By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-932473.mp3
Dallas, TX – Residents in Richland Hills vote Election Day on pulling out of the "T". City Council members believe Richland Hills is not getting a good return on its investment in mass transit. But, some bus riders, especially elderly citizens, say they need the "T". KERA's BJ Austin reports.
Richland Hills City Council member Larry Marrs says the city could use that half-cent sales tax it sends to the "T" for better things than an under-utilized bus system.
Marrs: We've been paying about 750 thousand to 800 thousand dollars every year for a bus system that only about 12 rides happen on it each day on the general bus service; three average rides per day on the mobility impaired service; and about half of the student riders are not our citizens.
Marrs says that half-cent sales tax could go for street or transportation improvements, and for an alternate transit program with Yellow-Checker Cab Service for much less. He says about 400 thousand dollars would be freed-up to hire three more firefighters and deal with blighted commercial and neighborhood property to make Richland Hills more attractive to new business and development.
Bettye Mastin lives in a Richland Hills retirement community. She says the city is wrong to say no one rides the bus.
Mastin: And there's about 18 of us depend on this bus. Next door to me is a place called Ash Park. There are people who work for American Airlines. There's a lady who works at Kroger's. There's one that works at North Hills mall. They all ride the bus.
Mastin says the way bus use is computed greatly underestimates ridership. She says the buses are nearly full in the early morning hours. Mastin says the students who ride the bus are part of the Birdville School District, which educates Richland Hills students, along with those in six other cities. Mastin calls the "T" is an important quality of life service.
If Richland Hills votes to leave the regional transit system, the T's Board will consider whether to close the city's "Trinity Railway Express" stop. Councilman Marrs says the city could likely work out a "contract" to continue TRE service. About 15 thousand people a month board the train at the Richland Hills station.