Foothill Transit to Legislature: We need money

Foothill Transit, the bus provider in the San Gabriel Valley, submitted this opinion piece from Peggy Delach, the agency's executive board president.

The gist of it: State budget cuts will hurt mass transit just at a time when transit needs funding to expand to meet increasing demand.

I offered to run the article on the blog. That doesn't mean I agree with it, but I like getting a range of views out there and I encourage readers who disagree or agree to use the comment board. I'll also be glad to consider guest blogs/opinion pieces from others. My e-mail is steve.hymon@latimes.com.

Op-Ed Article from Foothill Transit's Peggy Delach

In mid-July, Foothill Transit received a thank you note from Rhonda Robinson, a new rider of our Line 690 –- an express route that runs along the 210 corridor during rush hour.  We had just added extra service to the line to better accommodate the burgeoning passenger loads and it was this move that Rhonda was writing to thank us for.  At the end of her note, Rhonda quipped, “Rider since dump the pump day [June 19th] and will continue to be.”  And she’s certainly not alone.

Public transportation has entered into an exciting time -- demand has never been higher for transportation alternatives that save money and the environment.  The current transit system and infrastructure might be able to handle the increased demand, but only if state funding stays in place.  Historic transit funding formulas were designed to provide more funding as fuel prices and correspondingly transit demand increased. Sadly, this state budget cycle seems to be trending in the same direction for transit that it has for several years. If this budget passes in its current form, public transportation will have lost over $4 billion in transit funds in the past decade.

Foothill Transit is not alone among state transit agencies seeing record increases in ridership.  But just as the demand is skyrocketing, our ability to provide and expand upon those services is severely threatened by the proposed state budget cuts. Current proposals from Sacramento divert $1.4 billion away from the Public Transportation Account this year. That’s money for establishing new routes, building or improving park and rides, and purchasing newer, more fuel efficient buses –- all of which are desperately needed to effectively meet, not only today’s demand, but the future transit needs of our ever expanding communities. To take this money at this time flies in the face of the will of the people.

Transit services should be expanding in light of record gasoline prices and demand for transit services.  Instead, the policy makers in Sacramento have continued the tradition of the past decade to rob voters of the transit system they truly deserve.  In the present, demand is testing the transit system we currently have.  Instead of being able to provide transit service to adequately support our communities, we’ll be lucky to maintain current service levels and may even be forced to eventually cut service.

Some supporters of the budget proposal contend that public transportation advocates are threatening vital services to the most vulnerable among us by pushing to keep our transit funding intact. While we are seeing a substantial increase in everyday commuters, many of our riders are children, students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and the working poor. 

In addition to helping the transit-dependent, public transportation improves our air quality, relieves traffic congestion making our streets safer, and provides economic stimulation along majorly traveled routes. Public transportation is truly a multi-faceted community connector and creator, improving everyone’s quality of life, even for those people who never step foot on one of our buses. 

At a time when fuel prices are reaching record heights, when transit ridership is increasing across the state, when the voters demand their voices be heard and acted upon, when some transit systems are considering cutting service or raising fares to balance budgets, or are turning away passengers because they are unable to accommodate demand, the time has come to adequately fund transit services.  Give California the transit system it needs to stay vital, mobile, and clean.  It’s long overdue.

photo: Foothill Transit

Comments

[Russell Binder]

Here's a way to save a few bucks:

The Foothill Transit buses I see in Claremont are largely EMPTY. The drivers say this is the norm.

If there are no passengers, then DRIVE A CAB. Or, just USE A SMALLER BUS. NOBODY will fit just fine into a bus with almost no seats, and the bus will be cheaper to run.

[Dan W.]

For the Gold Line extensions to actually work once built, and for continued expansion of Metrolink, Foothill Transit is going to need greater investment, feeding into the stations. Not everyone will be able to count on finding a parking space at the station.