4.3. SR 04-16-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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What this means, from a conservative perspective, is that commuter rail transit is transit for us: for middle-class people who pay most of the taxes. For once, in return for our tax money we are getting a service we can use, and that we want to use. It is not another "transfer payment," where government takes money from us to give it to somebody else. Rather, in return for our money, we get a new, better way to commute. And it is a better way to commute, for everyone. Time spent behind the wheel of a car caught in rush hour traffic is time wasted. At most, you can call someone on your cell phone and tell them you will be late for a meeting. In contrast, on a commuter train you can read, work on papers, write, and think. What was wasted time becomes productive time. And meanwhile, your commuter train is speeding past all those cars stuck in traffic. Commuter rail is the fastest growing mode of transit in America, and for good reason. When people try it, they like it and they want more of it. The Northstar corridor offers the Twin Cities a chance to try commuter rail. The Federal share of the money to get it up and running is sitting there, waiting. Chicago's Metra covers more than 50% of its operating expenses from the farebox - far more than most bus systems - and Northstar should be able to do the same. Expanding Highway 10 will cost more than Northstar. From every perspective, commuter rail transit is the right way to go.