Approximately 40 guests attended the winter meeting of the Human Services Advocacy Network (HSAN) on December 10. The event featured special guest India Birdsong, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA). Birdsong, who came to Cleveland only a few months ago from Nashville, reflected on her time in Cleveland so far. She also spoke about the unique characteristics of the civic landscape in Cleveland and what she would like to see happen as the agency moves forward.. She also spoke about the unique characteristics of the civic landscape in Cleveland and what she would like to see happen as the agency moves forward.
Community Solutions believes it’s important to participate in discussions about the future of transportation, as it is a critically import social determinant of health.
Community Solutions believes it’s important to participate in discussions about the future of transportation, as it is a critically import social determinant of health. Indeed, according to a March 2019 economic impact study[1] conducted by Cleveland State University, transit access to GCRTA in urban neighborhoods results in a 12.9 percent decrease in poverty and 3.1 percent employment growth. According to that same study, without GCRTA, health care appointments would be cancelled or missed, resulting in a $103 million loss to the health care industry.
Without GCRTA, health care appointments would be cancelled or missed, resulting in a $103 million loss to the health care industry.
At the HSAN event, one of the first things that Birdsong said was “I’m new to Cleveland. I am not new to transit.” She spoke about some of the similarities between the perceptions of public transportation in cities where she has worked, including Nashville and Chicago, and how that perception can influence attitudes about the importance of transit. Birdsong said that nationally, there is a “car culture” which contributes to the lack of urgency in making public transportation a viable option for transit needs. Additionally, she talked about some of the issues Cleveland is facing, such as an aging infrastructure, are not unique. However, she said, Cleveland is the only city in the State of Ohio which does have light-rail infrastructure. Therefore, special consideration must be given to how that legacy infrastructure is maintained. She also said that there needs to be a sense of urgency, as both bus and train infrastructure require drastic updates to take place within five years.
Birdsong also mentioned paratransit as an important service provided by GCRTA that also needs improvement. On the heels of a study overseen by the Greater Cleveland Partnership, which recommended the privatization of the paratransit service, she stated that she appreciated that perspective when determining what should be done to improve the service. She cautioned that GCRTA does need to recognize that there are differences between operating a business and running a governmental agency that must respond to the needs of its constituents. Birdsong stressed customer feedback is critical to agency decision making.
The information contained in the census is critical to federal funding, which plays a key role in funding public transportation.
Moving forward, Birdsong said the agency must do a better job communicating to the media and to the general public, both with agency needs, as well as developments which could affect the rider experience like delays. On-time performance and amenities like Wi-Fi are important to the user experience. Finally, Birdsong underscored the importance of the United States Census. The information contained in the census is critical to federal funding, which plays a key role in funding public transportation.
As the agency plans its future, Community Solutions looks forward to keeping in touch with Birdsong as she leads the agency into the future.
Beginning this year, GCRTA will evaluate a route redesign study assembled by national transit expert and consultant Jarrett Walker. As the agency plans its future, Community Solutions looks forward to keeping in touch with Birdsong as she leads the agency into the future.
[1] https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/urban%5Ffacpub/1593/
