>What will PUBLIC interests do that PRIVATE interests cannot or will not?
A few thoughts come to mind:
"Public transportation" includes all forms of transportation, whether
privately or publicly funded, that contribute to the common goal of
mobility for all segments of the population. Public transportation
involves coordinated services between privately owned transportation
businesses and those that are supported with public funds. Something to
keep in mind is that private businesses will usually focus their energies
on services that are self supporting, and enable them to continue on as a
business. If we relied totally on privately owned transportation services,
there would be some areas of our region, as well as segments of the
population, that would not have their mobility needs met.
Federal dollars have helped us in Region 2 to work toward the following
goal (from the state PT plan "Movin' Idaho"): "to ensure the development
and maintenance of reliable and efficient public transportation that is
intermodal, coordinated, integrated, accessible and safe for everyone
throughout the region and neighboring jurisdictions". In order to maintain
*current* services, we need a state mechanism for funding PT.
Dave Peckham, who recently resigned from being Chair of the Region 2 Public
Transportation Advisory Committee, wrote most of the PT plan for our
region. Dave may have some additional comments on public and private
interests.
Pam Palmer
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Pam Palmer
Moscow City Councilmember
P.O. Box 9203
Moscow, Idaho 83843
208-883-3741
ppalmer@moscow.com
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