Bus Cuts Could Harm Workforce, Increasing Job Losses and Damaging the Economy
COALITION FOR SMARTER GROWTH
PRINCE GEORGE’S ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED TRANSIT
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 19, 2010
Contact:
Stewart Schwartz, CSG 703-599-6437 (cell)
Cheryl Cort, CSG, 202-244-4408 x 112
Bus Cuts Could Harm Workforce, Increasing Job Losses and
Damaging the Economy
National Harbor Bus Service Cut Tells the Story
Today’s Washington Post story tells how the changes made to the NH1 bus service initiated a few months ago have now imposed a huge cost in time and money for workers employed at National Harbor. The changes have made what had been short bus commutes two hours and forced workers to take expensive cab rides.
“Today’s story illustrates both the critical importance of bus service for the region’s workforce and the impact of suburban development planned without regard to transit service,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “During the debate over National Harbor we expressed concern about its poor access to transit.”
When jobs are moved to suburban locations without adequate transit, it places a huge burden on workers. Biking and walking to National Harbor has been made extremely difficult since transportation officials created high speed roads that are unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Today’s story is also an illustration of what could happen with the drastic bus service cuts being proposed by Metro and the local transit services,” said Cheryl Cort, Policy Director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “Without adequate and affordable bus service, many more people may lose their jobs because they simply can’t get to work.”
The Coalition for Smarter Growth, Prince George’s Advocates for Community-based Transit and their partners in the Transit First! workgroup have launched a www.FairShareMetro.com campaign to win additional funding that will avoid severe service cuts.
“Transit service is an essential public service and critical to our region’s economy and to all levels of the workforce. At the same time, area jurisdictions have to do a better job of planning communities and transit together. Compact, mixed-use, walkable communities combined with transit make transit more efficient, reduce traffic and save money,” said Karren Pope-Onwukwe, co-chair of the Prince George’s Advocates for Community-based Transit.
The Coalition for Smarter Growth and Prince George’s Advocates for Community-based Transit are urging Prince George’s County, National Harbor, and WMATA to restore the NH-1 bus service to National Harbor, to provide other transit connections, and to reinstate planning for Metrorail across the Wilson Bridge.
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