Dear Reader,

As a subscriber to Mobilizing the Region, you recognize that the NY-NJ-CT metro region is the ideal place for a truly modern, customer- and environment-friendly transportation system.

Together, we witnessed major strides forward during the last decade — large gains in transit ridership, new rail lines and connections, the spread of traffic calming, the advent of congestion pricing and growing interest in rail freight.

Mobilizing the Region and the work of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign have been an important part of this progress. Today, I ask you to consider a tax-deductible year-end gift to support our work — and continued publication of MTR — in 2005. Just send a check to the address below or donate online at www.tstc.org/fundraising/donate.html.

From the feedback we get, we know decision-makers read MTR.   It is an effective vehicle for raising questions and keeping a spotlight on opportunities to better balance transit, walking and driving.

A spokesperson for a large transportation agency once wrote to tell us "The Campaign does the best transportation reporting in the city." MTR provides information about transportation projects or trends that often ends up in the papers weeks later.

Without sustained outside pressure, it’s doubtful we would have congestion pricing programs in place at the NJ Turnpike and the Port Authority crossings. So too NJ DOT’s new approach to land use issues in congested corridors or the virtual halt to new road expansion projects in downstate New York.  

But much remains to be done. Transit gains in NY and NJ are imperiled because they were paid for by borrowing too heavily. CT failed to invest altogether and its transit system is falling apart.

We need NY and CT DOTs to engage municipalities over sprawl development that fuels gridlock. The entire region faces huge increases in truck traffic.

Your contribution will help us keep up the pressure on these key issues, and continue MTR as the drumbeat for better transportation.

Sincerely,

Jon Orcutt

Executive Director

P.S. You can donate online at www.tstc.org/fundraising/donate.html  or send a check to the address below. Please make the Campaign one of your year-end tax deductible contributions. Thank you!

Tri State Transportation Campaign

350 West 31st Street, Suite 802

New York, NY 10001

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Go to index of all Mobilizing the Region back issues.