O P I N I O N

THE SOAPBOX

Stand up. Speak up. It’s your turn.

I’ve relied on Manchester’s public bus system for decades, beginning in 1989. Over that time, I’ve seen how effective transit planning can make daily life possible for people without cars — and how changes to routes can unintentionally leave some residents struggling to meet basic needs.

How many more teens are going to die in car accidents because of lack of buses?  The need for buses is going to grow as our population ages.  How many more people are going to die and how many more trillions of dollars are we going to waste on health care costs not needed because we refuse to do what is necessary to reduce the need for cars?

There is no fixed bus route service and no StepSaver within one mile of me now because of fools who provided Manchester Transit Authority with advice did not care about the consequences of their actions.  Not having buses near me has cost me thousands of dollars.

Many years ago, a writer in another Manchester publication discussed how Manchester had lost out on tens of millions of dollars of federal matching funds because Manchester City government was not willing to spend enough on Manchester Transit Authority.  

Does it bother you that you pay double in property taxes than you should be paying because Manchester has tiny buildings that look like they were made from toy blocks?  When you go to Boston and look up, you get to see tall buildings because Boston cares about public transit.  Spending $4 million a year or more on buses would likely help Manchester have tall buildings like Boston connected to large parking garages faraway from them connected by buses and shuttles.  

Manchester City government, business leaders, Union Leader pushed hard for taxpayers to fund SNHU Arena which is costing us over $4 million a year via rooms and meals taxes but does not have a ticket surcharge on tickets because the Republican Party chose to betray taxpayers of Manchester.  Has SNHU Arena cost us over $100 million yet?  I believe before people got to vote on the arena that we were promised there would be a ticket surcharge on tickets and yet when Joyce Craig first ran for Mayor, the Republican Party chose to deceive voters by sending out mailings attacking Joyce Craig for supporting ticket surcharges on tickets at the arena and baseball stadium that did not mention they were owned by taxpayers, how much they cost so far, or how much more they would cost. 

Members of the media have a responsibility to discuss when elected officials have betrayed voters and yet Manchester’s media have refused to hold Republicans accountable election after election while they deceive voters with the help of the silence of Manchester’s media.

StepSaver is required within three-fourths of a mile of fixed bus route.

The easy fix in Ward 1 would be to have route 5 on 45-minute routes use Union Street to go to SNHU and River Road after leaving.  A lot more people would live within three-fourths of a mile of fixed bus route. 

I would like a new bus route that goes Union Street to Union and Campbell Street, down Campbell to Hannaford, then up Campbell to Union and Campbell, then SNHU, then River Road.  People could again get groceries at Hannaford and then go to apartments and homes on River Road.

I would like a new bus route that goes River Road to SNHU, then Union Street to Union and Campbell Street, then Campbell to Hannaford, then Livingston Park, then downtown.

In earlier years, bus routes connecting Southern New Hampshire University, Hannaford at Northside Plaza, healthcare providers, and residential neighborhoods were well-used and practical. Today, those destinations are often split across different routes. As a result, access to groceries, medical care, and education has become more complicated for seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans — especially in Ward 1.

For many residents, bus access is not a convenience — it is a necessity. When fixed routes move farther away, eligibility for StepSaver service can also be affected. That can mean longer walks, higher transportation costs, or the loss of transit access altogether. For people on fixed incomes, these changes can have real financial consequences, diverting money that would otherwise go toward rent, food, healthcare, or education.

I believe there are opportunities to improve service in ways that would benefit both riders and the broader community. For example:

• Adjusting existing routes so more residents live within StepSaver eligibility distance
• Exploring route designs that reconnect grocery stores, healthcare facilities, residential areas, and educational institutions
• Piloting loop or connector routes that better reflect where people actually need to go in their daily lives

In Ward 1, modest route adjustments along Union Street, Campbell Street, River Road, and SNHU could significantly improve access for a larger number of riders. These are the kinds of practical, targeted solutions that deserve consideration.

Strong public transit is also an investment in Manchester’s future. When people can rely on buses instead of cars, household costs go down, downtown activity increases, and the city becomes more attractive for development. Over time, improved transit supports economic growth and a stronger tax base.

I would also encourage closer coordination between transit planners, veterans’ services, and city leadership to ensure that disabled veterans can access StepSaver regardless of where they live in Manchester. Transit equity should be a shared priority.

My hope is that Manchester Transit Authority, regional planners, and city officials will engage openly with riders about these issues — explaining past decisions, listening to community feedback, and exploring adjustments that better serve those who depend on public transportation the most.

Public transit works best when it is shaped not only by maps and models, but by the real experiences of the people who use it every day.

I hope people will ask Congress to fix StepSaver.  Cities should be allowed to provide StepSaver no matter how far a way from fixed route person lives and when city does not have fixed bus routes.

I would like Manchester City Government website to have a donation box.  People could click on the box and then donate to schools, libraries, Manchester Transit Authority, Parks, etc.

Kenneth Scot Stremsky lives in Manchester.

Beg to differ? Agree to diagree? Use our DISQUS app to comment below. Got issues of your own? You can DIY your submission here.