Rural Kent, Sussex transportation needs exacerbate inequities

2024, "Rural Kent, Sussex transportation needs exacerbate inequities", Spotlight Delaware, 10 September, Accessed: https://spotlightdelaware.org/2024/09/10/sponsored-hcd-rural-transporation/.

Due to transportation barriers in Sussex County, social service providers may end up in the driver’s seat.

For instance, Children and Families First offers a variety of programs and services addressing the needs of families across Delaware. In certain circumstances, the organization has provided transportation for a family to go to a doctor’s appointment, or for an individual to access the DMV or go to court, said Midline Oware, a team leader with the organization’s Seaford Community of Hope program. (Due to restraints, this service is not promoted.)

According to Oware, feedback from families served indicates that public transportation isn’t always reliable. Issues include inconsistent bus schedules and inconvenient pick-up or drop-off locations, often requiring significant additional walking. Travel times can also be lengthy. The county also has a significant Spanish- and French Creole-speaking population, and language can be an additional barrier for some.

With Delaware’s growing diversity, including immigrants and an aging population, advocating for improved transportation options is crucial.

“On a systemic level, there needs to be a solution,” Oware said.

While DART First State bus service is a main mode of public transportation, ride-share services like Uber and Lyft are also accessible but expensive and dependent on the availability of drivers, which can vary in rural settings.

“Reliable transportation is a Vital Condition for Health & Well-Being necessary for thriving neighborhoods, for access to jobs, health care and social activities,” said Kate Dupont Phillips, executive director of Healthy Communities Delaware (HCD), which invited organizations to discuss the problem and solutions during its Equity Action Summit in April 2024.

In Delaware, the needs of residents vary from county to county, and managing transit can feel like operating three distinct systems, said Cathy Smith, a planning manager with DART. In Kent County, there’s a high reliance on public transit, and riders often pay in cash. Meanwhile, Sussex County is seeing a growing elderly population seeking transit alternatives. (More densely populated New Castle County is different too, with folks using public transportation for work and access to daily life.)

Change is on the horizon, as DART First State recently completed DART Reimagined, a year-long statewide transit study that included community workshops across the state. DART Reimagined aims to reconfigure the bus network and provide a more sustainable and equitable statewide transit system, especially as communities in Delaware grow and change.

“We really took a look at the transit supply and the demand,” Smith said. “Really analyzing what needs to be there, what is not productive, and where can those resources be put that are more needed.”

DART is also exploring the potential for micro-transit, a new on-demand service, to enhance transit in Georgetown and Millsboro, as well as in Kent County with a focus on Dover and Smyrna. This service, called DART Connect, began its second-year last summer.

These micro-transit vehicles are smaller, allowing DART to reach areas where fixed-route buses struggle due to road conditions or environmental factors. This will also result in offering more direct service and reduce the need for passengers to walk long distances, Smith added. Passengers can book rides via phone or app, with an estimated wait time of 15 to 20 minutes.

Implementation of these improvements will be part of a phased plan, spanning multiple years and contingent on budget allocations, Smith said.