Public transit is a vital component of our community, connecting Arlingtonians within the county and beyond, while also bringing our neighbors to us. It is a necessary tool for promoting cultural exchange, inclusion, and economic growth. Additionally, using public transit instead of cars has several environmental and health benefits, such as reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and advancing our decarbonization goals.
When it comes to bus routes that are not meeting performance standards, we need to carefully examine whether the metrics align with the demand of the stations along the route. Once we have identified the root causes of the problem, we can work collaboratively with transit employees, frequent users of the routes, local leaders, and County Board members to develop solutions that will improve the metrics and better serve bus riders in Arlington. Furthermore, I strongly support the County Board's decision to purchase only electric buses for replacements, which is aligned with our commitment to decarbonization.
To better serve our community, we need to reroute existing County transit services and improve their safety and reliability, particularly for children traveling to and from school. We need to increase the availability of last-mile services to make it more convenient for people who do not live near a station to access it. Finally, it is crucial to maintain and enhance sidewalks and bike paths to ensure that families and students feel safe while traveling sustainably to school and work.
This series of questions highlights the need for a comprehensive review of Arlington's transit needs. By taking a creative and comprehensive approach to examining the different systems in place, including emerging ones like micro-mobility, and considering the diverse transit needs and preferences of our community, we can determine where to concentrate our limited resources to achieve our goal of a well-connected, equitable, and sustainable Arlington.