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Advocates urge Roanoke to prioritize accessible bus stops and recurring transit funding
Summary
Transit advocates told council that many bus stops lack ADA-compliant boarding and urged the city to seek dedicated state funding for transit operations and consider regional financing models to shore up service and accessibility.
Speakers at the July 20 meeting urged Roanoke City Council to make public transit a higher priority in the city's legislative agenda and capital planning, stressing that for many residents transit is a lifeline rather than a convenience.
Laura Hartman of the Bus Riders of Roanoke urged the council to seek sustainable, recurring state funding for transit operations and pointed to operator and mechanic staffing shortages: "A great city deserves great transit," Hartman said. Kate Woolley asked the city to go "not just to the letter" of the Americans with Disabilities Act and invest in accessible boarding areas, benches and shelters rather than leaving riders to board from uneven ground or ditches.
Advocates recommended exploring regional funding options (such as transportation improvement districts) and urged prompt attention to accessible infrastructure as part of future budgets and capital projects. Council members said staff would look into outstanding questions about contracts and vacancies cited by speakers.
