Think public transit is not as big a need in rural areas as it is in urban ones....think again. A new report from "Reconnecting America" notes that nearly 40 percent of the United States’ transit-dependent population — including senior citizens, the disabled and low-income individuals — lives in rural areas.
The key of course is making public transit work in rural areas. And the report, "Putting Transit to Work in Main Street America" gives plenty of examples from around the country of how rural transit systems can be an economic catalyst and an important community service.
The report comes at a key time when a conference committee in Congress made up of House and Senate members is negotiating their way toward a new federal transportation authorization act. Michigan Congressmen Dave Camp and Fred Upton are members of the committee. They need to hear from you about the importance of public transit and the positive impact it can have on the economy of both urban and rural areas of our state.
League members and transportation advocates are encouraged to write Congressmen Camp and Upton and their own congressional representatives now!
Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at aweinfeld@mml.org
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