March 16, 2010 - Special Alert on Prop
A
Passage of Proposition A on
April 6th is Critical to
the Region's Transit System and Economic Growth
The RCGA strongly urges the St. Louis
business community to support Proposition A, the St. Louis County
transit tax proposal that will appear on the April 6th
ballot.
The RCGA's Board of Directors adopted
this resolution supporting Prop A, a
one-half cent sales tax increase for operations, maintenance and
expansion of MetroLink, MetroBus, and disabled and senior public
transportation. "Access to transit in St. Louis
connects people and provides a critical network for jobs and
economic growth that helps keep our region competitive," said
Dick Fleming, President and CEO of the RCGA.
Each day,
more than 100,000 individuals board a
Metro bus, train, or van, amounting to
nearly 53 million trips a year.
Prior to the March 2009
service reductions, 97% of all jobs in St. Louis
City and St. Louis County could be reached by riding Metro
transit. Transit is
also vital to the training of our
region's workforce, as 10% of MetroBus
and 7% of MetroLink riders are
students traveling to school.
Students and faculty members at
Washington University alone account for
5% of total Metrolink and
Metrobus monthly boardings.
Business leaders from across the region
are supporting Proposition A.
Steven Lipstein, President and CEO of BJC
HealthCare and RCGA Board Member, wrote
a letter to all employees that explained his view:
"There are lots of reasons that I am a
proponent of public support of transit....[M]any of our own
employees and patients rely on public transportation to access
our hospitals and service organizations. You may
not ride Metro personally, but you likely know, work alongside or
depend upon someone who does."
Larry Zarin, Senior Vice President of
Marketing and Corporate Communications at Express Scripts
Inc., stated, "A vibrant community is dependent on
access, mobility and diversity. That was the impetus for
situating our new campus within walking distance of MetroLink and
is the reason why Express Scripts and other leading organizations
in the metropolitan area support this important initiative."
To see how other businesses rely on
transit click on the video below.
|
Chesterfield Mayor John Nations,
who is chairing Advance
St. Louis, understands the critical role that
regional transit plays in economic development. He
explains, "Metro provides a service that is indispensable to the
City of Chesterfield. If you can't move people, you
can't create or retain jobs. Metro provides quality public
transportation that is essential for building a strong economic
environment in our community and enhancing the quality of life of
our residents."
How can businesses help Prop
A?
- Educate
your employees on the importance and regional
benefits of a
strong transit system, and
encourage them
to vote for
Proposition A on April 6th.
- Adopt a resolution of support for Prop A and
distribute it
to your employees.
- Make a donation to Advance
St. Louis, the
campaign to support Proposition
A.
The RCGA thanks
you for supporting transit, a vital part
of a prosperous and
vibrant St. Louis
region!
|
