For those of us who travel everywhere by personal vehicle,
it is easy to miss the public transportation system humming along each day in
Washington County. The truth is that
without mass transit serving our elderly and many others who lack the ability
to drive, thousands of our County citizens would have no means of getting to
work, shopping or keeping medical appointments.
Recently I stopped by to chat with Shelia Gombita, Executive
Director of the Washington County Transportation Authority, at the new offices
on Chestnut St. What the Authority has
been able to accomplish is astonishing for our semi-rural area.
Local citizens in need of public transportation are on track
to take over 100,000 trips in fiscal year 2019, an increase of 20% from 2018.
The Authority services the City of Washington, Houston, Canonsburg, McDonald,
Monongahela, Finleyville, McMurray and points in between. Each weekday there are ten inbound trips to
Pittsburgh and ten outbound trips to Washington. Incredibly, the fare is only $5.00 each way.
On Saturday, there are three outbound and inbound trips to and from the South
Hills transit Station.
Funding is always the major issue in developing a meaningful
public transportation system. For decades, the Pennsylvania Lottery has
provided the means for anyone age 65 or older to ride fixed route public
transportation at no cost and to utilize shared ride services at a reduced
rate. Disabled citizens can ride at ½ the regular fare.
This is critical because studies have shown that senior
citizens make up 44% of all transit riders in rural Pennsylvania and over 17%
of the rural population is disabled.
Moreover, 53% of all rural disabled citizens work each day, with public
transportation the only means of access to their places of employment.
Other funding is a combination of local, state and federal
dollars. A Pennsylvania plan enacted in Act 44 of 2007 was a major
restructuring of funding for transit. It
dedicated 4.4% of the Sales and Use Tax and Turnpike payments ($450 million in
2019) to a new Public Transportation Trust fund. Recently, two groups have
brought a lawsuit claiming that the Turnpike payments are illegal causing a
potential funding crunch. Currently the
City of Washington contributes $98,000 and the County $130,000 toward public
transportation.
Why should those of us with two cars in the driveway care
about a vibrant public transportation system?
Transit reduces congestion and pollution, improves the quality of life
in the community, brings employees and customers to local businesses and adds
to the local municipal tax base. Most
importantly, making public transportation a priority is an example of what good
government should provide for its older and less fortunate citizens.
Notwithstanding the funding challenges that are a constant
concern for the Washington County Transportation Authority, there is room to improve
the service and make it even more accessible.
First, the weekday service could be expanded past 7pm to accommodate
late shoppers and employees with non-traditional work schedules. Second, Sunday service could be implemented
to permit attendance at religious services and to provide more opportunity for
shopping and weekend employees. Third,
more on demand service, along the “Uber model” could be unveiled as an added
convenience for public transportation patrons.
In order to ensure uninterrupted service and to expand the
schedule, it is my opinion that local government needs to ante up a larger
share of the financial burden. Public
transportation is good for Washington County. At a time when the County tax
base is growing, with low unemployment and a vibrant Marcellus Shale industry,
an increased commitment to public transportation makes good economic sense.
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