Monday, June 24, 2013

Riverside Transit and Omnitrans "Public Hearings" never close here

What rapid bus service in the Inland Empire can look like. As mentioned last Friday, there are times where Inland Empire transit riders who have a legit and fact-based concern, submit their requests directly to a transit agency only to have their requests looked at for a moment, but not adopted for whatever reason it may be. To be fair, public transit agency staff are very busy and must remain impartial to the law and transportation policy. Official public hearing periods are also heavily regulated. More often than not, some requests cannot be fulfilled simply because it goes beyond the power of the transit agency. Transit riders are often tempted to think that their requests go ignored and are led to believe that what gets decided after a public hearing period is absolutely final.

Good news: Riders can voice their comments and opinion anytime, whether they're general requests, or for a specific project or proposal. The U.S. Constitution gives concerned citizens a right to express their opinion. The First Amendment has no time limits.

With that, The Transit Coalition and RTA's Transportation NOW serve as ongoing outlets for public opinion and suggestions related to transportation mobility. If there's a trivial obstruction, the agency or group in power will be held accountable, whether it be a special interest group, or a local, state or federal entity. As mentioned, TTC's positions are fact-based and led by independent concerned citizens without political spin. Everyday suggestions such as improved intercity transit options between regions, faster and more frequent service, more rail options, late night bus service, and combating wasteful government spending are compared with the facts and incorporated into our campaigns. Comments left on this blog, on our Facebook page, and through public engagement serve as foundations for our positions. 

As mentioned before, RTA's T-NOW is government led, but its meetings also provide an outlet for Riverside County transit riders to voice suggestions directly to top officials. Both groups are vital to have your voice considered anytime for better transit mobility in the Inland Empire. If you have any transit requests anywhere within Southern California, please contact us or post your opinion in the comments section.

"Public hearings" never close here.

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