If you live, work, or grew up in the Caddo-Bossier area, you are likely familiar with SporTran. The transit system caters and services thousands of men, women and children all across the region; and, there are many in our community who depend on the bus routes as their sole means of transportation.

            Since the early 70’s, SporTran has been owned and operated by the City of Shreveport (day-to-day supervision of operations are directed to a private management firm) and has been a necessary blessing for so many hard-working people.

In “1998, SporTran used 45 buses and 8 vans to move 3.7 million riders,” and through tireless efforts, the company has worked to increase usage, ease-of-access, and service-area, all while maintaining minimal charges for its patrons.

            The company’s administration has made huge strides in keeping their transportation, communication systems, and safety standards as current and top-of-the-line as possible with “a fleet of over 95 modern heavy duty and smaller cutaway buses equipped to handle all passengers, including those with disabilities. Our buses are powered by the latest emission reduction systems such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and 100% Battery Electric Technology” (Sportran.org, 2022).

             Recently, Shreveport and SporTran spoke with Bossier City dignitaries regarding the extension of SporTran’s bus routes further into Bossier territory. Though the company has a presence, City officials have only allowed for two routes to service the entire city. The East Bossier line covers a large part of East Texas Street, all the way to and from Bossier Parish Community College. North Bossier line provides transportation to Benton Road and Airline Drive (in a loop) extending from the Red River up to I-220.

              …Now, setting aside the obvious issue (transit times for those who rely on this system to survive can be ghastly) there remains an entire section of Bossier City that lacks any form of public transportation service(s).

 South Bossier residents have grown accustomed to being forgotten by city officials (check out the Walker Place controversies) unless they live inside Barksdale Air Force Base. But, this issue isn’t something the city can continue ignoring in hopes that enough passing time will result in its indefinite delay.

             For most of those who live in that part of town, opportunities for employment in the area are limited in scope – the major industries represented being fast-food, restaurants, convenient/liquor stores, gas stations, and groceries. These jobs are necessary, tasking, and deserving of respect, but many lack any form of career advancement while offering minimal & subminimum wages.

 So I, like so many others in the community, commute to jobs 10, 20, even 30 miles away. I am also fortunate enough to *knock on wood* have a working, reliable vehicle. It might not have A/C, and the radio speakers are shot, but it gets me from Point A to Point B (and back again) without too much hassle. I’m lucky.

             But there are South Bossier residents not quite so lucky in that respect, requiring many to accept work within walking distance of their homes. Most of the jobs available to them aren’t financially rewarding in excess, so the potential of purchasing a vehicle falls grossly behind things like putting food on the table and keeping shelter for a family.

What is the solution? Viable public transportation…

Simple. Effective. Economical. Ecological.

Over the past several weeks, Sportran’s administration has been in talks with Bossier City officials, but have received little input or feedback from city dignitaries. And the last official update or public report concerning this opportunity was published over a month ago. 

And now that SporTran is offering free-of-charge services to any resident of Shreveport-Bossier throughout 2022 and 2023, how can we argue that this isn’t a conversation worth having? If we postpone dialogue over the subject any further, I’m afraid that the deal (and the idea itself) may continue to fall by the wayside.

To the people of Bossier City I say: We must not let this happen.

A city owes its citizens Public Service –no matter which side of I-20 they call Home.

So please, contact your district’s councilperson and senator(s); contact Mayor Chandler’s office, and let your elected officials know how you feel. Even if this doesn’t directly affect you; this is your city, our community –let’s care for it.