Support Souhegan Valley ‘Blue Bus’

Friday, March 5, 2010

To the Editor:

Voting “Yes” on Article 12 for Milford voters (in Amherst it is Article 43) will continue these towns participation in the Souhegan Valley Transportation Cooperative. This Cooperative provides a low-cost, door-to-door, wheelchair-accessible bus service for non-emergency medical, and other important transportation needs, for residents of Milford, Amherst, Brookline and Hollis. The bus connects destinations within these towns and downtown Nashua. About 1,500 rides have been provided by this part-time service since its inception in October 2008, and utilization is expected to grow 40 percent this year.

Without going into the funding details, utilization rates of the various towns, etc., the main issue for most voters is: “Why should I have to pay for this? Shouldn’t some charity provide this service?”

The answer is that there is no other “charity” that can do it, and we are the ones who should be charitable. For the elderly or handicapped, those in a wheelchair or who do not drive, this advance-reservation bus service means a degree of independence for essential transportation needs. Put yourself in their position for a moment (you may be one day), and ask if this is not worth of a few of your charitable dollars per year.

JOHN G. DAVID

Amherst