Luzerne County Transportation Authority has continued service of public transportation for many during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like all transit agencies, there has been a drop in ridership.
But what we have learned from the COVID pandemic was just how much public transportation is needed, valued, and an essential service.
More than 50% of riders that used our service prior to COVID, continue to use LCTA to go to work and make essential trips.
Without LCTA providing service, they would not be able to get where they need.
Older adults tend to have major challenges with transportation. They have been told to stay home because of the risk of contracting COVID-19 due to age. These individuals often do not or cannot drive. Some can’t afford the cost of owning and maintaining a car. Many may live on limited financial income and benefits from the government. However, they still need food and medication, to get to doctor appointments, transportation to food banks, and other life sustaining trips.
Older adults are not the only group that rely on public transit systems. Lower income households may need transportation to school lunch programs, to buy groceries, and visit doctors.
Another group of people that have continued to use LCTA…. essential workers. Many people hold jobs that they must commute to every day. These are the people that are making sure the community is taken care of, keeping us healthy and providing what we need to survive.
These groups of people that use public transit every day throughout the COVID-19 pandemic are expecting that the transit company puts the community needs first. We have done that by not cutting service or limiting trips, allowing space for social distancing and rigorously cleaning and disinfecting the bus and vans every day.
As we begin to emerge from the worst of this pandemic and start to see things come back to some normalcy, we want to thank all of you that have put your trust in us to deliver this essential service.