To The Editor:
It’s clear to me that Wheels2U is needed & wanted. It is a solid town public transit foundation.
The scores of emails we have received adequately enumerate the reasons to support Wheels2U. I’ve previously expressed myself regarding W2U and my votes on this speak for themselves.
It’s also clear that there is a lot that could and should be done with public transit in our town:
- Determine leadership, goals and accountability
- Figure out how to integrate public transit planning & services with other aligned town services such as traffic & safety, health & human services, parking, environmental efforts
- Explore regionalization and improve or expand partnerships
- Establish management, operations, planning and measurement best practices
- Increase ridership, collect disaggregated data on usage, expand and better promote services
- Be more diverse and green, provide even better services to the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged
- Consider other financing sources; raise fares, use parking revenues, create a fund, etc.
For a better, more integrated and accountable public transit system in Westport, I believe we need 1) full FY23 funding for Wheels2U to preserve our effective public transit base, build on our transit partnerships and relationships and maintain important state subsidies, and 2.) a town Public Transit and Parking Group that creates a comprehensive supported action plan for FY24. Group participants might include representatives from the BoS, BoF, RTM, Public Safety, Public Works, Health & Human Resources, Sustainable Westport, etc.
I will vote next week to restore the $133,000 to the W2U budget this coming year and will also continue to push for a group that will create the public transit system Westport should have, beginning next fiscal year.
Nancy Kail / RTM District 9
I think that it is short-sighted and counter-productive to continue to fund a Westport only Transit District in a region which already has 7 such districts independent of one another, some of which are well-funded and professionally managed. Instead, I favor Westport consolidating with the Norwalk District and further consolidation of existing systems.
Do we really need 7 separate entities to address what is quintessentially a regional problem? (NYC and Long Island has one, as does all of New Jersey)
I applaud Ms. Kail’s intention to vote to restore the Wheels2U funding and further applaud her dedication to explore improvements and possible economies of scale.
In all due respect, Mr. Weissman, I fear what would truly be shortsighted would be to disband Wheels2U before any alternative program is studied or certainly up and running. I believe it would also be shortsighted to disband the service based upon ridership data collected during a pandemic which saw many people working from home and having their groceries delivered.
As an advocate for individuals with disabilities who rely heavily on public transportation and as we, as a community, commit to increasing workforce and affordable housing, while also addressing ways to reduce traffic and our carbon footprint, curtailing public transportation seems counterintuitive. With respect to regionalization of services, I do believe this should be studied further, however, there is much to be said for keeping things simple when the majority of ridership seeks transport within Westport.
I agree with Ms Kail’s suggestions to restore funding while simultaneously using our collective resources, creativity and knowledge to make improvements in our public transportation services.
Nancy Kail’s comments are excellent. However, the matter needs leadership. Peter Gold works long and hard as the unpaid head of the Westport Transit District and is fully familiar with all the issues. Peter is of course a long term member of the RTM. The matter needs engagement by the Office of the First Selectwoman. One step could be for First Selectwoman Tooker to ask the Second or Third Selectwoman, Andrea Moore or Candice Savin, to take charge of the effort of the Town Executive branch to address the issues and hopefully develop and implement effective policies. I ask First Selectwoman Tooker to consider such action.
Don Bergmann
I agree with Nancy Kail’s approach. More importantly, I applaud her willingness to share this information before the vote. It is transparent; it is good government; it is a breath of fresh air.
It is important to realize that we cannot hold Ms. Kail to the opinion as written at the date and time it was written. Many facts will be brought forth which may change her opinion. I hope that all RTM members will feel comfortable sharing thoughtful of-the-moment opinions with constituents. A proud RTM District 9 constituent, Marla Cowden
I haven’t heard any one of the recent transit-experienced speakers at budget hearings, budget subcommittee hearings, or RTM meetings, nor have I read anything in letters to the Editor and/or on line comments that suggests the dissolution of the Westport Transit District without first identifying solutions to save it.
Have I missed something?