For Immediate Release: Feb. 22, 2008 |
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MINNESOTA: LOVE IT. SAVE IT. TRANSIT! ST. PAUL (February 22, 2008). In a response to the Governor’s veto, Transit advocates are taking to the airwaves. A 60-second radio ad will start airing on Sunday urging listeners to call their lawmakers to pass the Transportation bill. The radio spot captures a suburban couple faced with less time at home and more time on the road thanks to traffic and insufficient funding for roads, rail, and transit. “Lawmakers need to hear our frustration. We can’t get to work. We can’t get home. We can’t get our goods to market,” said Michael Noble, Executive Director of Fresh Energy. “Another year without a transportation plan will cost us money. It won’t save any. We thank the brave lawmakers who won’t be frozen by party politics and will do the right thing to fund transportation.” According to analysis conducted by Transit for Livable Communities and Fresh Energy, increasing public transit options in the Twin Cities region will reduce car travel in the area by nearly two billion miles by 2020. At current prices, that means over $20 million per year staying in Minnesota’s economy rather than paying for foreign oil. Transit investments would also save over $3 billion in construction costs for local roads and sewers, according to the Metropolitan Council. - end - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fresh Energy is a nonprofit organization leading the transition to a clean energy system. One that supports the health of our economies, our people, and our environment while moving us toward energy independence. www.fresh-energy.org |