More Mass Transit?
On Monday, Oct 13, Ashwin Madia made a presentation to an audience at the Humphrey Institute entitled “Green Technology, Green Power, and Greenbacks: A Plan to Protect our Environment and our Economy” . A detailed coverage of this presentation can be found at any number of your local lefty blogs, or at the University’s own site Smart Politics. In his presentation, Madia calls for the building of more mass transit, including an expansion of LRT into the Third CD. Incredulously, he claims that this can be done with out increasing taxes.
This got me wondering.
What mass transit currently exists within the Third CD, and did Ashwin Madia make use of any existing mass transit systems in making his trip from his transient home in Plymouth, to the Humphrey Institute on the University of Minnesota campus?
First, what’s available?
The city of Plymouth (my home town) provides a service called Plymouth Metrolink. This service “offers express bus service between Plymouth and downtown Minneapolis. It also provides reverse commute service from Minneapolis to Plymouth. Plymouth Metrolink riders are able to connect to Metro Transit bus routes.” A quick check of the posted schedules shows that a combination of Plymouth Metrolink and available Metro Transit bus routes could easily get someone from Plymouth to the U of M campus. Further more, Plymouth, has an additional service called Plymouth Dial-a-Ride. “Dial-A-Ride is a curb-to-curb transit service for Plymouth residents and their guests. A deluxe mini-bus will take you anywhere in Plymouth”.
Second, did Ashwin Madia make use of existing Mass Transit systems before calling for the building of more?
I called Dan Pollack, communications director for the Madia for Congress campaign to ask him about Ashwin Madia’s transportation habits. I was informed that Ashwin Madia makes use of all available forms of transportation? (all forms?). I asked Dan specifically, “How did Ashwin Madia get to the Humphrey Institute on Monday Oct 13?”. Dan Pollack said “I’ll have to get back to you on that”, and promptly hung up the phone.
Well Dan, I’m waiting for you to clear things up.
While we are at it, I’ve got a few more transportation questions for you.
1. Does Ashwin Madia own a car?
2. How many campaign fundraisers did Ashwin Madia attend that required air travel? (The 3rd CD is big, but not that big)
3. Does Ashwin Madia use public transportation or is that just for the little guy?
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