Have transit cuts left you stranded? You’re not alone. Share your story.

Stephen Lee Davis — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:38:02 +0000

After the release of Stranded at the Station yesterday, stories started flowing in of how people have been affected by the cuts across the country at public transportation agencies — leaving some stranded without any options for getting around. The report showed that 90 percent of transit systems across the country have had to raise fares or cut service in the past year. And among the 25 largest U.S. transit operators that millions depend on every day, 10 of those agencies are raising fares more than 13 percent.

It’s not too late to share your own story. Here are excerpts from just four of the many stories that have already been shared.

Jean Cramer (Columbia, Maryland): I spend 3-4 hours a day commuting from Columbia MD to Washington DC by MTA commuter bus. Earlier this year, despite nearly full buses, MTA reduced the number of runs each way. Now, my bus regularly leaves riders behind when the bus fills up. Buses run regularly but when you have to wait for the next one, it just adds to the length of an already crazy commute. We need dedicated bus roads/lanes and sufficient bus runs for all riders. Then maybe we could get enough cars off the roads to ease the congestion.

Barbara Miller (Franklin, NJ): I work for the paratransit system in Sussex County, New Jersey, which is struggling to continue to provide service in spite of funding cuts. We have had to reduce the number of days we provide transportation for out-of-county non-emergency medical appointments for our senior citizens, people with disabilities and veterans from five days a week to two. We have also had to cut back on the overall number of trips per day to maximize our existing resources.

On a personal level, however, I have my own story to share. I recently broke my right ankle and cannot drive. Even though I work for the transit department, I cannot get here using transit services. The deviated fixed route service can pick me up at my home in the morning, but only goes within three miles of my office. The demand-response JARC service is maxed out and cannot get me to work before 9:30 (I start work at 8). If I start work later in the day and work until 6:30 instead of 5:00 which is my normal time, I cannot get home.

In addition, the surgeon who set my ankle only does x-rays on Friday starting at 4:30p.m. Our medical transportation has been limited to appointments between the hours of 10 and 1:30 in order to allow adequate time to get people home in our very rural county. I cannot get to my doctor for x-rays using public transportation, and have to have a family member drive 25 miles to pick me up and take me two miles from my home to get my ankle x-rayed.

It is somewhat ironic that as a Contract Administrator for the public transit system, I cannot get to and from work or the doctor while temporarily disabled. I have learned firsthand how our customers struggle to manage their appointments and transportation needs with diminishing transportation services available to them.

Ruth Leavitt (Everett, WA): I have lived in two states with a commute that leaves me stranded after my shift. In Naples, FL, I had to bike three miles to work, risking being soaked to my skin if a storm blew up while I was out there, and riding on the sidewalk half the trip because there was no bike lanes. I was hit once, nearly hit four other times – I wiped out dodging a car who didn’t care that I was coming up, and was nearly injured so I could not do my job. The bus system was lacking in so many ways as to be indescribable: Long delays, short routes, no connections, early days-end. It was a full day effort to take the bus out shopping, limited to four stops at most – if you started at ten, once the shops opened, and finished before six…

…Now, in Everett, WA, I face a similar dilemma even with a far superior transit system that is only lacking in one significant detail: It doesn’t run late enough. Someone, somewhere, missed the memo that the mall closes at 9 o’clock, and the bus stops running from there eight minutes before closing. All the workers are left wanting. On a Saturday, a busy day, it stops at six. I am limited to a wonderful interurban trail that is so dark as to be extremely dangerous for a woman alone, even on a street bike. I also know the fares on that bus were increased recently. It didn’t affect me — I have a monthly pass for the system with a higher fare and wider range — but I have never gotten on a bus in that system that was empty — even late at night…

Melody Hodge (Maywood Park, OR): About two months ago I began having car trouble, and until I can afford the repairs I’ve had to walk to and from work, about two miles each way. The weather is nice now, so I haven’t minded walking (and the exercize is great), but I was glad to know there is an easy bus route I can begin taking as soon as the weather turns cold. But just today, the day I saw this email link in my message box, a notice was posted saying bus route 15, the one I was so relieved existed, is going to be cut along the very route I take to work. I’m actually quite scared, not just for me when the weather starts to turn, but for my son who uses it regularly, and for so many of my neighbors who depend on it’s existence.

Portland is known for its user-friendly and ubiquitous public transportation system. It’s one of the things that drew me to this city, and the convenient bus route was at least partly the reason I chose my current neighborhood. I know cuts are being made everywhere, but I’m surprised the transportation system is one of them. This will disrupt the lives of so many people who have no other realistic options.

The importance of a complete transportation system

Stephen Lee Davis — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:12:43 +0000

Glennis and the 20 Bus Originally uploaded by Transportation for America

This story is told by Transportation for America organizer Will Handsfield, from a recent trip to California for a town hall meeting.

After leaving the 21st Century Transportation for Los Angeles conference, I headed over to the Normandie Metro Rapid stop to pick up the 720 bus.

This is where I met Glennis.

Glennis was expected at work at 7:00. It was 6:25, and she had been waiting at the stop for 30 minutes when I showed up. Glennis told me that once she got off at Santa Monica Blvd, she would still have about one mile to walk to get to her job. Her chances of getting there on time were looking pretty slim at that moment, and I could see the worry mounting on her face.

Not everyone has a car to drive, and plenty of people choose not to drive for many different reasons. Millions of Americans just like Glennis rely on public transportation every day to get to their jobs, and thus to support themselves. If the buses are late (in this case, the rapid is supposed to show up every 3-8 minutes during rush hour), it threatens the job security of hard working people like Glennis.

One of the people I spoke to at Google two weeks ago put it succinctly, “you should have to know the transit routes, but never their schedules” — essentially saying that infrequent transit represents a poor system. The Rapid bus is supposed to solve this by coming frequently, but for whatever reason, today it didn’t.

I waited for another 16 minutes with Glennis, and waffled with her on deciding whether or not to settle for the slower number 20 bus (pictured), despite the fact it makes many more stops. We stuck it out and a bus headed to Westwood finally arrived, and I said farewell.

When she left, she had another 19 minutes to get to work, with at least 10 minutes more of bus riding. I hope Glennis was able to walk that mile in the 9 minutes left.

For Glennis’ sake — and for everyone else waiting for the bus or stuck in endless traffic — we need to do better on providing a safe, efficient, complete transportation system with options for everyone.

Transportation For America » user stories

Have transit cuts left you stranded? You’re not alone. Share your story.

The importance of a complete transportation system