Key to the success of the Brownsville Urban Transit is ridership. The more who use our system, the more revenue is generated. A fully utilized public transit system also improves local air quality, lessens traffic congestion and greatly increases the quality of life for some of our most vulnerable citizens.
The beautiful new multi-modal station downtown certainly enhances the quality of the system in our community with a gorgeous, air-conditioned station to purchase tickets and wait for connections.
Strategically placed passenger waiting shelters like the one pictured on the left in front of the Brownsville library give our most vulnerable citizens, women and children, senior citizens and the disabled protection from the elements as well as comfort, greatly enhancing the overall experience.
UTB/TSC professor Eugene Novodrodsky is concerned that such a passenger station has not been located at one of the most important destinations in the city for senior citizens and the disabled, the Social Security Office.
There is indeed a bus stop, but no seating or protection from the harsh sun or a driving torrential rain. Mr. Novodrodsky is calling for, not only a suitable passenger waiting shelter, but a crosswalk with a blinking amber light to alert motorists to those crossing from the bus stop to the Social Security office.
Novogrodsky has alerted the Texas Department of Transportation of the need as well as City Commmissioner John Villarreal. His proposal makes sense on many levels.
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Thank you Mr Novodrodsky, and thank you, Jim Barton.
ReplyDeleteI would like to use the urban system but unless you have access to internet (to read the routes), know exactly the times, know that the bus driver cannot give you change (so you better have the exact amt.), better know the exact amount, know that after 6 pm you are on your own because there is no bus route, and expect a good waiting time, then you know the public transportation is ahead of any other Valley town but behind any other town outside the RGV. Matamoros has peseras, buses and sidewalks that might be falling apart, but people in Brownsville cannot walk from downtown to four corners without being in danger of being run down by a Brownsville driver (lack of sidewalks). I wonder how the city would react to a private system like the peseras but on this side of the border.
ReplyDeleteThis professor obviously hasn't review other bus stops well. The bus stop at Sam's/Wal-Mart on the frontage road off Alton Gloor has far bus traffic than the Social Security Office....no shelter. Those who are disable can get special bus transport that will take them to the door of the Social Security Office. Our friend the "college professor" is a very opinionated man, but has failed to do his research on this issue. He seems to just like to hear himself or read his publishe letters. Otherwise, this professor does little in this community.
ReplyDeleteTxDOT will never go for having a crossing in the middle of a block with a blinking light. It would be far too dangerous. It's unfortunate that the SS Admin didn't locate their facility on a corner lot. Also, those sidewalks on Central Blvd that BUS is installing are a joke. If they ever get audited by ADA, they will have to be redone. Good idea, but not well planned.
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