Commissioners,

I write you again today on the topic of the RTS bus system. My name is Harrison Scoville I'm a long time member of the RTS advisory board and a paratransit certified user of the RTS system. I am deeply concerned over the upcoming cuts to the system. My neighborhood is located on Route 8. I regularly use routes 43 and 1. Many disabled people like myself cannot drive and we were all lying on things like this fixed route system as well as paratransit when appropriate. As a member of the advisory board. I frequently hear about the challenges being faced by the paratransit side of things and I know I'm not the only one I transitioned to using fixed routes whenever possible. Now with the fixed routes being cut. It severely impedes the ability to get around town, particularly if they don't have any other choice. Just yesterday I was having a conversation with someone planning to move to Gainesville specifically because they were wheelchair user looking for somewhere with a public transportation system they can use to get around town because they couldn't drive either.

 Because of the positions I've held in the community. I understand the city's predicament in terms of finances. I am severely worried that if the city makes these cuts now it will be difficult to ever restore the system back to its previously state. Over the years. I feel that the leadership team at RTS has failed to communicate to the public. The value of the RTS system over and over again. I'm not saying they don't advertise I’m saying they don't do it in such a way as to meet people where they are or speak to groups of people that might actually benefit from taking the bus as opposed to driving. I'm sure you've all heard complaints about the lack of parking downtown. I've always felt that this would be a perfect opportunity for RTS to advertise how many routes touch downtown. As just one example.

Ultimately, I understand cuts are going to have to be made, but I urge you to cut as little as possible from the RTS system. For those of us that rely on and I sincerely believe it's in the long term interest of the city to have a well-functioning and well developed public transportation system