Federal legislation will put public transportation at risk

Beware of allowing recent sensational headlines and events surrounding the budget and expenses of Coast RTA to distract us from even more important public transportation issues. The federal portion of funding for public transportation, established by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 at 80 percent is in jeopardy from a bill authored by Congressman Mark Sanford and endorsed by Congressman Tom Rice.

H.R. 1551, Highway Restoration Act of 2015, calls for a phase out to 0 percent by 2020. This would eliminate public transit’s share of the federal gasoline tax.

This bill would shift the present $5 million budget to counties and private business or else the approximate 500,000 ridership in Georgetown and Horry counties would be walking or staying home, in many cases unable to reach their workplaces. Furthermore, this $5 million-plus budget barely keeps public transit running, with too few designated stops by buses which are past due for replacement.

The National and State League of Women Voters is committed to access to public transportation for all. The website for the League of Women Voters, http://lwv.org, contains the supporting historical information. Rural workers are currently using public transit to access employment along the coast which keeps the hospitality industry attractive to tourists. However, there is so much more new buses with more timely route service could do in this area.

Partnerships and collaboratives with businesses, hospital systems, medical complexes, and counties could provide transportation, not only to employment, medical appointments, shopping and trips to parks and libraries for residents, but also to entertainment, restaurants and shopping for tourists. Park and Ride areas could be established. Hospitality venues in areas such as Murrells Inlet with minimal onsite parking could benefit immensely from a shuttle.

This would reduce traffic along congested routes while also reducing pollution and wear and tear on roadways. Adequate funding is critical to a viable means of public transportation. The establishment of contracts between counties, transit and businesses with meaningful oversight is needed immediately.

You may be confidently driving your own car where you wish to go today so you don’t need to depend on public transit Are you certain that by 2020 and beyond, you will be so fortunate? Are you certain that you will not require assistance? For example, will you need wheelchair transportation for someone In your family or a friend or neighbor?

This service is currently only available by ambulance or if you are eligible by the federally mandated CATS program. Do you want to jeopardize that option? Urgent notification to Paul Ryan, chair, U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, is necessary to stop this bill. Voters should also inform Tom Rice that his support of this bill is ill advised.

The writer serves on the Transportation Committee of Georgetown County League of Women Voters.

This story was originally published August 24, 2015 at 2:16 PM with the headline "Federal legislation will put public transportation at risk."