accomplishments

1. Led efforts to pass historic transportation bill in 2008. Over Governor Pawlenty’s veto, the Minnesota legislature passed a transportation bill that included a significant, dedicated source of transit funding—over $100 million to be exact. Transit for Livable Communities was instrumental in shaping the bill, leading the Transit Partners coalition and mobilizing the organization’s action network to pass it. The bill funds a good portion of the Transportation Choices 2020 vision. Helping to secure funding for the Hiawatha light rail line. Transit for Livable Communities (TLC) and its action network met with legislators and generated strong community support for the Hiawatha light rail line. TLC’s education and outreach efforts helped the public understand the benefits of light rail transit.

2. Preventing cuts to transit funding during the 2004 budget shortfall. Transit for Livable Communities’ strong policy and fiscal analysis, combined with its well-mobilized action network, successfully limited budget cuts that would have increased transit fares and reduced service.

3. Creating the Transportation Choices 2020 (TC2020) Initiative. TC2020 would dramatically expand opportunities to use public transit, walk, and ride bicycles in Minnesota through a new, dedicated source of funding. Developed with the Transit Partners coalition, advocacy for the Initiative uses creative visuals, clear analysis of costs, and broad community outreach. The Initiative has increased awareness of the need for additional transit funding in Minnesota by 2020.

4. Developing the Transit Partners coalition. Transit Partners, a diverse alliance of faith-based, labor, environmental, and senior organizations, has worked together since 2003 to support increased funding for transit, bicycling, and walking. TLC facilitates the Coalition.

5. Working to pass the Minnesota Transportation Amendment. TLC’s action network and community alliances helped lead grassroots efforts to successfully pass the Minnesota Transportation Amendment, which provided the first state source of dedicated funding for transit in Minnesota.

6. Building Transit for Livable Communities’ action network. TLC’s action network has grown to nearly 10,000 people who can be counted on to speak up for transit, bicycling, walking, and smart development in their communities.

7. Administering the Bike/Walk Twin Cities initiative. Congress selected TLC to oversee the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Project, a federal pilot project created in 2005, for the Minneapolis area. Locally referred to as Bike/Walk Twin Cities, the $21.5 million initiative aims to increase bicycling and walking in the Twin Cities by 2010.

8. Publishing the Policy Brief series. TLC’s series of policy briefs have helped a decade of legislators learn more about everything from road subsidies to transit developments in peer regions.

9. Producing key community advocacy tools. Publications like The Myth of Free Parking, Citizen’s Agenda for Transportation in the Twin Cities, and Share the Road: Encouraging Bicycling and Walking in Minnesota help local leaders shift regional thinking about transportation in Minnesota.

10. Packing hearing rooms with community advocates. TLC regularly turns out transit, walking, and bicycling supporters for public hearings and other key meetings where transportation and land use decisions are made. TLC connects local leaders to cutting edge transportation information and to each other.