Press Pass By Tim Wiederaenders twieds@prescottaz.com Daily Courier Editor Tim Wiederaenders shares his insights.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
City turns key on mass transit bus
By Tim Wiederaenders, Managing Editor
The Prescott City Council has weighed in on mass transit, and though they’re advocating a start-small-and-grow-from-there approach – it’s a start.
Earlier today (Tuesday) the council members unanimously supported a “limited service fixed-route” system that would include Prescott, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley.
Councilman Bob Bell said, “I firmly believe we need to walk before we run.”
And, though I somewhat disagree (let’s do it and embrace this concept, not just toy with it, I say), the comment(s) and action are 180 degrees from more than a decade of ambivalence on the city’s part about mass transit. ... But, is it enough?
Let’s consider now what other municipalities have said: Yavapai County favored a “full-service” fixed-route bus system that would involve routes between all four of the area communities (Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt); the Prescott Valley Town Council wanted to focus on transit needs within the town, while also expressing interest in exploration of a regional system; Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt wanted to continue and enhance the existing voucher transit system, which provides subsidized, low-cost taxi rides to needy people.
What do you think? Keeping in mind that the city’s recommendation will now go on to CYMPO (the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization, which oversaw the transit study), do we have the bus going in the right direction?
Posted: Thursday, July 19, 2007
Article comment by:
Jason Sikes
Sad part is the city of Prescott is only one of the four municipalities to say this. Even more sad is Dewey-Humboldt left out in the cold. Deweyboldt would be part of this if regional cooperation worked, and we'd have a bus system for all four places. PV is the selfish one here, residents have the support of their council but this is not a one-town issue. Just like P/PV leaving Chino with the bottom of the barrel on the water system and CV having to go its own way for more water proves regional efforts are just for show around here!
Posted: Thursday, July 19, 2007
Article comment by:
Amber Lynn
This area needs mass transit! You laud the council on taking a stand, but their action is too short-sighted. They're not thinking big enough. They're not thinking about the residents, they're thinking about their bottomline. If they'd stop putting millions into stores' infrastructure, they could afford more busses!
By Tim Wiederaenders, Managing Editor
