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Focus on safe, fast, convenient, comfortable, cheap travel, via public transit. Vol. 9, No. 11 November 2016 Photo credits: YouTube, High Speed Rail America Club; YouTube, Pat Dixon.

Left: High speed railroad advocates have made a YouTube video that explains what it would take to build a superfast coast-to-coast railroad atop of the USA-Mexico border wall promised by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Story page 7. Right: Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx borough president, and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton take a ride on the New York subway. Story page 3.

We heartedly support Clinton to be USA’s next president With elections nearing, The Travelin’ Grampa hereby endorses Hillary Clinton to be our

country’s next president. Aside from her experience as U.S. Senator and Secretary of State, she

obviously has learned much as: partner in a big law firm, congressional legal counsel, first lady in

Arkansas and in the White House, and in two hard campaigns for the presidency.

Her opponent, Donald Trump, has no experience in government. His speeches show he knows

little about the country described in the Constitution of the United States, little about governing in

general, and not much about anything. He’s a con artist, admittedly among the best.

He resembles P.T. Barnum, a 19th Century “successful” business man and promoter who

famously declared, “There’s a sucker born every minute, and two to take his place.”

Trump became unintentional Republican candidate via sensation-prone news media and the

unforeseen consequences of anti-Obama/Clinton actions and statements by leaders of a grand old

party fighting for its life in a changing country. In short, Trump’s job resume stinks.

Nearly 65 years, Grampa has campaigned and voted In 1952, Grampa campaigned for Estes Kefauver, a senator from Tennessee seeking the

presidency. Earlier, he was a boyhood fan of presidents Harry S. Truman and Franklin Delano

Roosevelt. In subsequent years, he was: local party committeeman, party chairman in Flemington,

N.J., and headed his sister’s campaign for election to a three-person council heading the county

government in Delaware County, Pa. While residing in the District of Columbia, Grampa even

ran half-seriously for a “shadow” U.S. Senate seat there. He lost to Jessie Jackson.

The Travelin Grampa Touring the U.S.A. without an automobile

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. WHY WE LIKE HILLARY .

Clinton $275-billion infrastructure plan includes public transit In her first 100 days as president, Hillary Clinton will provide Congress “a comprehensive

plan to create the next generation of good jobs” requiring “the biggest investment in American

infrastructure in decades,” she declared on June 22.

Recalling great USA construction projects of the past – the transcontinental railroad of the

1860s to the Hoover Dam in the 1930s and interstate highways of the 1950s – Clinton noted that

in recent decades there have been none such as those.

Infrastructure “investment,” i.e., spending, is “half what it was 35 years ago,” she said, before

proposing a $275-billion 5-year plan to rebuild and replace aging and obsolete roads, bridges,

sewer systems, railways, mass transit, etc.

Clinton calls public transit key to more and better jobs Hillary Clinton plans to prioritize “investments” in public transportation “to connect

Americans to jobs, spur economic growth and improve quality of life in our communities,” states

a Clinton Campaign position paper. This includes, it says, public transit for workers and job

seekers in “low-income communities and communities of color.” A Clinton Administration also

will “encourage local governments to work with low-income communities to ensure unemployed

and underemployed Americans are connected to good jobs,” it says.

Another Clinton target: Provide all public transportation riders ready access to route, schedule,

next bus arrival time and other vital information by allowing all households in America to have

affordable broadband by 2020.

Noted a campaign aide: “She also supports bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.”

In addition, Clinton favors “free Wi-Fi” in public buildings and on public transit.

She wants a faster, safer, higher capacity rail system Among aims of a would-be 2017 Clinton Administration: “Build a faster, safer, and higher

capacity passenger rail system,” says a Clinton Campaign position paper. “As more and more

Americans travel by train, our passenger rail infrastructure continues to crumble, slowing down

journeys, limiting ridership and making trains less safe,” it points out.

“In some cases, crucial Amtrak and regional railroad infrastructure is more than a century

old,” it relates, before declaring that Clinton hopes to help create “a world-leading passenger rail

system to meet rapidly growing demand and build a more mobile America.”

She wants world-class USA airport transit connections

Newest major airport in America is 20 years old. A recent survey ranks our best airport

30th worldwide. “Clinton will work to ensure that airports have the funding they need to create

world-class air hubs for the 21st century, with reliable and efficient connections to mass transit,”

says the aforementioned position paper. She also will encourage efforts to “modernize our

national airspace system” to “reduce carbon emissions” while saving travelers and airlines “an

estimated $100-billion in avoided delays over the next 15 years,” it declares.

Much of our aviation system depends on radar-based air traffic control systems dating back to

the World War II era, it says. An FAA upgrade program using satellite-based navigation and

advanced digital communications is “chronically behind schedule and well short of expectations,”

it notes. She promises to “get this crucial program back on track.”

All these Clinton positions and promises are likely to come to naught if Congress remains in

opposition, of course. But it’s good to know, at least, her stance on them.

3

. WHY WE LIKE HILLARY .

Photo credit: NPR wedsite video, CNN.website video.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton swiping her Metro fare card at a New York subway turnstile at Yankee Stadium station. She had to swipe five times before it let her enter. Grampa usually rides the subway when in the Big Apple, and after two filed swipes he goes to another turnstile.

Hillary rides NYC subway ‘a little like a tourist’ As a resident of Chappaqua, N.Y., 36-miles northeast of Manhattan, Hillary Clinton is an

infrequent New York subway rider. This was quite apparent April 7 when she had trouble using a

Metro fare card at a turnstile at Yankee Stadium station. She unsuccessfully swiped her fare card

four times. Only after a fifth did it allow her entry.

Then, accompanied by reporters, TV cameras and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.,

Hillary boarded a Bronx No. 4 Line train and went one stop to 170th Street station, where she and

her entourage got off. They all made their way to Munch Time, a diner in the Bronx.

On the train, she was asked when she last rode on the subway. Her reply: “It was probably

after I got out of being Secretary of State. So, about two years ago.”

About the subway, she said, “I love it because it’s so convenient.”

Time magazine later said she “rode the subway and only looked a little like a tourist.”

For more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hillary-clinton-rides-subway-york-city/story?id=38218560

Hillary obviously not stranger to public transportation Born in Chicago, Hillary Rodham was raised in Park Ridge, a Chicago suburb. She graduated

high school there in 1965. As a student, she would have had plenty of opportunity to ride public

transportation. Park Ridge is served by three PACE bus lines and a CTA commuter bus line. It

has two Metra's Union Pacific/Northwest regional railroad stations.

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. WHY WE LIKE HILLARY .

Many don’t realize Hillary is a long-time NY resident When reporters asked New Yorkers during the 1990s where U.S. Senate candidate Hillary

Clinton was born, most replied: Washington or Arkansas. Others said East Coast. A few

supposed: Indiana, Texas or California. Only one said New York.

“She's from ... politics,” replied one woman.

Jan. 1999 to Jan. 2001, the Clintons were temporary residents of the White House in

Washington DC. On Sept. 22, 1999, they bought a lovely home in Chappaqua, Westchester

County, N.Y. This has been their legal residence for the past 17 years.

Bill opened a law office on 125th Street in Manhattan’s Harlem community, becoming just

another well-off Westchester County resident able to commute on MTA Metro North Railroad’s

Harlem Line trains between there and Manhattan’s Harlem-125th Street station, a 45-minute ride,

or go on to Grand Central station, a 55-minutes ride.

For more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rINOK_Xs28

She says chutzpah not always a bad thing In July 1999, while the Clintons still were temporary residents of the White House in

Washington DC, Hillary visited the upstate Delaware County farm of U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick

Moynihan, D-N.Y., who planned to retire. Rumors flew that she was considering running for his

senate seat. At a press conference there, she confirmed the rumor. “What do you say to those who

say: 'It takes a lot of chutzpah to come to a state you're not from and run for the Senate.’?” asked

WNBC-TV’s legendary political reporter, Gabe Pressman.

To which she calmly replied, “Chutzpah is not always a bad thing.”

She ran for the U.S. Senate twice, won twice.

Wellesley students enjoy reliable frequent transit aplenty In 1969, Hillary Rodham graduated from Wellesley College, 20 miles from Boston, Mass.

Wellesley students “have more reliable and frequent transport to resources and entertainment in

the greater Boston area than students of any other suburban campus,” the school’s Faculty

Housing & Transportation Department says.

Buses run hourly on weekdays and more frequently on weekends to locations in Cambridge

and downtown Boston. Wellesley-Olin-Babson and Mall/Movie shuttles take riders to/from other

schools and attractions in the area. These pick up a short walk from the residence hall. Nearby is

the Wellesley Square stop of MBTA’s Framingham-Worcester commuter railway.

Only a few miles away is the Woodland stop of the “T” Green Line. The “T” is what

Bostonians call their MBTA railway system.

Yale Law School has much good public transportation In 1973, Hillary graduated from Yale Law School in New Haven, Conn., where she met Bill

Clinton. While at Yale, in summer 1971 she interned at a law firm in Oakland, Calif. *

Yale has good public transportation, with regular CT Transit buses during the day and minibus

or van door-to-door service after 6 pm. Also, Yale Law School has its own shuttle after 6 pm

every 15 minutes, dropping off at doorways. CT Transit has 22 bus routes in the New Haven area.

Yale University’s own shuttle provides students, faculty and staff free year around transport

to/from the East Rock neighborhood and New Haven train stations, except on some holidays.

* Bay Area Rapid Transit, aka BART, began service in 1972.

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. WHY WE LIKE HILLARY .

Photo credit: Evi L. Bloggerlady Twitter tweet.

Sporting a headband, popular at the time, Hillary Clinton in March 1992 shakes a New York subway passenger’s hand in hopes of maybe winning a vote for her husband.

Hillary an old hand at campaigning on subway trains

Hillary’s April 7 ride on a New York subway train wasn’t her first, says blogger Kelly

Faircloth. It was “actually a repeat performance,” she says.

In March 1992, during Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign, headband-wearing Hillary rode a

Number 1 train from Houston Street station near the Sheraton Manhattan Hotel in SoHo Village,

where she was staying, to a station near New York University law school, where she delivered a

lecture. According a New York Times story about the subway trip, she bought seven 10-token

packs to distribute to her entourage, including about 40 members of the news media.

“Each train has three doors,” said Ben Sawyer, a Clinton volunteer who said he was selected

for this assignment because “they needed somebody who knows downtown from uptown.”

Looking at the lady followed by the crowd, a New Yorker asked, “Who is that woman? Did

she win the lottery or something?”

Does Hillary’s subway campaigning break the law? Hillary is lucky Donald Trump hasn’t read Section 1050.6 (c)1 of the New York subway rule

book, which forbids political campaigning in MTA trains but allows it in stations so long as long

as candidates stay at least 25 feet away from ticket machines and booths.

It says: “The following non-transit uses are permitted by the authority, provided they do not

impede transit activities and they are conducted in accordance with these rules: public speaking;

campaigning; leafletting or distribution of written noncommercial materials…”

“Permitted non-transit uses may be conducted in the transit system except: when on or within:

a subway car; an omnibus; or, any area not generally open to the public…”

Violators face a $25 fine or 10 days in jail.

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. REPUBLICANS & TRUMP .

Republican platform seeks to kill public transit funding The 58-page 2016 Republican National Convention campaign platform has a section on

transportation. Its main provision seeks to eliminate Highway Trust Fund funds for public

transportation and bicyclist and pedestrian friendly stuff. The platform says:

“We propose to remove from the Highway Trust Fund programs that should not be the

business of the federal government. More than a quarter of the Fund’s spending is diverted from

its original purpose. One fifth of its funds are spent on mass transit, an inherently local affair that

serves only a small portion of the population, concentrated in six big cities. Additional funds are

used for bike-share programs, sidewalks, recreational trails, landscaping, and historical

renovations.”

Trump and Republican Party disagree on transit Like most Manhattan residents, Donald Trump likes trains, subways and buses. But most

Republican Party leaders don’t. Or at least they don’t want revenue from federal taxes – or even

state taxes – being spent for public transportation.

Early in Trump’s presidential campaign, back in March, he stressed the USA’s need to

improve and modernize its airports and railroads to match those of Europe and Asia he’s seen

during his travels. “You go to China,” he said. “They have trains that go 300 miles an hour. We

have trains that go chug, chug, chug. And then they have to stop because the tracks split…”

His book Great Again calls for big federal spending In Donald Trump’s 2015 book, Great Again: How to Fix Crippled America, he calls for big

infrastructure improvements, including roads and public transit. It says:

“We need to undertake a massive rebuilding …Public transit is overcrowded and unreliable

and our airports must be rebuilt. You go to countries like China and many others and look at their

train systems and public transport. It’s so much better. We’re like a third-world country.”

“On the federal level, this is going to be an expensive investment, no question about that. But

in the long run it will more than pay for itself.”

Trump sees self as ‘Greatest infrastructure president’ At the Republican convention, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Penn.), who chairs the House Committee

on Transportation & Infrastructure, told Business Insider that Trump told him he’s planning to be

“the greatest infrastructure president in the nation’s history.”

In his convention speech, Trump said, “Our roads and bridges are falling apart. Our airports

are Third World condition.” Later, he said, “We will build the roads, highways, bridges, tunnels,

airports and the railways of tomorrow. This, in turn, will create millions of more jobs. …and we

will fix TSA at the airports, which is a total disaster.”

NYC transit enhances Trump’s real estate holdings “While he may not often use New York’s subways, he certainly knows the city would come to

a halt without it,” says William Lind of the American Conservative Center for Public

Transportation. “What would his New York real estate investments be worth if New York’s rail

transit ceased to operate? Businessman are aware of this sort of thing.”

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. TRUMP & LIBERTARIANS .

Photo credit: dbOb at Reddit; High Speed Rail America Club.at YouTube.

350-mph railway atop USA-Mexico wall seriously considered

A high-speed railway between California and Florida atop the USA-Mexico border wall

advocated by Donald Trump gets serious analysis in a two-minute YouTube video prepared by

the High Speed Rail America Club.

The $55-billion cost of wall and railway “would be 109 times less than the 40-year cost of the

Iraq War at $6-trillion,” estimates Demetrius Villa, club president.

Pictured in the video is a Maglev train on a wall marked “US Mexico Border.” The analysis,

however, considers a more practical steel-wheeled 350-mph bullet train, better suited to terrain

transited. It would connect with planned California and Texas high speed rail systems.

The club is dedicated to researching and promoting high speed railways in the USA, which

has none at present. Demetrius and his brother Darius, along with Alexander Khanfin, a friend,

founded the club while at Florida International University, in Miami.

“Normally, we stay out of politics at the club,” Demetrius said. In fact, although the video

several times shows Donald Trump telling how great airports and railways are in other countries

and how lousy they are here, neither the video nor the club itself actually advocates the border

wall railway’s construction. “That’s for you to decide,” it tells viewers.

For more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Ig7tMFibQ

Here are Libertarian Party’s transport positions Its 2016 convention platform calls for:

► “Dissolution of all government agencies concerned with transportation.”

► “Transfer of their legitimate functions to competitive private firms.”

► “Return of America's railroad system to private ownership.”

► “Privatization of airports, air traffic control, public roads, and national highway system.”

► “Immediate end to government regulation of private transit organizations.”

► “Repeal of all laws … such as the granting of taxicab and bus monopolies.”

8

. THE GREEN PARTY .

Green Party’s Jill Stein keeps running and running Physician and activist Jill Stein is Green Party candidate for president. In 2012, she got

469,627 votes, more than any other female U.S, presidential nominee ever. Stein also sought the

governorship of Massachusetts in 2002, finishing third of five. In 2004, she ran for a seat in the

state legislature, losing with 21.3% of the vote. She did, however, win a Lexington Precinct 2

town meeting seat in 2005, to which she was reelected.

Green Party is pro-transit and pedestrian friendly

The Green Party platform likes “ecologically sound forms of transportation that minimize

pollution and maximize efficiency,” i.e., public transit, bicycling, walking, etc. Its presidential

candidate Jill Stein has said she favors “a moratorium on highway widening,” wants to “eliminate

free parking, and seeks to “make streets, neighborhoods and commercial districts more pedestrian

friendly.” Its platform clearly states: “The Green Party urges the adoption of a transportation

policy emphasizing the use of mass transit and alternatives to the automobile and truck.”

World running out of oil someday no longer likely The Green Party platform takes an old fashion approach to petroleum. “Our current

transportation systems depend on oil for energy,” it correctly states. Then it says, “Petroleum is a

finite resource and it will run out some day.” Actually, as climate change forces the abandonment

of coal, oil and even, eventually, natural gas, the world never will run out of them.

Here are a few favorable Green Party platform positions ► For pedestrians: ● More pedestrian-oriented streets, neighborhoods and commercial districts,

● More greenery on streets to encourage people to get out of their cars, ● Traffic-calming design of local

streets to promote safe vehicle speeds.

► For bicyclists: ● Networks of bicycle lanes and paths, ● Bike racks on all public transit,

● Adequate bike parking at all transit stations, ● Free bicycles for temporary use by tourists, visitors or

others, so they can ride around town pollution-free.

► For transit riders: ● Redirect resources and subsidies that currently go to enhancing auto capacity

into expanding transit options, ● Develop affordable and accessible mass transit systems that are more

economical and convenient to use than private vehicles, ● Deploy non-petroleum powered or highly

efficient buses, including electrics, hybrids and bio-diesel.

► Long distance travelers: Make airports accessible by local transit systems, ● Build high-speed rail

systems between cities, especially over highly traveled medium-length routes such as between San

Francisco to Los Angeles.

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. THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY . Photo credits: Gary Johnson at Flicker; Gage Skidmore, Wikipedia.

Politics makes strange bedfellows. Left: Libertarian Party presidential candidatae Gary Johnson in front of his campaign bus. Right: William “Bob” Weld, the party’s vice presidential candidate.

Libertarians want mass transit completely privatized

Gary Johnson is a rightist former two-term governor of New Mexico. Bob Weld is a left

leaning former two-term governor of Massachusetts. Johnson favors no federal funding of mass

transit whatsoever. Weld wants it completelt privatized.

Public transit in New Mexico was pathetic with Johnson as governor in 1995-2003. It was not

until 2006 that Rail Runner, a serious regional railroad, began operation, linking Albuquerque and

Santa Fe, the state’s two largest cities. After Johnson left office, Albuquerque’s poor Sun Tran

bus operation became wonderful ABQ Ride, now a modern 40-route bus system.

In a poll of polls, Johnson peaked at 9.2% on Sept. 13, 2016 and by Oct. 26 had slid to 5.6%,

typical in the USA for “third” party presidential candidates as Election Day draws closer.

Would-be VP tried to privatize Boston’s entire bus suystem While governor of Massachusetts, William Weld in April 1996 pledged to privatize the

entire Metropolitan Boston Transportation Authority’s 159-route bus system. His

promised Jan. 1, 1997 privatization date came and went. Nothing happended. Weld resigned July

29, 1997, after President Bill Clinton named him ambassador to Mexico. After the U.S. Senate

rejected his nomination, Weld moved to New York, ran for governor there in 2006 and lost.

He says Republicans should vote against Trump, preferably for Johnson and him, but even for

Clinton, because Trump “acts like a 6-year-old” when things don’t go as Trump prefers.

Bus privatizer now big fan of Boston’s public rail system Former Mass. Gov. Bill Weld is in cahoots with former Mass. Gov. Michael Dukakis to

convince present Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker to support a new MBTA North-South railway, going

through a new tunnel connecting Boston’s South and North stations. The proposed railway

actually dates back to when Weld was governor. His successor, Gov. Mitt Romney, sidetracked

it. Dukakis, now a Northeastern University professor, is a big proponent of the railway.

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. REPUBLICAN 2016 CONVENTION .

Public transit big reason GOP convention in Cleveland Good public transit is a key reason Republicans chose Cleveland for their 2016 national

convention. For instance, a ride on an RTA Red Line railroad train from Hopkins International

Airport to downtown’s Tower City station typically takes a mere half hour. It’s a 5-minute walk

from there to the convention hall.

Beside their charter buses, many of the 50,000+ GOP delegates and other convention

attendees rode on Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s: Red Line commuter railway,

Blue, Green and Waterfront light rail lines, Health Line* bus rapid transit, many of 59 fixed-route

RTA buses, and its three “ride free with a smile” trolley lines: B (business) Line, C (convention

and casino) Line, and E (entertainment) Line. **

* So-named because many hospitals and medical providers are along its route.

** Not really a “trolley,” as it has no pole topped by a metal wheel that touches an electric power line.

That wheel is a trolley. No wheel, no actual trolley. An urban light rail vehicle known as a “streetcar” or

“trolley car” or for short a “trolley” has atop its roof a “trolley pole” containing a “trolley.”

Cleveland railway built to handle many more riders “It really is a pretty easy city to get around,” says Joe Calabrese, RTA chief. This is partly

because Cleveland’s transportation system is built to serve more riders. The Red Line railroad,

which Grampa rode many times, began running in 1955. The city was then the USA’s 7th largest,

with nearly a million residents. Today, its population is around 400,000.

Fleet of new RTA trolleys** added for the convention Prior to the convention, RTA got $6-million grant from the state of Ohio to add 12 more

trolleys** to its now 35-vehicle trolley fleet. RTA also added extra cars to its Red Line commuter

railroad, making the usual two-car trains running with three to reduce crowding.

GOP 2012 Tampa convention lacked good transportation

Due to a public transit mess, the Republican convention in Tampa four years ago suffered

massive traffic jams and confusion. Delegates leaving the convention area at 11 pm didn’t get

back to their hotels until 3 am, reported the Tampa Bay Times newspaper.

Convention officials selected Cleveland over Kansas City, Denver, Dallas, Cincinnati and Las

Vegas largely because of its public transit and walkability, said the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:

RTA also offered a $20 pass for unlimited rides during convention week.

Photo credits: Nickkrol, Wikipedia; GCRTA.

RTA Red Line, better known as The Rapid. One of 35 new RTA Trolleys added this year.

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. 46th President of the United States?? .

Ilustration credits: Wikipedia; Simon Carswell on Twitter; Virginia State Library Archives Dept.

Left: Mike Pence. Center: Naturalization application for Pence’s grandfather, Richard Michael Cawley who emigrated to the U.S. from Ireland in 1923 and came to Chicago, where he drove a bus for 40 years. Right: Then-governor Timothy Kaine in March 2006 announcing transfer to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority the Dulles Toll Road and Metrorail Silver Line that will link downtown Washington DC and Dulles International Airport.

Which do you favor for President? Tim Kaine or Mike Pence? If he wins, Donald Trump, age 70½, would be oldest elected president in U.S. history. Not

much younger is Hillary Clinton, who turned 69 last month. Judging by appearance, both seem

spry and relatively healthy. Nevertheless, based on eight U.S. presidents dying in office, it is quite

possible Mike Pence, age 57, or Tim Kaine, age 58, might be our president sometime during the

coming four years. So, Grampa has looked into their positions on public transit.

Gov. Mike Pence’s grandfather was a Chicago bus driver

Mike Pence has been Indiana governor since 2013. In 2003-13, he was a member of the U.S.

House of Representatives. In 1993-99, Pence was a conservative radio and television talk show

host in Rushville, Ind., who called himself “Rush Limbaugh on decaf.” Pence is a big supporter

of the coal industry, often accusing Democrats of “a war on coal.” One of his grandfathers,

Richard Michael Cawley, an Irish immigrant, was a Chicago bus driver for 40 years.

Last year. Gov. Pence’s state budget proposal included a 3% cut in mass transit spending.

This, after a six-year Indiana state government freeze on such funding.

Tim Kaine: councilman, mayor, governor and now senator

Timothy Kaine was governor of Virginia 2006-10, lieutenant governor 2002-06, and Mayor

of Richmond in 1998-2001. Before that, in 1994-2001, he was a city council member. Currently,

he is one of that state’s two U.S. senators and member of the Senate Special Committee on

Aging. In all these roles, he has been a friend of seniors and public transportation.

Only one other mayor ever became V.P. of the USA If elected, Tim Kaine and Calvin Coolidge will be the only two former mayors to become a

U.S. vice president. President Grover Cleveland was mayor of Buffalo, but never vice president.

President Coolidge was mayor of Northampton, Mass., much smaller than Richmond, Va.

12

. 46th President of the United States?? .

Mayor Kaine helped create Richmond regional bus system Kaine worked closely with neighboring Chesterfield county officials to transform Greater

Richmond Transit Co. into a truly regional bus system, rebranded as GRTC Transit. As mayor, he

supported Central Virginia Area Network, aka C-Van, for “welfare to work” program riders, and

low-floor GRTC buses that improved accessibility for senior and disability riders.

Previously, as city council member, he helped GRTC put electric buses into service, backed

RideFinders car/van sharing, and CARE call-for-a-ride vans for seniors and disabled.

Mayor Kaine brought Amtrak to Richmond downtown

As mayor, Kaine was instrumental in reclamation and reopening of Main Street Station,

bringing back railroad service to downtown after a 25-year absence. This station now is served by

Amtrak and slated to be southern terminus of a planned DC-Virginia high speed railroad.

Gov. Kaine spurred Metrorail line to Dulles airport As governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine played a key role in getting Metrorail’s Silver Line

extention to Tysons Corner and eventually to Dulles International Airport. He and other key

decision makers agreed to elevate the line, avoiding the digging of an expensive subway tunnel,

for which federal funding could not be had, without which the line was a mere dream.

As senator, he and Sen. Mark Warner and northern Virginia congressmen worked for months

with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and predecessor Ray LaHood to secure a total

$1.9-billion in loans for the Silver Line, the largest loan for a single project in the history of the

federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act.

Kaine also is credited with helping Norfolk get a light-rail system.

He also helped inspire Amtrak to add new regional trains, one to Lynchburg, another to

Richmond and Norfolk. Virginia now has 4 of the top 6 best performing Amtrak regional routes.

Kaine is transit’s friend in the U.S. Senate As a U.S. senator, Tim Kaine helped push Congress to pass in December 2015 the FAST Act,

a five-year omnibus transportation bill, the first such long-term funding in a decade.

He and senior Virginia senator Mark Warner helped also arrange $50-million financing of a

new Metrorail Potomac Yard station in Alexandria, where Warner is a long-time resident.

Gov. Pence proposed a 3% cut in mass transit funding In March, Gov. Mike Pence signed a two-year $1.2-billion transportation act, including a

novel Regional Cities Initiative, whereby cities and their suburbs carry the burden of paying for

transit improvements. Basically, each county must figure out for itself how to pay for its projects,

matching federal funding, with little state help, after a voter referendum.

Projects include a proposed Indianapolis IndyGo 35-mile rapid transit bus system Marion

County voters can okay or reject by voting yes or no on a 0.25% income tax increase.

Before Pence was governor, Indiana capped spending for public transportation, causing transit

systems to raise fares or/and cut service. Then, in 2015, Pence called for a 3% cut in mass transit

spending, cutting about $1.3-million from a $42.5-million transportation fund.

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