Veronica Peoples of CARTA, left, shows residents a map of one bus route option during Thursday’s meeting at the Community Center.
Dozens of residents gathered at the Community Center to discuss with CARTA and city officials the future of bus service in East Ridge, Thursday evening.
A three-year grant that CARTA used to provide limited bus service to East Ridge through a pilot program is set to expire in August 2018. The purpose of the meeting was to gather information from people in our city as to their public transportation needs so that CARTA and East Ridge officials may devise a plan going forward to serve the city.
“We want to reach out well in advance (of the grant expiration) to get input and feedback to provide funding and possibly expand service to East Ridge,” said Lisa Maragnano, CARTA’s Executive Director. ” Hopefully, we can sustain the service.”
Joyce Herzog and her husband, Tom, attended the meeting. Both use wheelchairs and don’t drive. Ms. Herzong, a semi-retired educator, said she called City Hall early this month to ask about what kind of transportation services East Ridge may provide to the handicapped. According to Ms. Herzog, she was told by a city employee that they “didn’t know.” This answer galvanized the Herzog’s to advocate for public transportation for wheelchair-bound folks.
“A lot of people in my area need help,” she said. “When you’ve got an aging community and no service from CARTA, it’s a shame.”
CARTA representatives first gave an overview of public transportation in our area. CARTA’s 17 different routes throughout Chattanooga serve three million people a year. The limited route in East Ridge goes from Eastgate to Camp Jordan and on to Enterprise South, returning to Eastgate, five days a week, seven trips per day.
Phillip Pugliese, Transportation System Planner for CARTA, explained to those gathered various special service CARTA offers to people, including something called Care-A-Van for people who are physically unable to ride a conventional bus because of a disability. Pugliese’s power point presentation explained fee structures and different options riders have. A senior citizen and student discount fare is offered. CARTA patrons can purchase a Flex Pass and load the card with money so people don’t have to worry about cash. Another option is a 24-hour pass which offers unlimited rides.
“There are lots of ways to access the bus,” he said. “Keep all these options in mind when you are making evaluations.”
The evaluations Pugliese was referring to were various stations set up around the Community Center. The three different stations offered options for future bus routes in East Ridge. Those in attendance were encouraged to place a sticker on where they may want to get on the bus and where they may be ultimately headed. There were pads where people could write down suggestions for helping CARTA provide even better service.
Emilia Genter, a retired Postmaster and community activist, attended the meeting. Recent medical issues preclude her from driving, so her neighbor, Sandra Rogers, brought her to the meeting. Genter remembers the 1970s and early 80s when CARTA provided full service to East Ridge.
“There are more people needing regular bus service now than when we used to have full service,” Genter said. “I’ve been having to go to the doctor sometimes three times a week. My family has helped, of course, but I don’t want to continue to impose.”
Mayor Brent Lambert said he was encouraged by the turnout for the meeting. He said that when he is out and about in the community one of the most asked questions of him concerns public transportation. Mayor Lambert said that the discussions and input at Thursday’s meeting will help city leaders determine the scope of existing needs and a plan to move forward can be devised.
Lambert said CARTA officials will now “synthesize” the information from the meeting and inform city officials of the kind of services that people in East Ridge desire. He alluded to the possibility of additional meetings with perhaps a different focus to gather more public input in an effort to “flesh out different possibilities.” Lambert said he could not provide even a “ballpark” estimate on what future bus service may cost the city. He said it would depend on the area covered, the frequency of the routes and the services provided.
Lambert said that the Care-A-van service provided by CARTA seems to be the one “people need most.” He called that service, “a good first step.”
“I feel very good about the possibility of making something happen,” Lambert said.
Jill Hindman, a CARTA board member, leaves Thursday’s public input meeting via a Care-A-Van bus, while driver Robert Rice looks on.
