"Without public transit I would not be able to navigate to and from the city and would not be able to go to doctors’ appointments independently. Socialize with others on my own schedule and have the flexibility I do right now." 

"Public transportation is important to me because I live in a very rural area of Pennsylvania that has very limited public transportation. For anybody to get anywhere, whether it's to go to work or to run an errand like groceries or to simply just travel, we have to have our own vehicles or rely on others to take us. If my area had things like a bus stop, a train station, or even access to ride share services like UBER, it would allow me and others to reliably get to places we need to be, see the things we want to see, visit the people we want to visit, and be part of our communities the way we crave being. It would allow us to live self determined lives. I am also hearing from other young people not just in the commonwealth, but across the country that vehicle ownership is becoming more and more of a barrier (cost, maintenance, insurance, upkeep, etc) and many are choosing to simply never learn to drive or own a vehicle, and it's worth mentioning that many no longer view it as the ultimate freedom or independence that previous generations saw it as. The desire for public transportation in all communities continues to grow every day." 

"I need transportation options to explore my community and do my daily activities and especially since I’m trying to get back to work in clerk or customer service or any job I want to succeed like everybody else despite my disability I use paratransit, Uber, Lyft and a couple personal drivers in southern New York County and I was born Mature since birth. I have been legally blind/visually impaired since birth.

Sorry, meant to say I’m trying to get back into work in customer service or the clerical industry and I need transportation to do my daily task from volunteering and community events.

I reside in southern York County" 

When the 31A bus was cut many years ago, I began taking Access to the busway to go to work. Now I work from home and depend on my wife and others to get me where I need to go, but recently, my wife was unable to drive. If we become empty nesters and she is ever unable to drive again, Access will become an essential way to shop for groceries, go to doctor appointments, attend church, and much more. Without it, I will also be extremely isolated. Deliveries and online access just isn't the same as human contact. 

My name is Journey Elena Medina, but my friends call me Jem Elvis Belle. I take the

public transit for Chester County, Pennsylvania, formally known as Rover, which is now known

as Chesco Connect. I use it almost every Monday and Tuesday to get to my outpatient therapy

sessions on Mondays and my weekly allergy shot on Tuesdays. That is, when there is a ride

available. If there isn’t a ride available for that day, my mother usually takes me, which is a bit of

an inconvenience to her, due to her healing from a recent surgery for her left Achilles heel and

due to distance.

I live in Oxford, Pennsylvania. My therapist’s office is in Exton. My allergist’s office is in

West Chester. Both offices are far away from my home. Oxford is a rural area in the southern end

of the county, and there isn’t much to do when you aren’t able to drive for any reason.

Relying on Chesco Connect is very important to me. Saving public transit like Chesco

Connect is important to me because I am not the only one who relies on Chesco Connect in the

southern end of the county. I know of many people who rely on Chesco Connect to take them to

the store and to appointments in their daily lives. It would be devastating if this kind of

transportation was taken away from us. I don’t want to lose this, and I don’t want others to lose

this type of transportation either.

I’ve had epilepsy since birth. Because of it, I’m legally not allowed to drive — not because I’m incapable, but because of the safety risks that come with having seizures. Most of the time, I’m mentally and physically fine, especially when I’m not having a seizure. But the fact that I can’t drive creates constant barriers in my life.

Reliable, affordable, and accessible public transportation isn't just a convenience for people like me — it's a necessity. Without it, I struggle to get to job interviews, to work consistently, or even to get hired in the first place. Employers often assume I won’t be reliable, not because of my health condition itself, but because they don’t believe I’ll have a dependable way to get to work.

Over time, this doesn’t just affect my income — it affects my entire future. It’s harder to build a job history, harder to gain independence, and harder to live with dignity. All because I don’t have access to something many people take for granted: transportation.

Accessible public transit can change lives. It can help people like me contribute to our communities, find meaningful work, and live full, independent lives. That’s why this issue matters — not just for me, but for so many others.

Public transit is the only transit I can afford financially and psychologically. My car is aging out and often in need of repairs, but I can’t afford a different one. Traffic is stressful and often unpredictable. I have ADHD, so I also have had trouble navigating the city traffic while deciphering a flurry of parking signs. Public transit has also improved my physical health. I walk and get more fresh air than I would driving. It’s why I have my job. It’s such a monumental aspect of my life and I hate to see it dangling in limbo like a threat to this cities life support. If Chicago can do it, we can too.

Public Transportation is important for everyone to have access to because many people can not afford a handicap accessible vehicles, and can not rely on others to constantly transport them to appointments and other things that they need. 

Public transportation is an important part of accessibility, inclusion, and equity. 

I am a person who is legally blind and use a white cane for mobility and navigation

purposes as well as 2or 3 types of technologies to connect to the world as well as plan

my transportation needs and travel plans.

I began my career in 1989 in Washington Pa where there was little if any fixed route

transit and some para transit services. Because of this lack of transportation, I rented

an apartment, so I was able to walk 5 or 10 minutes to my job.

Beginning in 1995 I moved to the eastern part of the Commonwealth, Reading &

Harrisburg areas. At this time, I only rented apartments which were with an easy walk

to the nearest mass transit bus stop. In 2001 I bought my home which is located about

1 block from the nearest bus stop where I was able to go to my various jobs in and

around the Harrisburg & York area as well as the West shore in Cumberland County.

Although I have been unemployed since the on-set of the pandemic in 2020 I still desire

to work at least on a part-time basis and use mass transit to get to and from work.

I love mass transit because as a person with a disability I have learned for me to be

successful in life I need to be as mobile as possible. Through mass transit I have been

able to stay a little above the poverty line to the point that I am not currently eligible for

any public benefits such as SNAP, medical assistance, and other similar welfare

benefits.

In my 30+ year career through the assistance of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

and its Bureau of Blindness & Visual services I have paid enough taxes to buy my own

canes, pay for some of my technologies, paid for some of my own training and paid

enough in taxes to help another person with a disability gain the services they need to

live their lives in the community of their choice.

In closing, I do not admit to being the “poster child” of success” but I do know that most

if not all federal and state elected officials love one thing, OPM!! Other peoples

money is what they truly love. So now I am not asking but demanding that all elected

officials put OPM to work by funding a mass transit system which enables persons with

disabilities to go to work, job training services, educational opportunities and other types of places which encourage the growth and relationships with family and friends. 

I would like to let the Pennsylvania government know all of the simple, as well as, extraordinary life events that I have been able to accomplish despite having a lifelong severe physical disability.

Most people who are not disabled, take life stages for granted. I have had cerebral palsy since infancy, throughout my life. Because of exceptional parents, who gave me the best gift that a disabled child could receive, which is as normal a life as possible, including installing in my mind, the belief that I could do anything in my power that I wanted to do.

I gradually accepted cerebral palsy, which has left me with the inability to use my hands, and to walk, therefore I have used a wheelchair, putting my mind and all of me to inhabiting a normal life, "normal", for who I am.

I went through basic schooling, had many friends, and experienced a typical childhood, with all of its joys, and struggles. After my typical teenage years, I set upon it to go to college. I was accepted in a local university, and earned a Bachelor's of Science in psychology, with a minor in philosophy. After that, I was recruited by a social service agency, to work and demonstrate my qualifications. I did this, in order to get practical work experience, basically to show that my education would not be wasted. A year after working successfully, I applied, and was accepted into graduate school, to earn a degree at the university of Edinboro in Eerie, PA. This experience, not only allowed me to earn the educational credentials that I needed, but also, attending Edinboro University provided me the experience of living away from home, acquiring the skills of independent living. I learned skills of living on my own. This was possible with the assistance of work study students.

Upon earning my graduate degree, I was very fortunate to land a job even before I actually graduated. Once again, I was employed at another social services agency with a middle management position. After working at this agency, for four years, I decided to have a child. My parents and friends, helped me with the physical aspects, of caring for my daughter, but they did not intrude on our relationship, as I was at her side every moment, talking to her, holding her, and touching her, even with my disabled hands. My daughter had a normal, and healthy childhood. When she became seven years old, I returned back to the world of employment, and worked at a number of various jobs. My big break, came when I was actively recruited by Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, at the Institute On Disability. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I believe that I would be employed at a university. My Temple University position, was multi dimensional. Along with my main job, of teaching Disability Studies, to undergraduate students, I also was responsible, for writing grants, and teaching 40 year medical students. I was employed at Temple for about 25 years.

I am telling the legislators and all those in power, the major aspects of my young and middle aged years to illustrate how the accommodations of having accessible, and affordable transportation, helped to make this seemingly impossible life, a reality.

It literally shocked and scares me, that there are rumors of accessible public transportation, being taken off, of the public services social criteria. I cannot believe, that such a vital service for people with disabilities, no matter how severe, would be taken away. It would be like taking a person's freedom and liberty. I know, I would not be able to accomplish, or to be involved, in any outside community, accommodation, or opportunity, without accessible transportation. I would literally be a prisoner in my own place of residence. A prisoner, who did not commit a crime. Unconscionable!

I have faith, in the state governing body, that is comprised of members who are rational, and responsible individuals, who would never allow this disaster to happen to the state's citizens with disabilities. I know that I could count on you to stand up, and speak out, loudly against the atrocities which would occur if this offense, were to happen, to people with disabilities. I am counting on all of you