Rider tells commission she was barred from public transit bus after complaining; commissioners pledge to investigate

During the meeting's communications from the audience, Wanda Pugh, a county resident who uses SETTRA public transportation, told the commission she believes she was barred from riding after criticizing the transit service and asked for help contacting system management.

Pugh said she relies on public transit to reach grocery stores and the laundromat and that, after complaining about what she called the system's poor service and a director's "draconian" behavior, a vehicle operator told her the director had heard her comments and that she would not be allowed on the bus. Pugh said she was approached at her residence by an operator who reiterated she should not return, and that she could not get direct contact information for the director or manager from the transit office.

Commissioners and staff responded that SETTRA is governed by a board of directors that includes county mayors and that the county mayor sits on that board as one member. The commission asked Vice Mayor Adam (present at the meeting) to coordinate contact between Pugh and the mayor's office and to help identify the appropriate SETTRA board contact so the resident could pursue a complaint or request assistance with transportation access.

Ending

Vice Mayor Adam agreed to get contact information to Pugh and to follow up with the mayor's office; commissioners said staff would attempt to help the resident resolve the access issue with SETTRA board or management.