Marva DouglasApril 10, 2013, is a day I’ll never forget. It was opening day for the Barons at the new Regions Field in downtown Birmingham. It was a day my friend and avid baseball fan, Butch, had been looking forward to.
Butch has epilepsy. Butch does not drive, has never driven, and will never drive. Riding a bus and walking are his only means of transportation. Butch also lives in the most car-dependent state in the country.
With the Barons’ return to downtown, Butch could now ride the bus to and from games. Previously, when the Barons played in Hoover, Butch would catch the local bus to the game, but when it was over, no bus service was available. Butch would then have to make the long walk home to Fairfield via Highway 150 and get home around 2 a.m.
I feared for his life on those long walks in the dead of night. And I fear for the lack of access and opportunities for the people of our state due to a lack of reliable public transportation.
There is good news, though, folks. Alabama has a trust fund called the Alabama Public Transportation Act.
The bad news, though, is the trust fund has remained empty since its inception.
The Alabama Public Transportation Trust Act was passed in February 2018. However, no funding source was established. Gas tax can’t provide funding because in 1951 automobile lobbyists got an amendment passed that mandated all gasoline tax revenue be used for bridges and highways. So, for the past 70 years, the state has had no money for public transit.
So, the trust fund means the state now has a designated place to set aside money for the purpose of improving public transportation for everyone. It just needs the funds to do so.
And now, the solution is ripe for the taking.
Alabama was given billions of dollars over the next few years as part of a federal infrastructure bill, $400 million of which was specifically designated for public transportation.
Using this money for the trust fund would provide dependable, round-the-clock bus service, which cannot be found anywhere in the state right now. Robust transportation means easy access to all areas of all communities statewide for everyone – not just those with the privilege of the ability to drive.
All lives, especially those in the disabled community, will be greatly enhanced because good public transportation allows access to all our state has to offer. Taxes support city parks, museums, gardens, theatres and the zoo, but many, most especially people with mobility limitations, lack access to them due to an absence of reliable public transit.
No longer will anyone have to wait long hours for a bus when they know another one will be coming along in 15 minutes. Buses have ramps and a section devoted specifically to the needs of wheelchair users, and if one bus is full, there is comfort knowing another one will be along shortly.
Right now, local service in the Birmingham area runs once an hour or every 90 minutes on some routes. Service ends at 10 p.m., and there is no service on Sunday. Frustratingly, this is only getting worse as some routes are being cut.
Folks, walking is great exercise, but a person’s livelihood shouldn’t depend on it. People of all creed risk life and limb walking the highways and unpaved streets to get to jobs at hospitals, restaurants, grocery stores, and malls.
Not only does public transportation allow everyone to access a quality life, it also creates an economic boon. For every one dollar spent on public transit, four dollars are added to the economy, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
The lack of reliable transportation is an invisible disability. Without reliable public transit, we are limiting access to jobs, schools, houses of worship, entertainment and medical appointments for those with epilepsy, low vision or anyone who cannot drive. We are forcing people like Butch to risk his life in order to partake in America’s pastime and the ability to access all parts of life.
The Alabama Public Transportation Trust Act truly is good news, but only if we use it.
