All Aboard The Bus!

350VTers collect 100 signatures for public transit funding

In the midst of a series of cuts to bus routes in and around Chittenden County, 350VT’s volunteer Transportation Team got on the bus in February and March to speak up for public transit.

During four Ride the Bus Days of Action aboard the Burlington City Loop and the Williston buses, they talked to bus riders, raised awareness about the cuts, and gathered roughly 100 signatures for a petition asking the legislature to fund public transportation. 

The petition, hosted by a coalition called Transportation 4 Vermont (T4VT), was delivered to the legislature on Tuesday, March 18, with more than 950 signatures total.

The petition notes that public transit receives just 6 percent of Vermont’s $870 million transportation budget, despite the essential services it provides in getting people where they need to go, providing an alternative for people who can’t drive, can’t afford a car, or would like to reduce their emissions impact. Transportation is the largest source of carbon pollution in Vermont.

Faced with a $2-3 million budget shortfall, Green Mountain Transit has twice reduced its bus service within Chittenden County and from Burlington to surrounding counties. Another round of cuts is scheduled for June.

The T4VT petition closes with a call to action:

We urge Vermont leaders to transition Vermont’s Transportation Fund to better reflect Vermonters' needs and commit to stabilizing public transit in the near term by identifying dedicated funding for a robust transit system in Vermont. We must act boldly to develop a modern transit system that provides better health outcomes, accessible labor supply for employers, reduced social isolation, and lower transportation cost burdens. 

The Transportation Team will continue their work to protect bus service in Vermont and prevent a backslide toward a wholly car-dependent society. Want to get involved? Email organizers@350vt.org.