Three kindergarteners show us the way to save bus service to Magnolia. Elena Traskina, Alyosha Adams and Yumiko Baron were winners in the Magnolia Transit Riders’ art competition. The three are students in Brenda Hatley’s class at Lawton Elementary School.
The No. 24 bus service to downtown was recently eliminated after 9:30 p.m. Due largely to public pressure, one run on the route was restored at 10:21 p.m. The bus formerly ran until midnight.
The Magnolia Transit Riders is a group of people affected by recent cutbacks. James McIntosh, who founded the group, depends on the bus. He cannot drive, due to impaired vision, and generally walks or takes public transit.
At a recent meeting with Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, a large number of people turned out. Young and old expressed their concerns about the loss of night service and an incomplete route. Encouraging people to drive is a step in the wrong direction, if a cleaner environment is the goal, they said.
Phillips, along with Metro representative,Victor Obeso argued that state funding reductions made the cuts inevitable. The state and county budgets have been reduced, and further cutbacks loom. This may be an opportunity, however, for Metro officials to reassess priorities. It may be possible to reduce waste, save fuel and alter existing routes by thinking flexibly.
Phillips is scheduled to march with the group on April 6 at 11:30 p.m. from the D line stop at Dravis Street to Magnolia village. Let’s hope this is more than a symbolic gesture, and that he will act to restore essential bus services to his neighborhood.
Magnolia Transit Riders is working together with a larger group, the Transit Riders Union, which is based downtown and aims to bring neighborhood groups together, to resist cutbacks. For more information, visit transitriders.org/Magnolia.
RUTH WILSON is a member of the Magnolia Transit Riders group. To comment on this story, write to QAMagNews@nwlink.com.