opinion

Public transportation a key to sharing economic growth

“If transportation systems in American cities could be laid out so as to provide an opportunity for poor people to get meaningful employment, then they could begin to move into the mainstream of American life.”

It has been almost 50 years since the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote those words. But today in Louisville, the statement is no less true.

While our metro area is seeing signs of tremendous economic growth, far too many of our citizens are being left behind because of the simple fact that they cannot get to where many of the good jobs are being created — out in the edges of the city in the growing industrial and commercial parks, such as Riverport in southwest Jefferson County. And one of the key factors in this is inadequate public transportation to those areas.

So what happens when a public transit-dependent citizen of our city tries to get a good job at Riverport to support their family?

Maybe they get partway through the interview, but when they’re asked “Do you have reliable transportation?” and they have to say “no” — and that’s the end of the interview.

Maybe they get the job, and by some miracle, get a shift that fits with the few times a bus goes through the area.

But what happens when it’s a special holiday, and there are a lot of orders to fill, so they have to work overtime? So they missed the bus, they’re stuck 10 miles from home, and another bus doesn’t come for another four hours, or until morning. According to a TARC ridership survey, 85 percent of the people who use TARC have no other way to make the trip, even including getting a ride from a family member. So, likely, that person is stuck — or forced to walk.

And what happens when it rains, or snows, or it’s dark out, and they have to walk a long distance to a bus stop after a 12-hour shift, along roads that don’t even have sidewalks, and stand and wait without shelter?

And what happens when their shift changes, or when they are offered a promotion — and now they have to work on the weekends, or at a time when there isn’t TARC service? So they turn down the promotion, leave the job, or just try to string together carpooling, walking, or rides from friends.

No one should have to go through all this to get a job. Workers deserve reliable transportation to their jobs, and businesses deserve reliable workers, who they can be sure will arrive on time each day and keep their jobs long-term.

And our city should be able to keep good employers.

As the bridges project opens much easier access to the newer and growing industrial and commercial areas of Southern Indiana, we want to be sure that businesses — and the investments and jobs they provide — stay here in Jefferson County. Reliable public transit infrastructure will be a key factor in keeping businesses here.

That’s why we are calling for expanded service to the Riverport Industrial Park, the home of 115 companies and 7,000 jobs.

In a recent survey to those businesses, 82 percent of the respondents stated that TARC service to the area is inadequate. For their part, TARC seems to be doing the best they can with the limited resources they have. But those of us who live and work in the community know that our citizens are still struggling to get work. The solution to this problem needs to be broader: a community-wide, public-private commitment to support increased service.

Our workers deserve better. Our employers deserve better. Our community deserves better.

CLOUT — Citizens of Louisville Organized and United Together is calling on the community to come together to develop a solution that will respond to Dr. King’s call for all of our citizens to be able to take advantage of our economic growth, by providing improved public transportation to jobs.

On Monday, April 20, at Memorial Auditorium, over 1,000 persons of faith who are affiliated with CLOUT will come together with local elected officials, business leaders and other stakeholders to focus on this problem and to call for solutions.

If you are interested in participating, we would encourage you to contact us at (502) 583-1267 or clout@bellsouth.net.

Rev. Reginald Barnes is chair of CLOUT’s jobs and transportation committee and is pastor at Brown Memorial C.M.E. Church.

CLOUT gathering

On Monday, April 20, at Memorial Auditorium, over 1,000 persons of faith affiliated with CLOUT will come together with local elected officials, business leaders and other stakeholders to focus on public transportation and Riverport. Contact: (502) 583-1267 or clout@bellsouth.net.