Sunday’s Not for Busses

Posted on February 1, 2008
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In Lebanon County, Pa., COLT, the County of Lebanon Transit Authority, had a bad PR day this week. But it spoke, as well, of the sorry state of public transportation in the U.S.

Two adjoining front page headlines in the Lebanon Daily News read: “COLT pronounces benediction upon Sunday A.M. run,” and “… but gives blessing to casino route.”

In public relations terms, I don’t know whether that conjunction of stories could have been avoided by the COLT staff, though someone should have tried (short, of course, of threatening the paper). But to read that the Sunday morning bus that takes senior citizens to church was dropped at the same time four daily runs are being added to the new Hollywood Casino at the Penn National Race Course was dismaying indeed.

As is usually the case in public transportation matters, the reasons are entirely economic. COLT management was uncomfortable that there was no mechanic on duty on Sunday mornings, should there have been a need to service or retrieve the “church bus,” and couldn’t afford to add one. Yet the casino runs are no-brainers – there should be plenty of slots players to finance them.

It’s a question of priorities, always has been. While we bemoan rising gasoline prices, traffic congestion and the lack of alternative, affordable transportation for routine needs, the political priorities are heavily against public transportation. So head for the casino, combining weekday prayers with soup in the cafeteria!

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