How would you improve your community?
Boy, that is a loaded question…especially around here!
Thirty or so years ago, the city of Niagara Falls decided to go from an industrial city to a tourist town. What was once a city of 100,000 people is now down to under half of that population. A majority of those are seasonal workers or retired.
When the city decided to focus on tourism, someone didn’t think it through…
Some 10 to 12 million people visit the majestic Falls each year. While America is a car society; much of the rest of the world is not. They don’t drive at home; so they aren’t going to drive here; but the mass transportation service is severely lacking.
My biggest improvement to the community would be to vastly increase the transit service so that visitors could get to the various attractions that are scattered throughout the area.
During the summer tourist months there is a shuttle that runs between the attractions but the schedule is not a regular one. The shuttle has no set times to be at each stop so you have to stand around – no benches – to wait for it to show up. While it is great that the shuttle runs, it needs to be far more dependable wo that people can plan the day and will stay around for a little longer.
As someone who does not drive, I understand the necessity to have a viable mass transit system that is dependable and regular with safe and secure transit centers. It would also be a good thing to have some place to sit while waiting; not everyone can stand around for extended periods of time to wait for a bus.