$1 transit ride helps Navajo residents

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — An agreement between the Office of the Speaker and Navajo Transit System, which provided for the purchase of several buses and $1-per-day flat rate for public transportation services, is getting positive feedback from the public.

“This agreement has been a big step toward helping curb the high cost of living our Navajo people are facing, especially considering our rapidly changing economy,”

Navajo Council Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan said during the signing of a memorandum of agreement with Navajo Transit System.

“I am pleased the agreement we signed has helped to alleviate some of the financial tension our Navajo people are facing during these challenging times.”

Under the agreement, the Office of the Speaker purchased several buses in the amount of $700,000 in exchange for the $1-per-day flat rate for all public transportation services within the Navajo Nation service area for two years on existing bus routes.

The agreement states, “The Navajo Transit System will bear all operational costs during the two-year period and will not require additional funding from the Office of the Speaker.”

Navajo Transit System, a department under the Division of General Services, headed by Virgil Brown, is designed to provide safe and reliable charter and public transportation for the Navajo Nation.

“Through this agreement, we have been able to further our mission to provide high quality, efficient and affordable public transportation services to all residents of the Navajo Nation,” said Lee Bigwater, department manager of Navajo Transit System. “The public has expressed their gratitude for the teamwork between our office and the Office of the Speaker.”

The agreement was approved this fall by the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and the committee approved the funding transfer from the Office of the Speaker’s capital outlay budget. When Morgan addressed the committee on the legislation, he reminded Council of Navajo elderly who were spending anywhere from $75 to $100 on gas driving into nearby border towns.

“It is our intention to provide the Navajo people with reliable transportation to help them carry out their day-to-day activities,” Morgan said. “This agreement has generated positive feedback from the public and our office looks forward to working on more legislation that will help meet the needs of our Navajo people.”