The United States’ public transportation system falls leagues behind most developed countries in the world. In our very own community, we feel the disastrous effects of the country’s failure. While Johnson City and the ETSU community have BucShot and JC Transit, their services need to be expanded. They are wonderful services, but in order to be more effective, they must have a greater reach.
The BucShot and Johnson City Transit routes should be extended to reach the broader community and the many students who live off campus. In rural communities, public transportation is rarely discussed. Common opinion tends to hold that sparsely populated areas do not need strong public transportation. Rarely do we consider people in our area who live in poverty and cannot afford reliable transportation in order to participate in civic life. In fact, 22.3% of people in Johnson City live below the poverty line, according to a 2017 report from Data USA. People who live in rural areas are particularly at risk without this necessary public good.
An investment in public transportation is also an investment in a green future. A robust, nation-wide public transportation system would lower carbon dioxide emissions by reducing the number of cars on the road. Lowering emissions will dramatically improve the air quality as well, lowering health risks associated with poor air quality. In addition, by cutting down on traffic, public transit would also free up room for nature preserves, parks, communal gardens and other public lands.
The train tracks that run through town serve as a reminder that a different future is possible. If we could utilize and bolster the services and systems we already have, we could begin to work on more ambitious projects like a high-speed, transcontinental railroad on par with European systems. We have the means to develop an environmentally-friendly transit system that serves the common good. Our community needs to invest in public transportation to build that future, a future that is dedicated to the collective good, to the environment and to working people.
