State starves local transit systems

Apr 10, 2007
Susan De Vos, Madison Area Bus Advocates

Have you seen one of the hideous Metro Transit buses wrapped in ads yet? Thank our state legislators, our governor - "Mr. Ethanol" - and his Secretary of Transportation Frank Busalacchi.

Our state taxes and registration fees pay for transportation - that's road-building, not transit. The state's budget has been strangling transit systems such as Metro for years and no Madison- area representatives have done anything. The city has increased its financial support to Metro substantially for years, but there are limits, and we are seeing them.

The state needs to do its fair share, and a regional transit system needs a regional transit authority. In the meantime, as Metro rolls out the wrapped buses, it runs ads about how it is helping to keep America beautiful. Huh? -