tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post375462069168450160..comments2008-08-16T01:04:52.893-06:00Bill Lindekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373780012930618768noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-64368884846499431642008-08-16T01:04:00.000-06:002008-08-16T01:04:00.000-06:00A friend who is moving to Austin TX told me about the bus fares there:<BR/>http://www.capmetro.org/riding/fares_2.asp<BR/>Amazing.momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12149328149132703479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-50394490774252007502008-08-15T19:46:00.000-06:002008-08-15T19:46:00.000-06:00that is good news. the bus runs infrequently these days, and the grand av. corridor has a lot of transit potential, i think.Bill Lindekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373780012930618768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-89132247044886839972008-08-15T18:29:00.000-06:002008-08-15T18:29:00.000-06:00One piece of good news for you... the 63 is getting a frequency boost in September.Bethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-20012551031325478592008-08-15T09:33:00.000-06:002008-08-15T09:33:00.000-06:00Peter Bell should have stayed in the chemical dependency field, for which he had academic training. His work beyond that has been little more than shilling for corporate-driven politics and connecting with the right (pun intended) Republicans. Bell has no skills in public policy, and the Metropolitan Council is an embarrassment for Minnesota government. PLEASE Mr. Bell, become Pawlenty's veep committe chair! Go to D.C. and never return!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-51336224721137088262008-08-14T23:38:00.000-06:002008-08-14T23:38:00.000-06:00re: ryan<BR/><BR/>well, we did at one point. things MN has done that I am proud of include instituting Local Gov't Aid regional taxbase sharing, having strong state health insurance programs, forming the Met Council (though neglecting to have the members elected by the public), and declaring the Blueberry Muffin the official state muffin.<BR/><BR/>I guess I agree with you about your second point. Actually, I think $1 would be a great price to pay for transit. People easily understand it, and would be happy to pay that amount. It would double ridership very quickly, which is a goal that many legislators say they'd like to achieve.<BR/><BR/>Frankly, reducing our energy consumption in any meaningful way depends on a move like this. Raising fares right now is a sign of that we're living in a podunk society.Bill Lindekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373780012930618768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-20027839436320334972008-08-14T23:30:00.000-06:002008-08-14T23:30:00.000-06:00We have a progressive state government? Minnesota, right?<BR/><BR/>John Marty's idea is solid. The zero dollar fare idea is terrible. Nothing would kill transit faster than people knowing they can take any bus one block for free. A quarter would get it done.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08896768934881498374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-46023495549482857322008-08-14T17:48:00.000-06:002008-08-14T17:48:00.000-06:00Let me vehemently second both the sentiments and the ideas here. I'm still bemused that after the bridge fell down we didn't have a major push for funding shifts, or any meaningful accountability.momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12149328149132703479noreply@blogger.com