The intercity motorcoach or bus network that Indian Trails has so carefully put together in Northern Michigan, which has been endorsed by MARP, is in jeopardy and we need you to contact your state senators to educate them about the negative impact of SB1164; it will dry up funding for state supported inter-city bus routes.
In the event you are not up to speed, on Wed. 5/12/10, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed SB 1164 to the full Senate, which would essentially eliminate all of our funding for intercity services for everything north of Grand Rapids, Lansing, Bay City and all of the Upper Peninsula for FY 2011. The Senate is scheduled to vote this week, the week of 5/17/10.
It was thought that this would only represent a 10% cut in the Intercity Services budget, but they don’t realize that this fund is the match for federal grants. The $725,000 proposed cut to the budget is actually more than 100% of the state funding for some intercity busing. We would lose our federal match, so there would be no intercity bus services for 2/3 of the state.
Below you will find a link that will help you find a link to your senator. We encourage you to write a letter to your senator (in your own words) but you may use the letter below for guidance.
http://senate.michigan.gov/
Dear Senator _______,
Over the last two years, I have become very familiar with the motor coach or bus service Indian Trails provides to all of Northern Michigan . Utilizing clean, comfortable coaches, they serve countless communities in our state, with a very economical, logical route system. Hubs exist in Escanaba and St. Ignace, where passengers can make convenient connections between the various routes. Just last year, a new Transportation Center was opened in St. Ignace, through the efforts of Indian Trails, MDOT and the St. Ignace business community. Late last year, at no additional expense, Indian Trails expanded service to Sault Ste. Marie, which had had no motor coach service for years.
SB 1164 is a penny wise, pound foolish proposition, which jeopardizes efforts to improve tourism and economic recovery in our state. While on the surface it appears it is just a 10 percent reduction in the budget, in reality that 10 percent is used to secure federal transportation dollars for the remaining 90 percent of the budget. It would effectively eliminate a vital transportation service to the northern 2/3 of the state.
I urge you to vote NO on SB 1164.
Thank you for your consideration. Best wishes.
Regards,
__________