Salem City Club to Talk Transit and Third Bridge

Tomorrow, Friday the 25th, the Salem City Club holds its second "Grassroots Ideas" luncheon and presentation:

[I]nspired by a recent transit study published by the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties... the focus will be on citizen-generated ideas for a more livable and vital Salem. The League study points to a need for enhanced transit service in the Salem-Keizer region while noting policy and financial constraints. “Public Transportation in the Salem Area” will shed light on these needs, policy options, and financial and other constraints with the hope of stimulating thought and discussion....

Allan Pollock, General Manager for Salem-Keizer Transit and Salem City Club Board member will moderate the podium program. Sandra Gangle, chair of the League’s Transit Study committee, will discuss myths and facts of transit emanating from the League’s study report. Ron Kilcoyne, General Manager of Lane Transit District, will focus on the challenges transit systems face when attempting to provide the appropriate level of service to communities. He will also offer perspectives on how transit systems vary across the country in light of local service demands and financial realities. Jim Lewis, Executive Officer of the Salem Association of Realtors, will provide his insights into business community requirements and concerns pertinent to transit policy and financing.

The League also notes that

An additional feature of the January 25 event will be the presence of Poster Presenters from our local community. Each poster will explain why efficient transit service is important to the people they serve. The Poster Presenters, who will be available from 11:30 to noon, and the topics they will present, include:

• Cheryl Stone, Municipal Court Administrator, City of Salem--Lack of transportation is cited most frequently as the reason for defendants' failure to appear for court hearings.
• Cecelia Monto, Dean, Education and Evening/Weekend Programs, and Steph Fregosi, Sustainability Coordinator, Chemeketa Community College--College students need bus transportation, including evenings and weekends.
• Kat Baird, Manager, The Book Bin, and Kathy Henderson, Executive Director, Salem Downtown Association--Downtown store employees and customers need efficient bus transportation, including evenings and weekends.
• Kathleen Daniel, Program Director, Marion-Polk Food Share, and Lori Beamer, President, CoActive Connections, a community non-profit that fosters strategies for creating a community free of hunger--Low-income families need safe and efficient bus transportation, including evenings and weekends.

Next up on Friday, February 8th, will be a session on the Third Bridge.

City Club to Talk Bridge Feb 8th