Riders share JTA bus system deficiencies amid budget struggles

Jackson resident Vernetta Pruitt uses the JTA bus system every day and is no stranger to the issues concerning public transportation.

"I ride it every morning, and I get back on it at 3 p.m. and go to work," she said. "I've been riding the buses for a long time."

She explained that over the years, there's "not much improvement" as far as general operating habits in the bus system. Some of Pruitt's suggestions to JTA are ultimately safety concerns, such as the lack of seatbelts on the buses.

A recent shortfall in the Jackson Transit Authority budget for this fiscal year by a miscommunication with the city has highlighted ongoing concerns, according to some frequent bus riders.

"There's a lot of times when cars run out right in front of them (the buses), and they hit the brakes so hard that you slide, and move, and end up in another seat," Pruitt said. "They really need that real bad, a lot of kids are on there.

"People leave their food and papers and bottles on there, and the bottles are rolling and going around. They're nasty sometimes."

She also said the lack of covered spaces and protective glass at the bus stops, are a barrier to waiting on the bus.

"If it rains, you're definitely going to get wet," Pruitt said.

During the March budget committee meeting, it was discussed that in the event that bus services were to decrease — due to a lack of sufficient funding as a direct result of JTA's over-budgeted operational revenue and miscommunications with the city — those who rely on public transportation, like Pruitt, will be significantly impacted.

Lauren Smothers, Jackson resident and owner of Light Trap Books, shared similar concerns as Pruitt. Smothers, who does not drive, relies heavily on the JTA system and has been taking public transportation in Jackson since 2017.

As a downtown business owner who lives in Midtown, she compared the public transportation systems in smaller cities like Jackson to larger cities that she's lived in, like London.

"I know that there are challenges and one of the challenges I've found as a rider are the lack of routes for certain spots in Jackson, and also the time it would take a bus to get to certain areas would be astronomically longer than a car ride," Smothers said.

More on funding: Jackson Transit Authority goes over budget by half million, city approves extra funds

She recalled that when she would take the bus from her home in Midtown to Jackson State Community College where she taught part-time — approximately a five-mile distance — the ride would take around an hour and a half. She described the situation as being "unacceptable" and noted that this dynamic "has largely not changed."

More routes, frequency of routes needed

However, she added that she has always had positive experiences with bus drivers and fellow passengers.

"I really do like that it's a very friendly, inclusive environment," Smother said. "But I do think that JTA could do a lot more when it comes to providing resources and being inclusive to the marginalized folks in our communities whether that's those with disabilities or providing more routes and frequency of routes."

Like Pruitt, Smothers shared concerns regarding the lack of coverings and seating availability at bus stops.

"The route that I currently take, there's no signage, there's nowhere to sit, and a lot of the bus stops I've observed around town, a lot of them are not covered," Smothers said.

Per the discussion in the budget committee meeting, if JTA were to cut services, Smothers detailed the inconvenience it would cause to her daily life.

"The very frustrating part about it, for example, is yes it would affect my commute, but I have means to get rides with neighbors and friends," she said. "The bus system serves a lot of folks who don't have those kinds of resources."

The most recent update

After budgetary discrepancies from Jackson Transit Authority raised concern over its ability to maintain service through the year, the Jackson City Council voted to fund JTA with over half a million dollars to cover operating expenses through the end of the year.

The discrepancy stems from JTA preemptively budgeting for grant money before actually receiving it.

A state grant awarded to the bus system was to include a partial match of funds from the city. However, the city-matched portion was never paid because the city wasn't notified of the expense, according to councilmembers during recent city meetings.

The March meeting revealed that budget committee members were faced with two options: Deny JTA the funding they were requesting and risk services being cut for those who rely on public transportation most; or approve the funding to maintain current services that allow riders to get to work and school. The council chose the later.

After the May 2 city council meeting in which a budget amendment for $530,943 was approved to cover operating expenses through the end of the year, councilmember and budget committee member Paul Taylor explained that a second grant, around $300,000, comes from a 50% city match of a federal share of $694,843.

Taylor, who requested during the March budget committee that JTA provide a budgeting outline that clearly communicates the city's commitment by the end of April, ultimately did not receive such a document.

"What I hoped to get today, and I didn't have it, was they're supposed to provide us with monthly reports on their finances," Taylor said. "I'm not sure if those are getting distributed to us, I haven't seen those, so that's one thing you'll continue to hear me talk about. I've been talking about it for two years now. We need monthly updates from them, we need quarterly looks from their accountant at what they're doing so we can make sure the taxpayer's dollars are being spent correctly."

The current system

While operating Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., JTA does not operate on Sundays, according to the JTA Ride Guide. There are eight bus stops throughout Jackson and the current bus schedule and frequency of service are listed below:

• Bemis

  • 6 a.m.- 3 p.m., once an hour at 30 minutes after the hour

• Campbell

  • 6 a.m.- 3 p.m., once an hour at the top of the hour

  • 3 p.m.- 10:30 p.m., every 30 minutes

• East Jackson

  • 6 a.m.- 10:30 a.m., every 30 minutes

  • 10:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m., once an hour at 30 minutes after the hour

• Highland

  • 6 a.m.- 10:30 a.m., every 30 minutes

  • 10:30 a.m.- 10 p.m., once an hour at the top of the hour

• Hollywood

  • once an hour at the top of the hour

• North Parkway

  • once an hour at the top of the hour

• North Side

  • once an hour at 15 minutes after the hour

• Park Place

  • once an hour at the top of the hour

Individual rider fare for adults is $1.25, students who present a valid school ID or are taken to and from a school zone as well as those under 18 pay $1, while seniors and those with disabilities are charged $0.60. Children under four years of age who have supervision ride for free.

Monthly Punch Passes are $35 for adults and $25 for students, seniors and those with disabilities. Twenty Ride Punch Passes are $20 for adults and students and $10 for seniors and those with disabilities.

For more information on passes and where they can be purchased, visit the Punch Pass page on JTA's website.

JTA has not responded to multiple attempts by the Sun to reach out for comment.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Riders of JTA bus system discuss deficiencies amid budget shortfall