Nashville, Tennessee, Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee — So much of what makes me who I am is rooted in public transit and travel. I’ve been able to visit 45 states by using transit as much as possible, worked as a bus operator, and now work to encourage more folks in Nashville to use our transit system. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years through those experiences, it’s that public transit, at its best, fosters a sense of community and connection to all aspects of our lives. For the full benefits of public transit to be a reality, I think we need a culture shift among leaders and the public, starting with funding. Federal investments in transit operations so that transit agencies in communities of all sizes across the country could provide the kind of frequent, reliable, affordable service that I’ve been able to experience through my travel would go a long way towards making transit a more useful and attractive travel option.
I was born in Miami and spent much of my childhood in The Bahamas. I graduated high school early and started college at Florida International University at the age of 17. It was a significant transition at a young age, but one that offered me an opportunity that shaped my future. I did a month-long study abroad program in Italy, which exposed me to a variety of cities and inspired me to set a travel goal of my own—to visit every state in the United States and use transit.
As movement is core to who I am, I started my career as a physical education teacher in Miami. Along the way to meeting my goal of visiting all 50 states, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in my mid-20s. I picked up a variety of jobs when I first moved here, including a role at the Grand Ole Opry. One of my coworkers at the Opry also worked for Nashville’s public transit agency and suggested I consider applying for a job. My love for travel and public transit meant the decision was a no-brainer.
Becoming a bus operator took my connection to transit to a whole new level and gave me a deep understanding of both the operational and personal sides of transit. Although they were far and few between, I was always grateful for the boring days—the days where nothing broke down, my bus didn’t get stuck in traffic, and things went according to plan. More funding for transit agencies like mine to invest in service frequency, maintenance, and infrastructure upgrades, like dedicated bus lanes, would help make those uneventful days more common. Our transit agency provides a critical service with the resources we have, but more resources could improve that service and the lives of the people who use it.
I stepped down from my role as a bus operator in 2022 and have since worked within government agencies to bridge the divide between government officials and the transit riders they aim to serve, using my lived experience as a transit rider and operator.
In my experience, getting out and using public transit gives you a unique perspective of any community. I encourage members of Congress to give their local transit systems a try to experience firsthand how critical transit is for the communities they represent and make investments in transit so we can all have a better connection to each other and our communities.