TxDOT Invites San Angeloans to Public Workshops

SAN ANGELO, TX- The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced that it's hosting a series of regional public workshops to gain insight from the public regarding the federal Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program.

The meeting for the series will be on Friday, Jan. 20, at 2:30 p.m. at the Concho Valley Transit District Terminal, 510 N. Chadbourne St. The satellite location will be at the TxDOT Brownwood District Office located at 2495 Highway 183 North in Brownwood.

During these meetings, the public will have the opportunity to learn about rural public transit from local providers and to provide their own input.

A press release from TxDOT stated, “Following presentations from local providers, those in attendance will help identify and prioritize issues and needs facing the transportation program.”

Kari Banta, the Section 5310 program manager for TxDOT’s Public Transportation Division, said, “The needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities are at the center of the Section 5310 program, so we need input from local stakeholders such as transit users, organizations serving seniors and individuals with disabilities, nonprofit agencies, transit districts, and local governments to help guide Section 5310 funding decisions for the next two years.”

The meetings will also be available over the internet. This is so the public can listen and view the presentations, as well as offer input from their homes or from locations more convenient to them.

The press release added, “A schedule of the meetings, as well as instructions for joining via webinar, will be updated regularly on www.txdot.gov, under the Hearings and Meetings Schedule.  An online survey link is also available on the meetings pages, [and] people may leave input or ask questions via a hotline, 512.360.0668.”

The importance of public transportation is that it provides mobility options, reduces traffic congestion, conserves fuel, improves air quality, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports emergency preparedness in the areas it serves, said TxDOT officials.

“TxDOT promotes and supports public transportation by collaborating with local governments, non-profit entities and other transportation providers,” the press release stated. “TxDOT provides funding to assist the needs of elderly individuals and persons with disabilities when current transportation service in unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate.”