The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GRTC Transit System and Ridefinders has called a special meeting to discuss and take action on initial funding for GRTC Rides Endowment at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 28, 2010, in the 3rd Floor Conference Room of GRTC Headquarters at 301 East Belt Blvd. [ http://ridegrtc.com/documents/2010_09_23%20GRTC%20Board%20Special%20Meeting%20Notice.pdf ]
The Richmond Transit Riders Union has formulated the following response to an initiative in which a foundation may be formed to subsidize fares for residents who qualify as working poor and lower income.
Richmond Transit Riders Union
220 West Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220
richmondtru@gmail.com
Dear Mayor Dwight C. Jones, CEO John Lewis & GRTC Board of Directors,
The Richmond Transit Riders Union would like to commend Mayor Dwight C. Jones & GRTC's CEO John M. Lewis, on their interest towards insuring a public transportation system which stresses the importance of accessibility for residents who are low income and working poor.
However, we fear that a foundation designed to provide reduced fares will only perpetuate a permanent underclass and add another layer of bureaucracy which could otherwise be avoided.
Public transportation should not be expected to pay for itself, much less profit, thus should always be working toward providing an affordable or free public service through an infusion of tax payer money.
We propose returning fares to their previous state. With the $500,000 dollars intended by the Mayor to jump start the foundation's endowment, and the unused $1,000,000 GRTC has reserved for marketing, the $1.5 million dollar deficit could be closed today.
Furthermore, the increase in ridership over the last few months, and the anticipated sale of the former GRTC bus depot on Davis & Cary St., there should be more than enough funding to implement the suggestions outlined in the the Richmond Transit Rider Union's September 13, 2010 letter within the next year.
In the long term, we propose that a substantial effort be made by City Officials & GRTC toward supporting legislation that would potentially put everyone from the Greater Richmond region into the passenger seat of a GRTC bus.
Public tax dollars that pay for the maintenance and building of roads and services for private motor vehicles should be used to also create an affordable, sustainable, and useful public transportation system.
This includes insuring that public transportation in the Greater Richmond region is accessible, reliable and responsive with expanded service to job centers, medical care, social services, retail, and recreational/cultural offerings.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and please forward to the GRTC Board of Directors,
Richmond Transit Riders Union
cc: dwight.jones@richmondgov.com, Cheryl.Green@Richmondgov.com, Kathy.graziano@richmondgov.com, Ellen.robertson@richmondgov.com, bruce.tyler@richmondgov.com, charles.samuels@richmondgov.com, chris.hilbert@richmondgov.com, marty.jewell@richmondgov.com, cynthia.newbille@richmondgov.com, Reva.trammell@richmondgov.com, doug.conner@richmondgov.com, jlewis@ridegrtc.com
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