center for transportation excellence presented by nina szlosberg and sig hutchinson june 1, 2009

Center for Transportation Excellence

Presented byNina Szlosberg and Sig Hutchinson

June 1, 2009

CHANGE

Re-framing The Transit Conversation

CHANGE A Convergence of Crisis….

Re-framing The Transit Conversation

Convergence of Crisis

• Traffic CongestionUrban travelers are delayed in rush hour traffic nearly 62 hours a year

• Costing Us More

Economic cost of highway congestion is $67 billion now and will increase to $90 billion in 2009


• Loss of Open Space Sprawling development is gobbling up land at unprecedented rates

• Vehicle Miles Traveled GrowthThe average vehicle miles traveled per household has almost doubled in the last generation

• Air QualityIt is estimated that the number of people with asthma will grow by more than 100 million by 2025 and is currently costing us $14 Billion a year.

• Exercise and Obesity120 million adults in the U.S. are overweight, 60 million obese. Child obesity has tripled in the last 20 years


• Global Warming

Transportation accounts for 1/3rd of total US Greenhouse Gas emissions

• Dependence on Foreign Oil

The US has 5% of the world’s population, yet consumes 25% of the world’s oil


DISSATISACTION A Convergence Of Crisis….


Tapping The Dissatisfaction


The LanguageWe Use Matters

Changing the Conversation

How to DescribeA New 21st Century Lifestyle?


Sustainability Is it really a conversation about

scarcity?


This is a Conversation of Abundance


“What’s In It For Me?”


“MONEY”We are spending more on

transportation than ever before.


“TIME”What if I gave you 5 hours a week

to do anything you want?


“CHOICES”One Choice? or Many Choices?


It’s About More

“CHOICES” “TIME”

“MONEY”


Who Would Want More?


• Active Empty Nesters• Young Professionals

• Seniors


It’s Not Just About Us…It’s About the Community


It’s about Economic Development and Job Creation


It’s About Quality of Life


MORE TIME

MORE MONEY

MORE CHOICES

MORE LIFESTYLE OPTIONS

MORE SECURITY

LESS STRESS

BETTER HEALTH


The Strange Thing About Light RailNo matter how much it fails, politicians want more

By Ted Balaker

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE

Americans Reject Public Transportation, Choose Autos

Published In: Environment News Publisher: The Heartland Institute

The Spin Doctors and theAnti-Transit Message

Breach of Faith:Light Rail and Smart Growth

in Charlotte By Wendell Cox

A Desire Named Streetcar: How Federal Subsidies Encourage

Wasteful Local Transit Systemsby Randal O'Toole



According to Fairness in Media, Tens of Millions $$$ flowing into these “Think

Tanks” from foundations and corporations with interests in:

• Petroleum Refining • Chemicals • Crude Oil• Gasoline

• Petrochemicals• Aggregates and Asphalt

SIGNATURES CLEAR THE WAY FOR REVOTE ON TRANSIT TAXANTI-LIGHT-RAIL GROUP REACHES PETITION GOAL

A petition drive seeking a revote on Mecklenburg County's half-cent sales tax for mass transit has succeeded, all but ensuring a place on the November ballot.

The announcement Thursday that the Mecklenburg Board of Elections had verified the required 48,669 signatures means voters likely will have two significant choices this fall. The transit vote will determine whether the Charlotte Area Transit System can complete an ambitious plan for multiple train lines.

Attacks on Transit Projects Persistence Pays

Attacks on Transit Projects Persistence Pays

THE “ANTI-TRANSIT” PUNDITS MEAN BUSINESS. THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER.

Ron Tober's unexpected retirement announcement on Wednesday as chief of the Charlotte Area Transit System

followed what he called years of 'vicious and mean-spirited' verbal

attacks from opponents, and he said he had considered leaving for months.

Retiring Tober Calls Criticism 'Vicious'

Attacks on Transit Projects Persistence Pays: A Casualty

Attacks on Transit ProjectsDefense is expensive

$850,000 RAISED AND

SPENT

Print Television

Attacks on Transit ProjectsWe Can Win

Tax supporters, foes surprised by margin of victory

Mecklenburg County voters overwhelmingly backed the transit sales tax Tuesday, dismissing an aggressive grass-roots effort to repeal it and endorsing CATS' ambitious plans to expand light rail and buses.

The margin of victory stunned even transit supporters. With all but one

precinct counted, 70 percent voted against repeal, with 30 percent in favor of stopping the tax. The number of people voting for repeal -- roughly 37,000 -- fell short of the 48,000 signatures collected that put the tax back on the ballot.

The decision means that the Charlotte Area Transit System will continue collecting the half-cent tax, which generated $70 million last year, and will continue with its expansive 2030 transit plan.

Attacks on Transit ProjectsLessons Learned

THIS IS A NATIONAL, WELL COORDINATED,

WELL FINANCED EFFORT

YOU MUST BE PROACTIVE IN COMMUNICATION

THE ANTI TRANSIT ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE…

What We Wish We Had Known

Bob Morgan, President

The Idea Educate, Inspire and Motivate

“INOCULATING THE COMMUNITY”

The Idea: Educate, Inspire and Motivate

• GOALS– Promote Transit and Livable Communities – Re-Frame the Transit Conversation to One of Choice,

Opportunity and Abundance– Inoculate Communities from Anti-Transit Message– Build Community Support for Increased $ for Transit

Investments– Create National Movement to Get More Transit Money

in the Reauthorized Transportation Bill (2009-10)

The “Inoculation” CampaignHow does it work?

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

TAKES US THEREquality of life

economy

environment

energy

THREE “Es” AND A “Q”

Supported by National Research4 “Frames” for Messaging

Economy Environment Energy Quality of life



economy

environment

energy

Three “Es” and a “Q”

Public transportation gets our economy moving again

economy

Public transportation stimulates the economy and creates green jobs.



economy

environment

energy


economy

Every $1 billion invested in federallyaided public transportation capitalprojects supports approximately30,000 jobs.

$1 billion invested in federally aided public transportation capital projects supports approximately 30,000 jobs

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide $8.4 billion in investment in public transportation projects creating 252,000 jobs

Every $10 million in capitalinvestment in public transportation

can return up to $30 million inbusiness sales alone.

• Each year, an individual can achieve



economy

environment

energy


economy


The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide$8.4 billion in investment in publictransportation projects. Theseprojects will create approximately252,000 jobs for Americans

For every $1 invested in public transportation, $6 is generated in economic returns.

$10 million in capital investment in public transportation returns up to $30 million in business sales alone.

Every $10 million in capitalinvestment in public transportation

can return up to $30 million inbusiness sales alone.

• Each year, an individual can achieve



economy

environment

energy


economy


The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide$8.4 billion in investment in publictransportation projects. Theseprojects will create approximately252,000 jobs for Americans

Each year, an individual can save more than $8,000 by taking public transportation instead of driving and by living with one less car.



economy

environment

energy


Public transportation helps protect our environment

Public transportation is the responsible environmental choice

environment



economy

environment

energy



U.S. greenhouse gases from transportation represent 33 percent of total U.S. emissions.

environment



economy

environment

energy



environment

Public transportation saves 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually – equal to the emissions of 4.9 million households or every household in Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined.



economy

environment

energy



environment

Taking public transportation far exceeds the combined benefits of using energy-efficient light bulbs, adjusting thermostats, weatherizing one’s home, and replacing a refrigerator.



economy

environment

energy



environment

Public Transportation improves air quality. Compared with private vehicles, public transportation produces, on average, per passenger mile, 95 percent less carbon monoxide, 92 percent fewer volatile organic compounds, and 48 percent less nitrogen oxide.



economy

environment

energy



environment

Asthma rates among children have doubled from 2.3 million to 5.5 million in the past decade, reaching epidemic proportions in the U.S. Air pollution is a primary cause.



economy

environment

energy



environment

Transit Oriented Development can save open space by organizing communities in a more compact form around transit.



economy

environment

energy


Public transportation reduces our dependence on foreign oil

Increased investment in public transportation is an investment in American energy independence and economic security.

energy



economy

environment

energy



Public transportation saves the U.S. the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually – more than three times the amount of gasoline refined from the oil we import from Kuwait.

energy



economy

environment

energy



energy

Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 900,000 automobile fill-ups every day.



economy

environment

energy



Household residents living within the proximity of public transportation drive an average of 4,400 fewer miles annually compared to those with no access to public transportation.

energy



economy

environment

energy



The average household in which at least one member uses public transportation on a given day drives 16 fewer miles per day compared to a household that does not use public transportation.

energy



economy

environment

energy


Public transportation enhances our quality of life

quality of life

Public transportation reduces traffic congestion, travel time, and stress.



economy

environment

energy



quality of life

Public Transportation riders have choices about how to spend their travel time. Car commuters traveling in peak periods waste, on average, 62 hours a year -- nearly eight full working days -- in congestion delays.

83 percent of older Americans say that public transit provides easyaccess to the things they need in everyday life



economy

environment

energy



quality of life

Public Transportation can save you money. One car families spend less on gasoline, insurance, and car maintenance (8,000 a yr)




economy

environment

energy



quality of life

83 percent of older Americans say that public transit provides easy access to the things they need in everyday life.




economy

environment

energy



quality of life

Transit promotes the development of more walkable communities with a greater diversity of amenities located nearby.




economy

environment

energy



quality of life

Public transportation users are more likely to meet recommended exercise goals.



economy

environment

energy



quality of life

When Americans use public transportation, they walk more. Walking increases fitness levels, leading to healthier citizens and less strain on the health care system.




economy

environment

energy


MESSAGE MATTERSIt is our responsibility to shape the conversation about transit

Shift from one about scarcity to abundance

More Time

More Money

More Security

Better Health

Three E’s and a Q




economy

environment

energy


Economy Environment Energy Quality of life

Thank You.

Presented byNina Szlosberg and Sig Hutchinson

June 1, 2009

center for transportation excellence presented by nina szlosberg and sig hutchinson june 1, 2009

Documents

transit conversation

generation slide

antitransit message

conversation of abundance

years convergence of

choices time money

spin doctors

public transportation