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Nampa residents warn council cuts to BRT/Access would harm seniors and people with disabilities
Summary
Two frequent transit riders urged the Nampa City Council not to cut Valley Regional Transit/BRT paratransit services, saying Access provides vital independence for seniors and people with disabilities and alternatives like rideshares are unaffordable.
Nancy Hovey, a Nampa resident who uses paratransit services, told the City Council she has relied on Access for about 15 years and urged officials not to reduce service. "Access allows seniors and the handicap to have the independence to travel where they need to go," Hovey said, adding she has no car and cannot afford cabs.
Scott Pearl, who said he went almost completely blind in 2008 and travels daily to work via Valley Regional Transit, described similar reliance on public transit. "I've used Valley Regional Transit every single day to get to work ... I've relied on it very much," he said, and asked the council to maintain funding that keeps the system running for riders who cannot drive.
Why it matters: Council staff and council members are weighing budget choices that could affect VRT funding. Several speakers at the public forum framed potential cuts as consequences for independent living, family work disruptions and access to health care. The council did not take a final budget vote at the meeting; public comments were entered for council consideration.
What comes next: The comments were recorded during the meeting's public forum for council and staff to consider during the FY 2026–27 budget process.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 078, topfinish SEG 249.
