July 26, 2010 – We need to keep public transportation in Yuma AZ. It helps those who need help, takes people to work and provides opportunities for education. We need public transportation in Yuma. Let’s fund it for a full year instead of a quarter. Let’s reform the system and make it work, not dismantle it.
Last week I attended the regular city council meeting via teleconference. I wanted to explain my position, so before the meeting, I sent the following letter.
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Good evening fellow Councilmembers,
I am writing to express my thoughts on the funding for YCAT and DAR.
Let me start by stating, this system needs reform. We all know that
fact. However, requiring that reform in 90 to 120 days, seems to me,
like a near impossible challenge to any agency with this many active
components and complexity.
Rest assured, a Transit Needs Assessment is in the works. There is an
ADOT grant that will in detail examine this system and point out the
areas that need improvement, replacement, or complete abolishment. This
process will take longer than 120 days to complete.
The funds requested are the same amount rather than broken down
quarterly or as one figure.
What are the impacts to the contractor, if we only fund the program for
a quarter? Will the operating practices change? If so, how?
The City of Yuma is the last member to fund the program at the new
levels. All other members have agreed to contribute the required funds.
The only reason to withhold funds is to keep the option to back out
after a few months. This will make the City of Yuma solely responsible
for collapsing the system, which is in the process of being re-designed.
I would like to see a regional or intergovernmental transit system, but
that is further out than 120 days.
Sincerely,
Councilmember Cody Beeson
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Sent from a BlackBerry. 😉