Dozens testify against proposal that could change Seward County public transit

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Standing room only on Tuesday as dozens packed into the Seward County Courthouse to emphasize the need for public transit.

“Something’s you just can’t put a price point on, and something’s just need to be a part of the community,” said Tammy Howery, a supporter of public transit.

The County Board of Commissioners heard from community members about a proposal to reduce public transit’s hours of service.

The idea was presented as a fix to address a funding shortfall.

“The federal government allocates so much money to the state that the state passes along to the counties,” said Misty Ahmic, one of the county commissioners. “That number has not changed. However, the amount required to offer that service has increased. As inflation and costs rise, the number of people the federal government is bringing into Nebraska is not changing. That’s causing us to have to look at the program overall, from a budgetary perspective.”

For many living in Seward County, public transit is a lifeline.

“In Seward County, more than 19%, or 3,300 people, are 65 and older,” said Allison Rook, the Program Director for Seward County Aging Services. “Many of these individuals live on fixed incomes, no longer drive due to health or safety concerns, may not have family nearby, or live in a rural area with limited transportation options. For them, public transit is not a convenience; it is a necessity.”

Several spoke about the role it plays in their own lives and in their children’s.

“There are a lot of parents out there that depend on this transit to get their kids to school,” said Hansel Cabieles. “That is something my wife and I deeply appreciate that this community offers for our son.”

The proposal to change the hours includes several ideas, such as offering the service only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or shifting the hours to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

But for those impacted, it’s clear that those changes offer no solution for riders needing the service every day.

“As a county, we have the responsibility to dig deep and find a way to make it expandable so people can get where they need to go every day of the week,” said Denny Carr, a former dispatcher for Seward County Public Transit.

The board of commissioners did not decide on the matter, but it is set to be discussed further on March 3.