HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-20-21 Public Comment - D. Elswick - StreamlineFrom:pdtav@aol.com
To:Agenda
Subject:[SENDER UNVERIFIED]Support Streamline
Date:Sunday, June 20, 2021 1:06:23 PM
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Dear City of Bozeman Commissioners,
I am writing today to request that the City of Bozeman consider
funding Streamline’s entire $400,000 funding request. I believe public transit
is a critical resource in our community because I see the countless faces it
supports in Bozeman daily. I work in physical therapy and most of our
patients range in age from teenagers to elderly who at times need these
services to get to their medically necessary appointments. I see the new
college student without a mode of transportation suffering in the bitter cold
days and public transportation has been there saving grace. The homeless
community needs access to get to the warming center, the starving mother
working to get food needs to get to her job via the routes provided. Public
transit also plays an important role in helping our community make progress
on its various community plans, including the City of Bozeman’s Strategic
Plan, Triangle Community Plan, the Bozeman Community Plan, and more.
I asked one of my student employees why he uses public transportation and
he stated because the weather here can be brutal and getting to your car is
not an affordable option. I then asked why don't you ride it all the time... he
then said because they need more routes!
The additional $100,000 in funding would help Streamline implement new
bidirectional routes this fall that will serve a larger portion of our community.
It would also enable Streamline to expand weekend service and operate
later in the evenings on weekdays. The City Commission and the public
continue to voice their support for more public transportation in the
Bozeman community. However, the City’s decision to only partially fund
Streamline's request implies that expanded public transit is not one of its
priorities. Please reconsider funding Streamline's entire $400,000 request.
Sincerely,
Danell Elswick