|
Building a Coalition
Why build a coalition? Coalitions representing an
array of community interests are more likely to influence policy
makers, attract media attention and have an impact on funding
decisions. This is particularly appropriate for public transportation
because transit systems work through an intergovernmental partnership
of federal, state and local support, along with user fees and
private support.
Think of a coalition as a group of individuals or
organizations that share common goals. It may be large, formal,
and highly structured. Or it may be a may be small, informal and
operate on an ad hoc or as-needed basis. Just as each local
public transportation authority mirrors its size, characteristics,
and priorities, local coalitions should reflect their unique characteristics
and goals. A coalition gives you the maximum flexibility to adapt
to your local needs.
The tools in this document are designed to help
you develop and sustain a coalition of individuals and organizations
that can communicate the benefits of public transportation in
their communities to government officials, the media, and ultimately,
the public in your community.
Benefits of a Transit Coalition
Many communities and transit systems already have
informal coalitions or networks of support. At one time or another,
local transportation authorities work with interest groups and
community leaders toward a common goal. While these arrangements
are often productive, a more inclusive coalition structure can
offer additional benefits.
Regardless of the structure you choose, all coalitions
are joined together for a common purpose, directly or indirectly
serving the varying interests of each group. Coalitions can:
- Provide active, dedicated leadership, clearly
established roles, and shared responsibilities among coalition
members;
- Design and initiate an agenda of activities
or events that involve a broad range of constituencies;
- Educate large target audiences, including media,
public officials and other decision-makers, and the public about
public transportation’s diverse benefits, services and funding
needs;
- Expand the strength, reach, and appeal of messages;
i.e., opportunity, choice, access, and freedom/mobility
- Present a united front on a goal, making that
goal more easily attainable;
- Share, coordinate and therefore expand resources
of people, funding, expertise, and information;
- Provide a dynamic forum through which transit
supporters can convey ideas and perspectives to decision-makers
on a regular basis;
- Create new relationships and establish new alliances,
which can expand and strengthen the coalition over the duration
of a multi-year campaign.
Coalition Goals
Public transportation systems throughout the nation
will face a variety of funding and infrastructure challenges.
Major public policy decisions and legislative votes will occur
in Washington, DC, state capitals, and local city and town halls
that will determine the future of public transit in the United
States for years to come.
To ensure that the voices of public transportation
authorities and their supporters are heard, every local coalition
should focus on at least two major goals:
- National:
To secure increased federal investment for public
transportation by funding federal programs at much-needed levels.
- Local:
To secure increased state and local support and
more flexibility for public transportation authorities in the
use of federal, state and local funds.
Identifying Coalition Members
Your transit system has developed relationships
with a broad range of organizations that share an interest in
the viability and expansion of public transportation. Now is the
time to capitalize on these relationships to build a local coalition
or network of support. In turn, your contacts can help recruit
other members of the coalition from the groups with which they
have connections and rapport. Coalition members may include people
from economic development organizations, environmental groups,
human service agencies, unions, disability organizations, elderly
groups, contractors, financial institutions, citizen transit groups,
civic and community organizations, and businesses.
| Coalition-Building:
Tip for Success |
| The key to building a successful coalition
is to represent a broad array of interests. Policymakers
are more likely to be influenced by a group they feel represents
multiple perspectives and constituencies, and is committed
to a common cause. |
Approaching Past Partners:
To get your coalition off the ground, you and your
key partners can start by approaching other organizations with
which you have worked in the past and that benefit from public
transportation. Be prepared to talk about how important your working
relationship has been in the past -- and how vital it is for the
future of public transportation to continue to work together.
Approaching Prospective New Members:
As you being developing a list of potential new
members, give some thought to groups and individuals that benefit
directly or indirectly from public transportation -- but with
whom you don’t yet have a working relationship. Seek out local
chapters of national organizations that have a stake in supporting
transit issues. Examples might include: AARP(formally known as
the American Association of Retired People), many of whose members
rely on public transportation for doctor’s visits and grocery
shopping; the Sierra Club, which is interested in reducing pollution
and preserving natural resources; or Mothers Against Drunk Driving
(MADD), which seeks ways to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related
automobile accidents, particularly among young drivers. Be prepared
to cite specific ways that public transportation benefits these
groups and improves the community’s quality of life.
Groups to consider approaching include:
Business Groups and Professional Organizations
- Downtown/Suburban Merchants’ Associations
- Transit-Related Businesses and Organizations
- Labor Unions and Professional Societies
Citizen Groups, Social Service Organizations
and Units of Local Government
- Health Groups and Providers
- Social Services Provider Groups (i.e., Welfare-to-Work)
- Organizations
Representing the Disabled
- Senior
Citizen Groups (i.e., AARP)
- Transportation Safety Groups (i.e., Mothers
Against Drunk Driving)
- Educational Institutions, Colleges, and Universities,
including Administrators, Faculty, and Students
- State Government Officials
- County Government Officials
Creating a Steering Committee:
Whether you have a large, formal coalition or a
small, informal group, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the
prospect of contacting a long list of potential partners. Therefore,
you might consider identifying a few active individuals who can
serve as your coalition’s steering committee.
Consider soliciting participation from prominent
and respected community leaders: a major employer or union leader;
president of the local chamber of commerce; director of local
economic development; a spokesperson on issues dealing with the
environment, senior citizens or minorities; head of a local charitable
or community organization; etc.
If you expect to assemble a large coalition of supporters,
the steering committee can serve as the group’s leadership team.
Members can help develop and guide the coalition’s strategy, initiate
and organize activities, and lead efforts to recruit new members.
The steering committee can also take responsibility for selecting
a chairperson or co-chairpersons, and for managing communications,
meetings and other activities.
Selecting the Right Coalition Structure, Activities
and Funding
The type of coalition that is right for your community
will depend on several factors including resources, local issues,
constituencies, and the appropriate mix of advocacy and public
education. Selecting the structure that’s right for your needs
will set you and your allies on a course for success.
Structure Options:
There are five basic models that your transit authority
can pursue:
1) Create a formal, broad-based transit coalition
with designated leaders, a steering committee, and a wide range
of traditional and non-traditional members;
2) Create a formal organization of traditional
transit supporters;
3) Create an informal group of supporters that
works cooperatively on a selected set of activities or events
that promote public transportation messages and goals;
4) Participate in other existing coalitions that
are promoting important transit messages on an as needed basis;
or
5) Encourage members to undertake activities individually.
If you are creating a large coalition, you may choose
to form committees among your coalition members to carry out specific
roles and responsibilities. Examples of committee assignments
might include: legislative, membership and recruitment, communications
and media, finance, long range event planning, and special projects.
Issues and Activities Options:
Your coalition has a variety of options when deciding
where to focus its resources and time:
1) Advocacy and education activities to promote
the full range of public transportation issues and benefits (i.e.,
greater freedom and access for all constituencies, economic development,
air quality improvement, traffic congestion relief, etc);
2) Focus on a few issues that are perceived to
be priorities in your community and will generate the greatest
local support for public transportation; or
3) Focus on a single, high-profile local project
or problem that will advance local transit service and generate
increased support.
Funding a coalition:
There are a variety of ways to fund coalition activities.
Some suggested sources of funding include:
In-Kind Services: Many coalition members
may be willing to provide selected services, products, staff time,
etc., at no charge. Consider soliciting services to:
- Provide refreshments at meetings and events
- Provide copying, printing, graphics and/or postage
- Sponsor forums, conferences, events
- Provide legal advice and/or research
- Publicize coalition activities through company
newsletters, employee bulletin boards, or civic organization
meetings
- Draft letters, press releases, speeches, grant
proposals
- Donate staff time to help prepare for meetings
and plan activities
Transit Agency / Authority Support:
Many local transit authorities or state transit associations may
be willing to donate staff time and some resources to the coalition.
Since transit agencies and associations provide the services the
coalition is promoting, they can provide valuable information
and data regarding transit funding, legislation, long-range plans,
compliance with various federal laws, and other public transportation
issues. At the same time, such agencies and authorities must be
careful to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest or
involvement in any inappropriate political activities.
Membership Dues and Donations: Membership
dues and donations can be established to help support coalition
activities. Some coalitions have used this funding method to hire
full or part-time staff. A membership dues scale can be devised
to attract a variety of interests, including corporations, small
businesses, labor groups, civic and community organizations, special
interest groups and individuals. An attorney should be consulted
to determine any legal requirements or state rules.
Grants: In addition to the APTA local
transit coalition grant program, a variety of foundations, government
agencies and other groups offer grants that may be appropriate
for your coalition. A grant may help fund an educational program,
a special regional or statewide forum on transit issues, or the
coalition’s operating costs. Local libraries have books on grant
sources and how to write successful proposals.
Fundraising Activities: Fundraising
activities can provide money as well as increased public exposure
for your coalition and its members. Depending upon the coalition
structure, a variety of activities may be appropriate. Some suggestions
include:
- Sponsor a "Run for the Bus" race with
a nominal entry fee for runners, and a discount if they join
your coalition.
- Auction transit memorabilia or services donated
by coalition members.
- Sponsor activities, forums or presentations
that require a small entry or attendance fee.
- Ask a local artist to design and donate a special
poster depicting a transit theme and sell copies.
- Sell special transit buttons, fare cardholders,
T-shirts or other items to members, businesses, groups and individuals.
- Sponsor a transit rally in which participants
complete a "course" designed to include every mode
of public transportation such as buses, commuter rail, light
rail, trolleys, subways, and possibly passenger ferries.
Planning Your Coalition’s First Meeting:
The first meeting of a coalition is very important.
By the close of the meeting, members should leave with a commitment
to collective action, shared purpose, and a specific set of tasks
with clearly defined responsibilities and timelines. Here are
a few ways to ensure a successful first meeting:
- Be certain that members, who are strong advocates
of public transportation, attend the meeting and express enthusiastic
support for the coalition.
- Send a letter to all potential members at least
two weeks in advance of the meeting date. The letter should
state that the meeting is to discuss formation of a local coalition
to support transit in your community.
- Make follow-up telephone calls a few days before
the meeting to all invitees. If an individual cannot attend,
ask if a substitute can attend. Aim for the most influential
representatives possible.
- Draft a tight agenda that covers all important
issues and does not exceed two hours. A printed agenda will
help you keep to the time limit. Include the following topics
for discussion: reason for a coalition, its mission, how it
will be governed, and the kinds of activities it will pursue.
The agenda might also include a set of tasks that members can
volunteer to perform. This will help create a sense of ownership
and influence.
- Ask members to sign in when they arrive (i.e.,
name, organization, and contact information). Also, distribute
your own business card and contact information, as well as enrollment
forms.
- Expect questions. Prospective members are likely
to ask about funding, leadership, and time commitments.
- Conclude the meeting with a clearly identified,
written set of follow-up responsibilities.
- Follow-up with telephone calls to ensure that
groups join. Some members will be more active than others. Allow
members and groups to find their own comfort level with the
coalition and their participation.
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Leading A Coalition
An effective coalition starts with:
- Member-driven activities and decision-making
- Representative of the community’s diversity
- A clear action plan based on existing resources
Tips For Leading a Transit Coalition:
The following tips will help you get your coalition
off on the right foot and will prepare it for success over the
long term.
- Contact several existing coalitions to learn
first hand about the steps they took to develop a coalition.
See list of contacts and references in this section’s appendix.
- Work with members to develop a mission statement
to guide the group’s work.
- Establish milestones that can be used to measure
progress and celebrate accomplishments.
- Respond to coalition members’ concerns in tangible,
quick ways. Communicate with members of the coalition on a consistent
basis.
- Seek common ground with different groups of stakeholders.
- Find ways to recognize coalition participants
for their achievements as often as possible.
- Limit bureaucratic demands on members and instead
dedicate time to creating a group identity among members.
- Stay focused on the mission.
- Maintain a focus on the assets with which you
have to work.
- Plan activities that demonstrate clearly the
impact of the coalition.
- Keep demands on members simple and realistic.
- Develop clear roles and expectations for members.
- Encourage members to view and use the coalition
as a resource that can help them perform their jobs more effectively
and strengthen their own organizations.
- Recruit a prominent member of your community
to become involved in the coalition. Publicizing such news will
help give you instant exposure and credibility.
- Look for ways to recruit new members.
- Although not necessary, becoming a 501(c) organization
also gives you more credibility when approaching Members of
Congress and community organizations to promote your "case"
for public transportation.
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Tools For Communicating with Coalition Members
and Allies
Below are recommendations for how coalition members
can most effectively communicate the benefits of public transportation.
Suggested Talking Points:
The keys to successful communication are consistent
messages and repetition. In discussing public transportation,
coalition members should focus on the benefits that local public
transit systems provide to all community residents.
| Coalition-Building: Tip
for Success |
| Your local transit story is rooted in the
character and identity of your coalition. When telling your
story about transit, make it relevant to everyday life.
Whenever possible, coalition members should emphasize specific
attributes of the local transportation system and detail
personal stories about how public transportation meets the
diverse needs of a broad range of residents. The messages
that work best with the public are opportunity, choice,
access, and freedom/mobility. |
Key talking points or "sound-bites" you
can refer to during the campaign include:
Mission and Objectives of the Coalition
- Our coalition represents a wide-spectrum of
business and community interests, but we all agree that public
transportation is vital to the future of our community.
- Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance
of public transportation in the daily life of our community.
We want everyone - even those who have never taken advantage
of public transportation – to realize that public transportation
is essential to ensuring a strong community by providing opportunity,
choice, access, and freedom/mobility to every citizen.
- As business and community leaders, we understand
the need to invest tax dollars wisely, and we firmly believe
that improving our public transportation infrastructure would
be a smart and much needed investment in the prosperity of our
community.
How Public Transportation Benefits Our Community
The following are examples are how you can incorporate
core messages into your discussions. Additional ideas on specific
messages and talking points are available in the "Facts,
Figures and Messages" chapter of this workbook.
- Every day, public transportation gives members
of our community an affordable, convenient and safe transportation
choice.
- Public transportation has given us all a new
sense of freedom and mobility. Never before have
we had so many ways to move easily throughout our community.
- Public transportation gives many individuals
who would otherwise be unable to travel around our city the
access they need to be independent and self-sufficient.
- Public transportation makes economic sense.
It is a wise investment in our community’s prosperity - creating
jobs and spurring growth and opportunity.
- Even for those who do not regularly use public
transportation, the benefits to our community are substantial.
Our public transit system:
- Encourages economic growth, business investments,
and real estate development
- Alleviates traffic congestion and reduces commute
times
- Reduces air pollution that can lead to smog
and health problems
- Saves energy and reduces our dependence on gasoline
- Makes it possible for more people to participate
in and contribute to the community, its services and activities
Suggested Speech:
Throughout the campaign, coalition members will
likely have the opportunity to speak to community groups, public
officials and other audiences about the impact of public transportation
on our daily lives and the local economy. Forums could include:
- Local chambers of commerce
- Economic development organizations
- Advocacy groups for senior citizens, the disabled,
the disadvantaged
- Professional associations
- Neighborhood associations
- Downtown merchants associations
- MADD chapters and transportation safety groups
To make it easier to prepare for these speaking
opportunities, we have developed a ready-made speech that can
be easily tailored to specific audiences. We have geared the speech
to a general audience that is interested in learning more about
public transportation in their community. With this in mind, it
is important that you remember to incorporate local information,
facts and anecdotes. The draft included in the appendix of this
chapter has "holes" in the text to allow you to insert
information about your transit system and community.
Creating Your Own Fact Sheet/Brochures:
A fact sheet and/or brochure provides the media
and public with quick, easy access to facts and figures about
public transportation in your community. It is also a good resource
to have on hand to answer questions about the importance of public
transportation. In the appendix to this chapter is a sample fact
sheet that you can use as a model to create a fact sheet and/or
brochure for your coalition. To fill in the missing information
about your local system, facts and figures can be found through
the following resources.
- Your local transportation authorities
- APTA’s information office, Web site and reports
- Your local metropolitan planning organization
(MPO)
- Your State department of transportation
- U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (www.stats.bls.gov/blshome.htm)
- U.S. Department of Transportation (www.dot.gov)
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Checklist: Building a Coalition
- Determine the benefits of building a transportation
coalition in your community.
- Set goals for your coalition.
- Identify community groups and individuals
for coalition membership.
- Select the appropriate coalition
structure.
- Determine coalition activities, events
and funding.
- Review tips for leading a successful
coalition.
- Prepare coalition talking points
and speeches.
- Produce a coalition brochure and/or
fact sheet on public transportation in your community.
- Plan a successful first meeting.
- Communicate with other public transportation
coalitions to learn from their experiences and generate new
ideas.
Quick Tips for Building A Coalition of Support
- Respond to coalition members’ concerns in tangible,
quick ways.
- Communicate with members of the coalition on
a consistent basis.
- Seek common ground with different groups of stakeholders.
- Recruit a prominent member of your community
to become involved in the coalition. This will help give you
instant notoriety and credibility.
- When telling your story about transit, make it
relevant to everyday life. The messages that work best are opportunity,
choice, access, and freedom/mobility.
- When starting to form a coalition, contact several
existing coalitions to learn first hand about the steps they
took and the lessons they learned.
- Your local transit story is rooted in the character
and identity of your coalition.
- Although not necessary, becoming a 501( c ) organization
also gives you more credibility when approaching public officials,
Members of Congress and community organizations to promote public
transportation.
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Sample Fact Sheet
Wherever Life Takes Community [insert]
Public Transportation Facts from the [insert]
Coalition
Availability and Access
{#}community [insert] residents ride public transportation
each year
{#}buses, {#} ferries, {#} light rail, etc.
transport community [insert] residents every day
{#} miles are covered by public transportation in community
[insert] each year
Mobility and Freedom [insert available
local numbers]
32 million senior citizens nationwide rely on public transportation
for activities like running errands, visiting friends and getting
to medical appointments
24 million people with disabilities need transit to maintain
their independence
37 million people living below the poverty line nationwide
cannot afford a car and use public transportation to reach their
jobs
56 million children under the driving age count on public
transportation to get to school, extracurricular activities and
part-time jobs
Dollars and Sense
$ {#} -- The average round-trip fare on community [insert]
public transportation
$250 -- The average monthly amount a family living in an
area with many public transportation options saves on auto expenses
$ {#} -- The estimated yearly amount a person with a 20-mile
round trip commute to work saves on gas when they choose to ride
public transportation (based on a car getting 25 miles per gallon
and {#} average price of gas)
$ {#} -- The amount of new investment needed to maintain
community [insert] public transportation system
{#} people in community [insert] are employed by public
transportation authorities and public transportation helps business
recruit and retain employees.
$30 million -- The annual gain in sales businesses will
see for every $10 million invested in public transportation projects.
A More Livable Community
Alleviating Traffic Congestion -- Public
transportation helps lessen traffic on crowded highways and reduces
commuting times. On average in community [insert], there is [insert]
in lost productivity due to traffic congestion.
Boosting Real Estate Value -- Public transportation
fuels local developments such as [examples] and can in
turn raise local property values.
Improving Air Quality -- By reducing air
pollution from single-passenger vehicles, public transportation
helps everyone breathe easier.
Saving Energy -- Public transportation reduces
dependency on non-renewable energy supplies such as gasoline.
Fostering Strong Neighborhoods -- Public
transportation helps residents attend community events, allows
for the creation of "pedestrian only" zones, and can
provide transportation services during times of natural disasters
or other crises.
All Statistics from the Federal Transit Administration
Report and the American Public Transportation Association’s A
Summary of Public Transportation Statistics
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Sample Speech
Public Transportation: Making
the Right Investments
Thank you for that introduction. I appreciate the
opportunity to visit with you today.
I am here on behalf of [name of coalition],
a group of local businesses and community organizations that believe
public transportation is vital to the future of [community].
But in a larger sense, our mission isn’t
about public transportation. It’s about people. It’s about jobs.
It’s about the quality of our lives, and the quality of our environment.
Because public transportation is about
all these things -- and more. In a time of tough fiscal choices,
it is a wise investment in the future. During a shaky economy,
it’s a pathway to prosperity. Amid rising concern about global
warming, it’s a source of cleaner air.
And above all, public transportation
is an investment in a better quality of life: less aggravating
hours stuck in traffic, more places for families to be together,
and more time to do it.
With all those benefits, it’s no surprise
that demand for public transportation is on the rise. In 1999,
Americans rode 21.2 billion miles on buses -- enough to
circle the earth nearly 850,000 times. They could have traveled
the globe more than 350,000 times on commuter rail -- it accounted
for 8.8 billion miles. And Americans traveled 445 million miles
in vanpools -- the equivalent of more than 17,000 trips around
the world.
Here in [community], [insert
local statistics].
That’s the good news. But here’s the
challenge: Rising usage means growing costs for public transportation
systems, including ours. And if we’re going to make the most of
the opportunities public transit has to offer, we need more --
much more -- public investment.
I chose that word "investment"
carefully, because public transportation truly is an investment
in the literal sense -- something that costs money up front but
yields a profit down the road.
And public transportation does. Nationwide,
we spend around $15.4 billion on public transportation a year,
and we get more than $60 billion back in economic benefits.
Every dollar we invest in running public
transportation systems boosts business sales by another three.
A $10 million investment in building public transportation systems
creates more than 300 jobs, and the same amount spent on running
them creates nearly 600 more.
Those are a couple of reasons why public
transportation is a critical building block for economic development.
It helps the right people to get to the right jobs, without wasting
otherwise productive hours in the process. It helps get customers
in the door as well.
And if you think public transportation
makes money for businesses, just take a look at what it can do
for your own pocketbook.
It costs between $4,800 and $10,000 a year to own
a car, depending on what you drive and how far you drive it. It
costs $200 to $2,000 to take public transportation. Think about
that the next time you see the fellow at the gas station climbing
the ladder to change the gas prices on the sign again.
Those are serious savings -- for government,
for business and for individuals. But the most impressive savings
public transportation yields are the ones you can’t measure in
dollars and cents. They’re the ones you can count up in minutes,
hours -- even days -- wasted on the roads.
The automobile used to be the great
symbol of American freedom. But for a typical commuter, it symbolizes
something very different today: being trapped in traffic.
According to a recent study, drivers
in a third of cities spent more than 40 hours a year in traffic
that was stopped dead. Think about that. Not moving slow, not
even stop and go. Just sitting still. Forty hours. That’s a work
week. It’s a weekend with your kids.
And make no mistake: You may not be
moving when traffic stops, but your car is working harder than
ever. As a result, it’s pumping pollutants into the atmosphere.
Every year, public transportation prevents the emission
of more than 126 million pounds of hydrocarbons, which cause smog,
and 156 million pounds of nitrogen oxides, which can cause respiratory
illness. [Insert local statistics, anecdotes if available.]
Public transportation also helps the
environment by conserving energy. It reduces gasoline consumption
by 1.5 billion gallons a year.
Taken together, those benefits add up
to a better quality of life for our community. Rather than random,
explosive growth, public transportation can serve as an anchor
for thoughtful, manageable and -- ultimately -- more livable communities.
Public transportation helps to preserve open space,
enhancing our community’s appearance while conserving recreational
places where families spend time together. It means less noise
and fewer cars zooming -- or, for that matter, crawling -- through
pedestrian neighborhoods.
And call me old-fashioned, but I think
public transportation makes for a way of life that is just plain
better suited to [community]’s values. People who take
public transportation walk to the bus stop together, rather than
retreating to the isolation of their homes. They get to know each
other face-to-face on the train, instead of holing themselves
up in the solitude of their cars. And I can’t help but think those
encounters might contribute -- in some small way -- to a sense
of community that’s been eroding for a long time.
Public transportation is about more
than these opportunities. It helps people overcome obstacles as
well. Many people with disabilities couldn’t get around without
public transit. The nation’s welfare-to-work initiative couldn’t
have gotten off the ground either -- an astonishing 94 percent
of welfare recipients don’t own cars. They depend on public transportation
to get to work.
Here in [community], more investment in public
transportation can mean more jobs for our people, more sales for
our business and a better quality of life for everybody. Not bad
for a program that pays for itself.
Still, the benefits of public transportation
may be clear to you and me, but that doesn’t mean our public officials
agree. They’re besieged with requests for funds every day. And
if we want to stake a claim for our quality of life, we have to
speak out compellingly, and we have to speak out together.
Here’s what we need in [community].
[Insert details of local needs as appropriate.]
If you agree with [name of coalition]
that more public investment in public transportation will improve
our quality of life, I hope you’ll take a few specific actions.
First, if you’re a business owner, organization
leader or just an individual who cares about our community, join
[name of coalition]. [Insert info on how to join.]
Second, write letters to [insert
names of public officials] and ask them for more funding for
public transportation in [community].
[Insert other action items as appropriate.]
I hope [community] can count
on your support. Our public transportation system needs you. But
this is about more than transit. It’s about traffic. It’s about
more than public transportation. It’s about people -- jobs --
the economy -- the environment -- and more.
Ultimately, it’s a question of where
[community] is headed. We can choose to remain stalled
in traffic -- in more sense than one. Or we can hop on public
transit. It’s the quickest route to work and play. It’s also the
fastest ticket to [community]’s future.
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Sample Coalition Enrollment Form
You can use this form to sign up members for your
coalition.
Yes, my organization strongly supports the viability
and expansion of public transportation in our community! We support
increased funding for public transportation and would like to
participate in the coalition’s efforts. Please add our organization’s
name to the [insert name of coalition]’s membership list. We understand
that there is no financial obligation connected to our enrollment
and our participation is voluntary.
Organization:______________________________________________________
Contact Person / Title:______________________________________________
Signature:_________________________________________________________
Street Address:____________________________________________________
City / State / ZIP:___________________________________________________
Phone Number:____________________________________________________
Fax Number:_____________________ E-mail___________________________
Preferred method of communication:__________________________________
Please indicate the activities in which you or
your organization is most interested:
o
Communicating with local officials (through meetings, letters,
and telephone calls)
o
Communicating with the media (through interviews, meetings and
briefings)
o
Communicating with the public (through speeches or presentations
to local groups)
o
Participating in public events, such as government hearings and
press conferences
o
Providing the following in-kind contributions
or support: ___________________________________________________________________
o
Other activities: _________________________________________________
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Sample Letter to Solicit Participation
[name]
[title]
[name of organization]
[street address]
[city/state/zip]
Dear Mr./Ms. [last name]:
As a long-time supporter of public transportation,
I am writing to seek your help.
Public transportation is facing critical challenges
today. On the one hand, our transit system has never been stronger.
In [city/state/community], ridership is at record levels
this year and we expect demands will continue to grow. Our future
continues to look bright.
Yet, in order to meet these increasing demands,
our system must continue to invest in the infrastructure needed
to maintain our facilities and expand to meet future needs. This
will take additional investment by our local, state, and federal
governments.
You understand the vital role that public transportation
plays in our community – contributing to economic development;
serving the minority, disabled and elderly communities; saving
energy and reducing pollution; and helping to alleviate traffic.
That is why I am inviting you to become a member of a new coalition
that is being formed to promote greater awareness and support
for public transportation in our community and among our local,
state, and federal officials. The group will be called [coalition
name]. There is no financial obligation to participate. All
that is required is support for the strong future of public transportation.
I hope you will be willing to join us as a founding
member of [coalition name]. I’ll call you in a few days
to discuss the enclosed enrollment form and to answer any questions.
I look forward to the prospect of working with you on this important
issue.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Title/Company]
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Sample Telephone Script to Solicit Participation
I’m calling to follow up on a letter that I sent to you last week
on the formation of a new coalition to promote public transportation
in [city/state/community] and throughout the nation.
[Coalition name] is being established to ensure that our
local transit system gets the funds it needs to meet the community’s
current needs and to keep pace with the increasing demands.
I know you’re aware of the essential role that [local public
transit authority] plays in our community. That’s why I wrote
to you.
[Local public transit authority] has helped support economic
growth; it’s serving all workers every day as well as minority,
disabled and elderly populations; it’s saving energy; and it’s
reducing pollution and traffic congestion. It’s making our community
stronger -- and better.
I hope you’ll join me in becoming a member of this important group.
Participation is free and purely voluntary. Can I count on your
help?
[If response is positive]
Great, I’ll fax you an enrollment form! Let’s plan to talk next
week about how best to launch this effort. I’d be grateful for
any ideas you may have.
[If response is negative]
Naturally, I’m disappointed because I believe you would make an
important contribution to this group. Can you suggest any other
people who might be willing to help.
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Suggested Local Events and Activities
Below are suggested local events and activities
that can help attract interest and raise awareness about the benefits
of public transportation in your local community. All events can
be modified to meet local needs and concerns. Make sure to also
review the Coalitions In Action information sheet and the Coalition
in Action boxes in this chapter for a wealth of practical, good
ideas on how to leverage your coalition.
Scheduled Community
Events:
Community events and activities already scheduled
in the community can be an excellent venue for coalition activities.
Local fairs, meetings, concerts, and sporting events often allow
opportunities for partnerships or sponsorships or can be a venue
for reaching out to government officials and the media.
Examples of events to consider include:
- Congressional Town Hall Meetings
- Most Members of Congress hold regular town hall meetings in
their home states or districts. Coalition members should attend
these events and ask Members of Congress about their positions
on public transportation issues. Often these events attract
media attention, so they are also a good venue to communicate
with the media.
- Sporting Events and Concerts -
Partner with local organizations and event sponsors to encourage
people to ride public transportation to widely attended events.
Offer incentives such as free refreshments or souvenir coupons
to attendees who leave the car at home.
- Local Fairs - Set up booths at
local fairs to provide people with information on public transportation
and the coalition. You may want to ask people to sign a petition
supporting a specific public transportation funding bill or
initiative. This petition will help you compile the names and
addresses of supporters and can be sent to government officials
and the media.
- After-School and School Event Programs
- Within existing federal regulations, explore new ways
to work with local schools to offer free transportation to and
from special events such as dances and sporting events. Hold
a press conference at an after-school program or school event
to announce the new benefit and highlight how public transportation
is helping to keep young people off the streets during dangerous
after school hours and at night.
Your coalition can also develop its own activities
and events. Possible ideas include:
- Celebrity Riders - Invite a prominent
local official such as a member of Congress or the mayor to
ride public transportation to their office. Invite television
cameras to accompany the official and interview them while they
are on the bus, ferry, train, etc.
- Transportation Milestones - Hold
rallies with local officials and coalition members to commemorate
local public transportation milestones and anniversaries.
- Award Dinners – Present a special
"Public Transportation Hero" award to a local business,
labor or civic leader who supports public transportation within
his or her business or organization.
- "Bus Buddy" Day - Sponsor
a "two for the price of one day" on all public transportation
routes to encourage riders to bring a friend or co-worker along
during their commute on public transportation.
- "Code Red" Day - Offer
free trips on public transportation on days when the heat index
is classified as code red. Invite local television stations
to report on increased ridership and on how getting drivers
off the road improves air quality.
- Public Transportation "Traffic"
Reports - Work with local radio or television stations to
provide local public transportation "traffic" or "sprawl
and crawl" reports. Encourage the media to include buses,
ferries and metro lines in their morning and evening reports.
- Transportation Rider Appreciation Day
- Encourage local businesses to sponsor a special day honoring
employees who use public transportation. Businesses could encourage
employees who commute by car to thank their co-workers for helping
to relieve highway congestion.
- Transit Rally - A transit rally
involves participants completing on a "course" designed
to include every mode of public transportation such as buses,
commuter rail, light rail, trolleys, subways, and possibly passenger
ferries. This type of activity encourages less experienced transit
riders to understand how the public transportation operates
in their community.
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