I'm always without car due to my disability. The WRTA has a Transportation Advisory Group made up of fixed route and paratransit riders. I've been a member of this group for a long time. It's been a challenge to improve access to transportation in the city. We have advocated for business owners to remove snow in front of bus stops. The Greendale Mall was difficult to access by the fixed route busses. It's so frustrating that driving is considered a sign of independence. If everyone took public transportation it would be a benefit rather than an afterthought.
I would also like to point out that the grants provided to support cultural events are reimbursement grants. The city already established those aren’t helpful and converted the WAC ones to normal grants. But hey, let’s give this grant that supposed to support “recovery” as reimbursements. That will help! Not...the city needs to get it together and start working with the community to understand what we need.
Welp, as I'm writing this comment I'm waiting for a 24 bus that just skipped a run with no notice, so I've been standing in the cold instead of walking across the entire city, which would have gotten me to work sooner. Guess this is what happens when I have the audacity to take my 2002 Honda to the shop. Anyway, the Now|Next meeting and plan were so good that Joe Petty looked confused and upset during their presentation. We'll be fighting for it, but it definitely goes against current trends so may be tough.
I'm always without car due to my disability. The WRTA has a Transportation Advisory Group made up of fixed route and paratransit riders. I've been a member of this group for a long time. It's been a challenge to improve access to transportation in the city. We have advocated for business owners to remove snow in front of bus stops. The Greendale Mall was difficult to access by the fixed route busses. It's so frustrating that driving is considered a sign of independence. If everyone took public transportation it would be a benefit rather than an afterthought.
"business owners to remove snow".
That's a baseline but it also speaks to a failure of imagination.
In many cities the city or town plows the sidewalk. Not in Worcester.
If the city won't plow sidewalks at the very least they could plow bus stops.
OR if we're putting the onus on business owners, ticket them if they don't plow sidewalks or bus stops.
So many businesses actively block sidewalks by plowing their parking lot snow onto them
I would also like to point out that the grants provided to support cultural events are reimbursement grants. The city already established those aren’t helpful and converted the WAC ones to normal grants. But hey, let’s give this grant that supposed to support “recovery” as reimbursements. That will help! Not...the city needs to get it together and start working with the community to understand what we need.
An evergreen statement!!
Hi Bill - just FYI there is a virtual version of the same workshop for Now/Next being held on April 12th if you would like to attend.
Doesn't matter how free the bus is of it never comes!
Welp, as I'm writing this comment I'm waiting for a 24 bus that just skipped a run with no notice, so I've been standing in the cold instead of walking across the entire city, which would have gotten me to work sooner. Guess this is what happens when I have the audacity to take my 2002 Honda to the shop. Anyway, the Now|Next meeting and plan were so good that Joe Petty looked confused and upset during their presentation. We'll be fighting for it, but it definitely goes against current trends so may be tough.