantly reduces service.
SMART will completely eliminate 15 routes, cut nine others on the weekend and terminate several at Detroit city limits except during peak hours as it lays off more than 120 workers.
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/12/smart_service_reductions_start.html
Many bus riders in Metro Detroit may need to find a new route to work on Monday as the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation significantly reduces service.
SMART will completely eliminate 15 routes, cut nine others on the weekend and terminate several at Detroit city limits except during peak hours as it lays off more than 120 workers.
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/12/smart_service_reductions_start.html