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When people ask why I support the DATA Millage, I think back to the times it helped my family and me. In 1997, after surgery, I needed physical therapy and had no one nearby to drive me. DATA got me to every appointment and made my recovery possible. Later, as a working mother, I used it to get my children to scheduled activities, and I appreciated knowing they would be picked up and dropped off safely. Years later, when my mother came to live with me after being diagnosed with bone cancer and later needed a wheelchair, DATA helped her get to medical appointments and community activities while preserving some independence.
Those experiences showed me how important public transportation is for people of all ages and abilities.
The proposed DATA millage would extend service until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, giving residents access to sporting events, movies, restaurants, weddings, emergency rooms, walk-in clinics, and other evening activities. It would also provide a safe ride home for people who choose to drink responsibly.
In my area, the increase would only be about 75 cents a month. For that small amount, our community would gain better access to health care, support for local businesses, safer roads, and transportation for seniors, families and people with disabilities. The three counties surrounding Delta County have already approved countywide millages for public transportation, and I believe Delta County should do the same.
If millage does not pass, many residents will be affected. For some, DATA is the only way to get to medical appointments, work, school, errands, or visits with family and friends. Anyone can find themselves without a car or a ride when they need one, and public transportation provides backup when life does not go as planned.