Denver Streets Partnership, Denver, Colorado
As a nurse who relies on public transit, I know just how critical access to reliable, affordable, convenient transportation is for people in our communities, regardless of where they live or how much money they make. It’s long past time that Members of Congress stop investing in a car-dependent transportation system and start making significant investments in public transit that gets people where they need to go. I know it’s corny to say, but I strongly believe in that saying from Field of Dreams, ”if you build it, they will come.” Our transportation system has long favored the convenience of people who drive over safety, the environment, and the overall public good. It’s time leaders turn their attention to building a transportation system that works for everyone.
It wasn’t until I moved to Denver that living without a car was a feasible option. I grew up in suburban north Dallas, Texas, where public transit options were minimal. Then, I spent time during and after nursing school in rural Virginia, where driving was the only option to get from place to place. I started my nursing career as a home health care nurse, which highlighted how critical transportation is to health. Without home health care, many of the patients I visited would have been limited in their ability to access critical care. Whether we live in rural communities or urban areas, we all deserve access to reliable transportation options to access the services and destinations we need.
These experiences influenced my decision to try living without a car when I moved to Denver, aiming to rely on public transit for my commutes and daily activities. It’s been nearly two years since my move and I’ve continued to get around without owning a car. I’ve been able to choose housing near transit routes and the hospitals I’ve worked at, but even still, many trips take over an hour because of infrequent transit service. As a nurse in the Denver area, I frequently work with patients who lack access to reliable transportation, sometimes resulting in delayed care for issues they are experiencing. With more funding for transit service, buses and trains could come more frequently and reliably, and we could all access our jobs and essential services, like health care, with ease.
As much as I wish there were a subway network or widespread high-speed rail in the Denver area, I really think that investments in bus service will result in the best bang for our buck. Today, I feel like people dismiss transit as an option, but with more frequent, reliable service, I think Denverites would embrace transit as a viable, everyday alternative to driving. I hope you’ll consider supporting federal investments in transit operations, like Representative Hank Johnson’s Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act, so this is the case in communities like mine across the country.