It isn't easy to get a job; harder still when you have a disability - and virtually impossible without transportation. The 28 percent cut in service announced by Pierce Transit on Feb. 11 will devastate most individuals with disabilities trying to find work or to hold on to their job.  

"People lost jobs with the last round of cuts (in 2011) and more will lose them with this round," said Debbie Graham, the director of Centerforce, which links people with disabilities to employment. "We support people who work janitorial shifts at night and weekend shifts at places like Walmart. Employers change the schedules week to week. The most vulnerable people in our community will be impacted." Indeed, 55 percent of Pierce Transit's riders come from households with annual incomes below $20,000 and 45 percent of riders have no cars.

Responding to community outcry and some fortuitous timing, Pierce Transit modified the cuts announced in January, which would have completely cut all weekend services. "The agency received $6.2 million in revenue through two Federal Transit Administration ‘State of Good Repair' grants and congressional approval of the Alternative Fuel Tax Credit," according to the transit website. "In addition, over a 10 year period (2013-2022), the agency will extend the useful life of buses from 14 years to 16 years, and will eliminate some planned improvements to its maintenance facilities." This is the good news. The bad news is that, effective Sept. 29, 2013, Route 62 in Northeast Tacoma and all holiday service will be completely eliminated, most routes will be cut, and vanpools will be reduced and charged higher rates. Reduction in service on the specialized transportation SHUTTLE services will be identical to that of regular bus routes.

"Every aspect of the lives of individuals with disabilities will be affected: work, doctors' appointments, church," said BethAnn Garteiz, director of the Parent Coalition for People with Disabilities. "People won't be able to advocate for themselves at meetings like the Transit meeting (in which the reductions were announced) because they won't have the transportation."

Of Pierce Transit's 25,000 daily riders, 6,000 people elderly and disabled individuals, including vets, are eligible for SHUTTLE services, according to Lars Erickson, Pierce Transit spokesperson. The majority of people with disabilities, however, ride the traditional bus, often after extensive training. Though no one knows how many people with disabilities will lose their jobs, Russ Fogle, who uses a wheelchair and rides the bus daily suggests, "Thousands. I'll lose my job. I provide childcare for my son and daughter in law. My son, who works swing shift, will lose his job. And my daughter in law? I don't know what she'll do."

According to "Allsup Disability Study: Income at Risk," the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is already 70 percent higher than for those with no disabilities. "And with these cuts, we're going to make life more difficult for people whose lives are already very difficult," said Derek Young, board of transit commissioner.

Transit cuts stem from the failure of Proposition 1 in November, which would have raised taxes by three cents per $10. Out of 220,000 votes, the ballot lost by a mere 704 votes. Opponents to Proposition 1, such as the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, argued that the increased sales tax would be bad for the economy.

"People with disabilities contribute to the community," said Tracy Kahlo, director of PAVE, which advocates for people with disabilities. "They work, volunteer, coach, and mentor our youth. The bus service allows people freedom. Many won't be able to continue because of these cuts."

PAVE's board president, Mike Dolan, has cerebral palsy and uses a three-wheel scooter in Puyallup. "I can take the bus to evening board meetings, but can't get home," says Dolan. "The scooter doesn't fit in most cars."

When asked what the cuts mean to him, Mike Raymond stalwart community volunteer who cannot drive stated, "I don't like them. I coach basketball at night and attend Board meetings and there won't be no way to get home. I don't like what they're going to do." Many people will become housebound.

"Services have been built along bus lines. And now the bus lines are disappearing," said staff at Pierce County Community Connections. "It's unthinkable that a city this size doesn't have a comprehensive bus service. Most people with disabilities use buses."

What can be done about these cuts? Currently, sales tax is Pierce Transit's primary revenue source. The legislature is being asked first, to include transit in the state transportation budget and second, to allow voters to decide on using funds from a motor vehicle excise tax for transit. Transit workers have frozen pay, had unilateral cuts, and are paying more in medical costs following August labor negotiations.

"People argue that sales tax is regressive," said board member Young, "and that it would hurt the poorest, which is true, but they'll be hurt even more when they lose their jobs and won't be able to go to school. Many of the neediest have jobs on weekends and weeknights."

Christopher Cleveland, who lost his job at the Port of Tacoma during previous transit cuts, mentors others like himself with developmental disabilities. He asks, "How is stopping a significant part of the population from being able to get to and from work a better alternative?  As much as they (opponents to Prop 1) claim it's not their problem, when the economy suffers because of their actions, that line of thought proves to be horribly false. I am not looking for handouts. Denying people a chance to build themselves up by the means of butchering public transit is detrimental to society as a whole."

Ken Gibson, director of TACID, which offers support services, sees the anxiety of people with disabilities who ask, "How can I keep my job without transportation? What will I do?"

The board of transit will hold a series of community meetings in March and a public hearing Monday, May 13, 2013. When asked what he expected at the hearing, board member Young responded, "Testimony from people who have no access to other vehicles who'll lose their jobs. At our last hearing we had people in tears. There will be skeptics as well."

For information on community meetings, see Pierce Transit's website: www.piercetransit.org/press.htm