Montgomery Bus System Cutback Concerns
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Montgomery’s bus system is facing some challenges. And it could be in danger of going away. Monday evening concerned citizens were driving home the message: the bus system needs to stay.
It was a packed house as the Montgomery Transportation Coalition met for its monthly meeting. This time they invited all bus riders to come let their voices be heard.
“When it comes to riding the bus like me, I’m a college student. I don’t have no money to get a car,” said a Virginia College student at the podium.
The city met with the transportation coalition last month to tell them of the lack of funding. Mayor Todd Strange says the city is spending 6 million dollars on the bus system. The federal government pays about half of it, but is now cutting that in half.
He says there may have to be some changes including cutting back on Saturdays and night services.
But that’s not sitting well with the group at the meeting.
Annie Robertson says she has been riding the city bus almost everyday for the past 30 years.
“I don’t know what I’d do or nobody else would do because the people need the buses because they have to get back and forth to work. Without buses, you know, they don’t have a job,” said Robertson.
Mayor Strange says the city is having to make up the 3 million dollar shortfall.
“At the end of the day, it’s kind of expensive to have a bus with only two people on it or a bus in any one month has less than 3 or 400 individual month. So what we’re trying to do is put the most dollars where we get the biggest impact,” said Strange.
Coalition member Jon Broadway says the impact the bus rider has on the community has greater value.
“What they do, they provide access to jobs, healthcare and other services that vitalize the community. It’s an economic stimulant. So it should not be seen as a drag on the community,” said Broadway.
