Government bodies should push for more public transit

Two weeks ago I attended an Agency on Aging meeting in Bigfork. 

I asked why Eagle Transit only served Whitefish and Kalispell. Why not serve other populated areas of the region. The Agency said they couldn’t afford to transit service to Woods Bay, Polson, Columbia Falls or Bigfork.

Nearly 35 percent of the population in Bigfork are senior citizens, yet we don’t have even one bus a day to provide public transit. Since the Agency depends on funding from the County, the State and the Federal governments, thus we seniors must lobby all three government bodies.

Frankly, the lack of public transit is a major issue for the entire State. Years ago the State had two passenger trains daily serving the southern and central areas of the State, and The Empire Builder along the Northern portion of the State. We had Intermountain Bus Line serving nearly all of the populated areas of the state.  Now we have Amtrak which runs daily, except when BNSF has to haul oil and freight. There is little, if any, convenient Bus Transportation throughout the State.

There is currently a bill being considered by the Legislature that would raise the gas tax by five cents and provide infrastructure maintenance and support for public transit.

It makes sense to me, and, hopefully to our Legislature.  Congress is also considering measures to improve and update the infrastructure of the United States.

Seniors, especially, often need public transit; however it is a system to which all should have access. I urge local, state and federal legislators fund measures that support public transit.

—Robert J. Moriarty, Bigfork