Pierce Transit changes leaving vulnerable residents in the cold
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SEATTLE -- Later this month, a disabled mobility program called SHUTTLE will stop running in several Pierce County neighborhoods, leaving some of the county's most vulnerable residents with no way to leave their homes.
A broken back has kept Greg Hornick off his feet for the last six years. His already limited mobility will soon take another hit when SHUTTLE stops serving his neighborhood.
Earlier this year, Hornick's South Hill neighborhood was part of unincorporated Pierce County that backed out of Pierce Transit coverage to save money money on tax bills.
"They're only looking at money. Let's look at the other side of the coin," Hornick said.
For Hornick, the 75-cent bus rides are his lifeline to the rest of the world.
"That's my only way of getting out of here," he said. "To go shopping, to go get my meds, to go to the doctors."
Pierce Transit officials say they're stuck.
"It's been a very difficult process for Pierce Transit. This wouldn't be what we would desire," said Pierce Transit CEO Lynne Griffith.
Griffith said buses and shuttles can't go to cities that aren't part of Pierce Transit
"It's not because of the budget that we're cutting," she said.
Whatever the reason, Hornick will soon be in a difficult situation. Instead of door-to-door service, he'll have to take sidewalks for more than a mile and half to catch a shuttle.
"It's going to be rainy weather pretty soon. That's going to be a problem," he said.
Pierce Transit is pushing for a tax increase this fall, but even that won't help the Shuttle situation for people like Hornick. The service won't expand to areas such as Sumner, Orting, Buckley, Bonney Lake and DuPont because those areas opted out of Pierce Transit.
A broken back has kept Greg Hornick off his feet for the last six years. His already limited mobility will soon take another hit when SHUTTLE stops serving his neighborhood.
Earlier this year, Hornick's South Hill neighborhood was part of unincorporated Pierce County that backed out of Pierce Transit coverage to save money money on tax bills.
"They're only looking at money. Let's look at the other side of the coin," Hornick said.
For Hornick, the 75-cent bus rides are his lifeline to the rest of the world.
"That's my only way of getting out of here," he said. "To go shopping, to go get my meds, to go to the doctors."
Pierce Transit officials say they're stuck.
"It's been a very difficult process for Pierce Transit. This wouldn't be what we would desire," said Pierce Transit CEO Lynne Griffith.
Griffith said buses and shuttles can't go to cities that aren't part of Pierce Transit
"It's not because of the budget that we're cutting," she said.
Whatever the reason, Hornick will soon be in a difficult situation. Instead of door-to-door service, he'll have to take sidewalks for more than a mile and half to catch a shuttle.
"It's going to be rainy weather pretty soon. That's going to be a problem," he said.
Pierce Transit is pushing for a tax increase this fall, but even that won't help the Shuttle situation for people like Hornick. The service won't expand to areas such as Sumner, Orting, Buckley, Bonney Lake and DuPont because those areas opted out of Pierce Transit.
I do feel for this guy and others that are being left out. However, PT has had budget problems for years. They have been slow to react by cutting their budget only when their cries of a tax increase fell on the deaf ears of taxpayers.
If I'm not mistaken they are again going to trot out another request for a tax increase this election. Any bets on how this is going to turn out? People are getting tired of their taxes going up all the time while their paychecks don't if their lucky and go down if their not so lucky. The fact these communities sought to eliminate themselves from PT after their services level was cut or completely eliminated shows the level of distrust people have for PT.
Seventy five cents does nothing towards the costs of operating this shuttle service and we tax payers have to make up the rest. I am afraid these feather bedders are going to find a few lumps in their mattress's from now on. As mentioned in a couple of other responses there are several other ways of getting around besides this shuttle service. We tax payers are taxed out. Because of high taxes people are moving out of the city, business's are closing and moving, and if anyone has forgotten the economy is in the toilet big time. Things are going to have to be more self supporting so they can take some of the load off the tax payers. Sure it is hard to get around, but looking at other options can ease that problem without bankrupting the rest of us.
There are other ways to get around. Â Cabulance for one. Â One of the kids in our family only gets out that way, by school buss, or on his 4 days a month when he is with the one parent that has a conversion van. Â While it was a nice service for those who used it, I doubt the cost penciled out.
Way to lay blame on Pierce Transit KOMO. What irresponsible journalism! Blaim lies with the County, not PT.
Good way for an area to get rid of the riff raff. Â Many will move to a transit supported area.
Here in King Cty, our once quiet neighborhood is overrun with those GDF Access Buses
The way they are pouring thru money there will never be enough to keep this boat afloat
@Grumpa Personally, I won't vote for a tax increase. Why should I pay for something I don't use? ESPECIALLY since its use is super limited in my area? I'm already paying out the arse for the taxes on gas!
@Tattooed_Angel
Thatâs the problem with all transit, Subsidies . Offender #1 buses, offender #2 the sounder train, Offender#3 the Ferry system. Oops forgot that there subsidized rides happen because the ferry is part of the DOT system. My feeling are, if you use it YOU pay for it why should I?Â
@juddc @Kodiak @Tattooed_Angel
Though I donât disagree with your statement, the question still stands, why should we pay for a service we donât use?
 @Kodiak  @Tattooed_AngelÂ
Access to public transit improves traffic congestion, reduces pollution, and reduces the number of accidents and DUIs for everyone in areas where it's available. Do you honestly think that things would be better if every single person in the state over the age of 16 owned a car?
All I can say is some communities are being very short sighted. I don't know how much they are saving from their budget but stopping public transit service just doesn't seem to be the smartest thing to do.