MichiganRadio

Public Transit Cuts Would Harm Elderly, Minorities and Rural Residents Most, Advocates Say ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - A new report says cuts in public transportation could have devastating effects on those who can least afford them.

The report is called "Stranded at the Station."

It calls on Governor Granholm to help restore funding for train and bus services that the Legislature cut.

Megan Owens is director of Transportation Riders United in Detroit.

She says continued cuts will have a domino effect.

"If low income workers are unable to get to work, that means more people who need social services," Owens says. "Or even if more people -- instead of getting on the bus -- start driving, that means more traffic, more people on your highway as you're trying to commute in."

Owens believes a gas tax increase would provide more money for public transit and for repairing roads and bridges.
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