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Council schedules informal meeting with regional transit agency after recent bus‑pedestrian accidents
Summary
Following reports of two serious accidents involving BART buses — including one in Gardner — the council voted to schedule an informal meeting with the Montejosa Regional Transit Authority to discuss rider and pedestrian safety and route utilization.
The Gardner City Council voted April 7 to schedule an informal meeting with the Montejosa Regional Transit Authority to discuss rider and pedestrian safety and route utilization after councilors reported recent accidents involving BART buses.
Councilor Karen Harder told the council she had observed unsafe driving and low ridership locally: “I have witnessed unsafe driving and have attempted to report this to Martin, first as a private citizen and then as a counselor,” Harder said, adding that she had seen marked buses run nearly empty. She said one of two recent serious accidents involving buses and pedestrians occurred in Gardner and resulted in serious injury.
Councilor Craig Cormier moved to schedule an informal meeting with the transit authority to address the items listed; Councilor Harder seconded the motion. The council approved the motion by voice vote.
Harder also noted that increased state funding has made the buses free to ride, but that, in her observation, free fares had not increased local ridership. Councilors said the informal meeting will let the city and the transit authority discuss safety, responsiveness to rider complaints and potential adjustments to routes or service levels.
