As I read the article on a new potential location for the downtown bus transfer site, a number of concerns came to my mind. As a center-city resident and the relative of a frequent city bus traveler, I have a problem with the inadequate bus lines serving the Springfield area. Having used transit systems in other cities not only here in the United States, but also in Europe, I believe that an overhaul of the City Utilities bus system is long overdue.
The bus system here uses what is identified as the "hub system" -- almost all our buses travel in a circuitous pattern -- making circuits that start and end at the downtown bus transfer station, which was effective when most of the city's businesses were located in the downtown area. If we as a society really are interested in "going green," then making our bus system more assessable to a greater majority of citizens in the area and creating a bus system that is more efficient time-wise is an essential direction for our transit system to make. A personal example is the fact that I live less than two miles from Central High School -- I can ride my bicycle there in less than 12 minutes, and, when the lights are all green, driving by myself to work takes only about 6 to 7 minutes. However, to take the city bus, I must walk over half a mile to National Avenue, catch the northbound bus, travel downtown to the hub, transfer to another northbound bus to Benton and Central for a total time of about 50 minutes. This time discrepancy is too great to expect people to give up the luxury of their automobiles and begin to do their part in lowering emission rates and helping the environment. And, with the hub system, this is what is happening all over town.
It only takes an individual one or two trips entering the city via the major thoroughfares of Springfield (East or West Sunshine, Glenstone Avenue, South Campbell) to realize that a more extensive grid system would not only enhance the quality of life for Springfieldians, but also would provide an economical and attractive alternate method of travel around the city. This grid system would allow continuous travel from one point to another without making the unnecessary trip to the downtown transfer station before continuing on your way to your desired destination.
With the economy and energy crisis that we will continue to face in the future, we must make our mass transit system as attractive and efficient as possible. Maybe it is time to totally restructure the system since it currently still reflects a structure first used at the beginning of the 20th century. I believe there are many of us who are ready to embrace mass transit as a viable option when traveling around the city.
Jane Sellars lives in Springfield.
