Transit study is a good first step

Those curious about the need to expand and improve existing public transit services in Cedar Rapids need look no further than the public response to our Ask & Answer question on Sept. 27.

In addition to the long-standing request for commuter service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, our readers called for buses to run earlier in the morning and later in the evening, more frequent bus service and alternatives to the singular hub-based system.

Some lamented the ease of public transit in other Midwestern cities when compared to Cedar Rapids, others voiced frustration with a system that would take them to work but provided no way to return home at night.

And, the truth is, none of these lamentations or suggestions are new. The same things have been mentioned by transit users and would-be users for years.

So while we are glad to see The Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization will commission a study of public transit in the greater Cedar Rapids area in order to identify potential improvements to the system, the key will be in following through on suggested improvements.

A new funding formula for the MPO earmarks 20 percent of moneys for public transit - which previously, and foolishly, received no allotment. Since the group serves Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins, Ely and the county, a real opportunity exists to wisely invest the estimated $4.1 million allocation into high-impact projects toward a regional transit system that works for riders, reduces traffic congestion and eases road maintenance.

There are many benefits of public transit. Buses more efficient than cars in terms of pollution and fuel. They ease traffic congestion. Passengers typically engage in more physical activity than drivers as they walk between stops and destinations.

Some recent improvements to the Cedar Rapids system are worth noting: Low-floor buses were a welcome change from the aging Cedar Rapids fleet. Added emphasis on safety and customer service is another positive change. Buses, the hub and stops throughout the Cedar Rapids system are generally clean and welcoming. Unfortunately, none of these improvements matter when residents continue to view bus service as so inconvenient that it is an option of last resort.

The time is right to look for, and implement, changes to our public transportation system that will meet community needs.

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