What do your local candidates think about public transit?
Here’s a great resource from local advocacy group TRU:
What do your local candidates think about public transit?
Public transit is clearly one of the most important issues facing greater Detroit. Some candidates for public office have platforms supporting transit. Many, however, say nothing at all.
If you want better public transit, one of the most important things you can do this year is to ask questions about transit to candidates for public office.
Who should you ask questions to?
- Candidates for public office, including current elected officials and candidates for city council, mayor, county commission, county executive, state legislature, congress, senate and president!
Where can you ask questions?
- At candidate forums, debates, town hall meetings, on campaign websites, at coffee hours, parades, and any other opportunity to talk with candidates for public office
Why is it important to ask candidates questions about transit?
- As a voter, you should know where they stand on this important issue. Plus, during election campaigns candidates listen to what their constituents are talking about. It’s a critical time to insert transit into their discussions about what is important in your community. If they don’t hear about transit during the campaign, they’ll think it doesn’t matter and are less likely to act once elected.
What types of questions should you ask?
- You can ask questions about whatever aspect of transit you care about the most, whether that is bus improvements, funding for more transit, state commitment to the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter train, federal funding for high speed rail, or anything else.
Sample questions:
- Given how expensive it is to drive these days, what will you do if elected to ensure more and better transportation alternatives, such as better buses or new rapid transit alternatives?
- In the past, disagreements between the city and suburbs have torpedoed efforts to bring real quality rapid transit to our region. Will you commit to actively working with neighboring counties and cities to improve public transit throughout the region?
- Clearly keeping and attracting young college educated workers in Michigan is critical to our economic future, but half our college graduates are moving out of state, mostly to big cities with good public transit like Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco. What will you do when in office to support creation of vibrant urban areas and good public transit?
- Because of gas prices, lots more people are riding the bus. But bus agencies don’t have enough money to add more buses or new service. If elected, what will you do to make sure bus agencies have the funds they need to provide good, affordable alternatives for commuters?
If you have a chance, explain to the candidate why transit is important to you. Mention if you ride the bus, if you’ve ridden transit in other cities, if you’re concerned about global warming, etc.
Afterwards, visit www.DetroitTransit.org/candidate to let us know who you asked a question of and what they had to say. Thanks for your help!!
313-963-8872 Transportation Riders United (TRU) www.DetroitTransit.org