October 7, 2011
CAJE-inspired commissioners get the bus rolling north on 41
Ruth Dunbar waves as she boards the first bus to travel from Downtown Evansville to Highway 41 North, including Ameriqual Foods where she is employed. Bus service started Oct. 3 at 5:45 a.m. (Message photo by Paul R. Leingang) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
“It’s a blessing,” said Ruth Dunbar. “It’s such a blessing.”
Dunbar was the first person to step onto the first bus on the first day of service from the METS terminal in downtown Evansville to the north Highway 41 industrial area.
Dunbar is a 16-year employee of Ameriqual Foods, a facility producing shelf-stable food products, near I-64. Another passenger, picked up at a stop along the route, was Alexander Rinheart, also an Ameriqual employee who had learned about the bus at church on Sunday.
“I pray that a lot of workers will be using it,” Dunbar said, referring to the three-month trial run of the new route — which was initiated following extensive research and lengthy discussions with Evansville and Vanderburgh County leaders, prompted by CAJE, Con-gregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment. Member congregations are getting the word out to their member families.
Dunbar said she has struggled to find reliable transportation to her job. She told her story to an audience of 1,400 people at the April “Nehemiah Action” meeting organized by CAJE. She also told her story to a much smaller audience — the Vanderburgh County commissioners.
The county commissioners approved a contract with the City of Evansville METS de-partment at their meeting Sept. 13, for the trial run October through December, at a cost of $46,665.36.
Stephanie Gibson, one of several people connected with CAJE, stood up to pray as the bus moved away from the terminal. “We just thank you for answered pray-ers,” she said, with her prayer followed by a chorus of “Amen” from the other passengers.
The bus is scheduled to run Monday through Friday at hour-ly intervals from 5:45 to 9:45 a.m. and from 1:45 to 5:45 p.m.
In a county news release, Commissioner Vice-President Marsha Abell was quoted as saying “this route could be-come a vital economic development tool as more businesses choose to locate to the 41 North area. County Commissioner President Lloyd Winnecke was among the initial riders on the first bus, which departed from the terminal at 5:45 a.m. on Oct. 3.
County commissioners met with representatives of various businesses to pinpoint the needs of people employed in the area.
Ameriqual makes Meals, Ready-to-Eat for the U.S. De-partment of Defense and other products for commercial institutions. The bus route also provides employee access to Anchor Industries, Inc., a maker of event and party tents and other products.
CAJE members include congregations of various traditions, including the Catholic parishes of St. Anthony, St. Benedict Cathedral, St. Mary, Holy Redeemer and Nativity in Evansville, and St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh.
The lack of public transportation was an issue selected by the congregations in late 2008. Even before then, the group, “Partners in Caring,” had identified the need for improvements.
“This year, following the [county commissioners’] commitment at the Nehemiah Ac-tion, Marsha Abell . . . began to ‘drive this bus’ to make the pilot program a reality,” according to Jim Wilsbacher, a CAJE participant from St. John the Baptist Church. He said the effort also received “wonderful support” from the Work-One “Grow Southwest Indiana Workforce” staff and Jim Heck, the executive director.
Earlier action by CAJE and other supporters helped bring about the Warrick Area Transit System in 2010. The system serves Newburgh, Chandler and — as of April 2011, Boon-ville. Riders using the WATS service can transfer to a METS route.
CAJE efforts in earlier years helped bring about a dental clinic in Evansville, city support of an affordable housing trust fund in Evansville and a commitment to train staff to identify homeless students in the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation.
The participating congregations are currently asking area residents for their concerns in preparation for possible action in 2012. House meetings are scheduled by active members in several congregations. Some churches are holding meetings after Sunday services. At least one congregation — St. Benedict Cathedral — has suggestion boxes at the church entrances so members can note their concerns about the needs of the community.