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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Jackson County elected officials to get pay raises ... Making ancient stories new again ... Former firefighter accused of theft from District 3 faces charges in Virginia ... Jackson County elected officials to get pay raises ... Making ancient stories new again ... Former firefighter accused of theft from District 3 faces charges in Virginia ... OUR VIEW Our View: RVTD needs help taking valley for a ride MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 23, 2016 @ 12:01 am Posted Mar. 23, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A healthy public transportation system is a vital part of a growing economy. Buses take people to their jobs, transport high school and college students to classes and attract state and federal grant funding that injects money into the local area while employing drivers, mechanics and other workers. And you thought a bus system benefits only those who ride buses. In a real sense, it benefits all of us. That's why the Rogue Valley Transportation District's levy proposal on the May 17 ballot deserves to pass. It's not an expensive request, as levies go — 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The owner of a home assessed at $200,000 would pay about $26 a year. The proceeds would allow RVTD to maintain its existing level of service and stop draining its reserves to keep operating. Without the five-year levy, the district's reserves will by gone by 2018 and it will be forced to cut service. The levy also would allow the district to restore Saturday service, which was cut earlier, and add additional routes for students. Rogue Community College's Table Rock Campus serves 1,000 students who are working on technical training they need for the job market, but the nearest bust stop is two miles away. South Medford High School was served by RVTD at its old location on Oakdale Street, but lost that service when it moved to the new building a Columbus Avenue and Cunningham Way. Students can use the public bus to get to RCC classes, jobs, internships and other activities without needing a car or relying on parents for transportation. Local support for public transit also allows the district to apply for grants that require a local match. That's more money coming into the community without having to rely on taxpayers. Public transportation is a vital part of any healthy metropolitan area. But bus systems can't support themselves through fares, especially smaller systems such as RVTD, which gets only about 20 percent of its revenue from riders. Bus routes have to be convenient enough, and buses frequent enough, to get people out of their cars because it's as easy as driving. To get to that point, the system needs tax support to expand service. You can help by voting yes on RVTD's levy request May 17. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 23, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501