Well, thank you all for your testimony and insights and the efficiency with which you delivered it. You all beat the clock.

What led the residents of your community to make that decision in trying economic times?

meaningful participation by all elements of a community are critical in order to succeed.

I think for the record it would be good if you explain what that is.

I appreciate how they have been very, very supportive of the RTC in the past.

It is interesting to listen, regardless of the size of the communities or regions that we are talking about, that there is a strong component of transit here, some form of transportation, at the core of creating whatever you call it, a…

I think one of the challenges we have is creating a quilt that brings the whole community together as certain centers of a community rise, but making sure that the result of that success does not leave others behind.

As we move toward--as I announced legislation and we are in the midst of trying to get some degree of a re-authorization on the Federal Highway and Mass Transit Bill, if you had one or two things that do not exist or that exist that you…

I urge a timely, long-term fix for the Highway Trust Fund and the Mass Transit Account which includes increased investment for infrastructure, state-of-good-repair efforts, workforce development, and for projects such as the HealthLine.

I urge you to make it permanent.

What about the ratable base as a result of it?

The light rail system has revitalized the regions, spurred new development, helped local businesses.