What do the citizens of Sumner want in a transportation program now that the city is no longer a part of the Pierce Transit?
It's a question city leaders hope as many residents as possible can help answer through a transit survey that has been distributed and will remain open until March 1 when results will be tabulated.
Residents were mailed copies of the survey with their utility bills, and hard copies are also available at City Hall, the Sumner Library, Senior Center and the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce, said city spokesperson Carmen Palmer.
An electronic version is also available on the city website. (Up on the Plateau, the city of Bonney Lake has also distributed its own survey to collect similar feedback.)
The survey is the most recent way city leaders are hoping to garner feedback from residents. Mayor Dave Enslow began asking for input in May 2012 after the city was officially removed from the Pierce Transit service district.
Meanwhile, leaders continue to explore options to serve local citizens. The agenda packet for the Jan. 14 study session shows that Councilmembers Nancy Dumas and Randy Hynek brought forth a proposal for a pilot transportation system that would through an initial six-month phase operate at a zero cost to the city - thanks to grants - and would be able to provide transportation for local seniors to and from medical appointments and shopping errands, connect riders to Bonney Lake, and more. (See page 3 of the study session packet PDF attached with this item). The program, based in Pierce County, was revisited during the study session this past Monday, according to the meeting agenda. Editor's Note: Patch is continuing to work on learning more about the proposed program; stay tuned for more information.
So now, Sumner's response it to creat there own bus service, in the same low service, unsupported area, with bight shiny new buses and maintenance and administration? That sounds like a huge hole and throw money in. Why not just reopen negotiations with Pierce Transit, change fares, creat an assistance program, something. Why reinvent the wheel that went flat. Fix the wheel!
And, so here we are with seniors, people with disabilities or illness and people who are lower in income and relied on the bus, shuttle or van to get them where they needed to go. This was not a free service. Bus fare still needed to be paid and there was a monthly shuttle fee for it's use, paid for by the user. Cities who "opted out" of the PTBA can not return to Pierce Transit for 2 years. So what do we do to support those in our community who relied on PT's service to get them to chemo, work, the grocery store? We get creative and think outside of the box.
As a very important side note, this Pilot Transportation System is slated to start this Friday, March 1st in Sumner. It will be fluid and as data is collected, routes may change a bit so it can become more efficient and meet the needs. Keep checking the City's web site www.ci.sumner.wa.us for updated information. Local Motion LLC is the provider our partner's in Pierce County chose. They are white shuttle vans with blue writing on the side. 2-1-1 is where residents can call if the deviated service is needed. Thank you for reading through all of this and being interested in what Sumner is doing to creatively meets the needs of our residents.