“USDOT is seeking input on:
- unmet transportation infrastructure needs in rural communities,
- barriers that rural communities face in addressing those needs, and
- opportunities for ROUTES to improve its services and technical assistance to support rural and tribal stakeholders.
USDOT will use this information to develop the ROUTES Initiative’s next work plan. It is important for them to hear from transit stakeholders to ensure that transit is part of the next phase of work.
Comments are due Friday, April 24, and can be submitted electronically here (click the green button labelled “submit a public comment”).
Comments can be a few sentences or several paragraphs. They should explain who you are, why rural transit is important to you, what challenges your community is facing with regard to rural transit, and any suggested actions for USDOT. (You can see the comments that have already been submitted here.)
You can use the language below as a starting point or draft your own.
Template language for comments
I am writing on behalf of [name of organization]. Our mission is [explain mission]. We work in [rural/tribal area or areas.]
We need much greater investment in rural transit to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live, can get where they need to go. Transit supports rural economic growth, public health, and quality of life. In our community, [describe the role that transit plays and/or the problems that the lack of transit causes].
To improve rural and tribal transit, the ROUTES Initiative should:
[add your ideas for things USDOT could do to help, such as:
- conduct listening sessions in rural and tribal areas to give more rural and tribal residents a voice in USDOT’s decisions
- compile data about transit in rural areas to help local communities understand where the demand is and where the gaps are
- publish case studies of successful rural transit systems and how they are funded
- work with Congress to provide more transit funding for rural and tribal areas and reduce local matching requirements
- anything else you’d like to see from USDOT]
Thank you for your work to improve transportation in rural and tribal areas.”