Take action to save HSR and public transit

Reposting this message that was sent out on the CAHSR group to help spread the word.

In the Governor’s revised budget revised last week, funding for high-speed
rail was increased slightly, to $5.19 million, which is still far short of
the $60 million or so needed to complete the environmental planning work
over the next 12 months. Most of the funding increase was for planning work
in Orange County. The inadequate level of funding seriously jeopardizes the
high-speed rail project and the investment California has already made in
the project over the past nine years.

At the senate subcommittee hearing this week, testimony was heard by the
committee. They chose to defer taking action on HSR until a later senate
hearing, and they may still freeze funding for HSR at current levels rather
than increase it. Senate Budget Subcommittee 4 will once again consider HSR
at their Tuesday, May 22 meeting, starting at 10 AM in room 2040.

On the Assembly side, we’ve now learned that there will be a hearing this
Monday, May 21, time not certain but likely around 3:00, Room 126. Assembly
Budget Subcommittee 5 will take testimony on HSR. BayRail Alliance will be
there in Sacramento Monday, Tuesday, and also Wednesday for the HSRA board
meeting.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT HIGH SPEED RAIL

- Contact the members of the Assembly and Senate Budget subcommittees with
calls and/or faxes expressing your support for HSR. Contact information
below at the end of this message
- If you have computer/web research skills and can help us with some on-line
projects to build public support for HSR, please let us know!
- Write short letters to the editor in support of HSR. See our letter
writing tips at http://www.bayrailalliance.org/contact_media Both the
Oakland Tribune and Contra Costa Times, recently published editorials
against HSR. We need to educate them on the benefits of high-speed rail.

see the BayRail Alliance letter in support of HSR.
http://www.bayrailalliance.org/california_high_speed_rail

- - -

Public Transit Funds Still Threatened.

Alarmingly, public transit received less funding overall than before the May
revise. Governor Schwarzenegger proposes diverting 95 percent of additional
funds that transit would currently receive under formula, to the Department
of Education. Now, instead of diverting $1.1 billion from public transit,
the Governor is diverting $1.3 billion from public transit. The Bay Area
stands to lose nearly $30 million in public transit funding next year. Every
single agency would lose funds just when increased fuel prices are taking a
toll on their budgets. This budget would exacerbate Caltrain’s already
severe budget problem, adding about $1 million to Caltrain’s $3 M+ budget
deficit, which the Caltrain board has not yet figured out how to address.
Caltrain fares may continue to go up, or it may be forced to reduce service.

See Calpirg’s website for talking points and for an easy webform to send a
letter to your own Assemblymember:
http://calpirg.org/CA.asp?id2=30550&id3=CA&

The Senate Budget Subcommittee 4 will be considering funding for public
transit on Tuesday, and Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 will be holding a
hearing on it sometime Wednesday afternoon.

CONTACT INFORMATION for support funding for public transit and for HSR

Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5

Subcommittee Chair Mike Feuer, 916-319-2042, fax: 916-319-2142
Assemblyman John Benoit 916-319-2064, fax: 916-319-2164
Assemblyman Bob Huff 916-319-2060, fax: 916-319-2160
Assemblywoman Laura Richardson 916-319-2055, fax: 916-319-2155
Assemblywoman Lois Wolk 916-319-2008, fax: 916-319-2108

Senate Budget Subcommittee 4

Machado (Chair) fax: 916-323-2304
Dutton fax: 916-327-2272
Kehoe fax: 916-327-2188

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BayRail Alliance
www.bayrailalliance.org