December 9, 2009 Mr. Jacob Roberts Connect Ithaca Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Roberts, Sustainable Tompkins strongly supports the work of Connect Ithaca in evaluating and promoting the possibility of bringing a personal rapid transit system to Ithaca, NY. Our nonprofit organization has backed your efforts from the earliest days because we understand the critical importance of building new transportation infrastructure that enhances community life while shielding us from the worst effects of climate change and energy descent. Our role since 2004 has been to connect and catalyze our local sustainability movement, and our work has convinced us that the Ithaca area culture will be very open to the experimental stages of developing a PRT system. We have a very high number of educated and entrepreneurial people in our community, and the sustainability message resonates strongly in our county. As you know, we have been supporters of building a new green manufacturing cluster around podcars. Tompkins County and the surrounding region are internationally recognized for established environmental technology clusters amidst its rich university system. Combined with a population whose culture is both green and progressive, we have the elements necessary for being a North American test site for a PRT system. We hope you are successful in attracting podcar manufacturers to visit our community and learn more. We would be glad to assist in any way we can. A PRT system would solve much of our traffic congestion, and safeguard our future mobility in the City of Ithaca. With sincere regards, Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. President
P.O. Box 596, Ithaca NY 14851
www.sustainabletompkins.org