From: "Friends of Transit NEWS" <info@friendsoftransit.org>
To: <info@friendsoftransit.org>
Subject: Letter to the editor
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 10:11 PM

Below is a copy of a letter to editor submitted by fellow Friend of Transit and frequent author of other letters to editor - Scott Hume.  As Scott will attest, these letters to the editor is an extremely useful tool in helping transit advocates like us to get our message out to the community.  It would be helpful if other readers did the same.  I am sure Scott would be happy to assist you in writing a successful letter - he has had literally dozens published over the years.

Thank you for your continued interest in transit.

David Schwartz
Executive Director


----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Hume <schume@hotmail.com
To: <schume@hotmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 5:56 PM
Subject: Letter to the Editor


It's disheartening that some of our Arizona's senators and representatives seem to ignore the mandate of Phoenix voters concerning light rail. Some do not yet seem to whole-heartedly push for federal funding. This attitude at times seems based on personal philosophical preferences, and is especially dismaying in that it almost hinders timely completion of Phoenix's light rail project. One staffer brazenly suggested his boss thought such spending was "pork barrel," while another public servant emptily termed the project "a boondoggle" in the press.

This new spine of our regional transportation system is necessary, and not "pork barrel." By many reports, Phoenix is anticipated to double in size in the next decade. For one of the nation's largest (and still growing) cities to not have a significant, multi-modal transportation system is ludicrous!

And this isn't just 'transit-envy,' as some have obliviously suggested.

Especially after all the 'hoops' in the process (which all cities must undergo for similar funding requests) have been administratively jumped through, the project has received a "recommended" rating.  Phoenix must have additional transit options which can lessen ground transportation congestion.

Even if light rail were "pork" (and not increasingly necessary), Phoenix-area voters have embraced mass transit. It's not for our representatives to re-evaluate and then re-decide our intents for us...it's time for them to act accordingly.

Scott Hume
12618 N. 34th Place
Phoenix, Arizona 85032
602/817-6961
Freelance writer, web site designer, independent community activist and volunteer, plus a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan.
http://www.angelfire.com/az/schume
or http://www.scottssupersite.url4life.com