Free shuttle service launches between the Key Peninsula and Gig Harbor – KING5.com

Report on the Peninsula Transit Pilot Program and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Program Overview

A nine-month pilot program, the Peninsula Transit Pilot Program, has been initiated to provide public transportation to residents of the Key Peninsula. This initiative directly addresses a significant service gap that has existed since 2012. The program’s core objective is to enhance connectivity and accessibility for the community, aligning with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Initiative: Peninsula Transit Pilot Program
• Service: A free shuttle service operating between Longbranch and Gig Harbor with ten designated stops.
• Duration: A nine-month trial period ending in August.
• Funding: The program is supported by a $550,000 investment from Pierce County and state-level sources.
• Operational Schedule: The service runs seven days a week until December 21, after which it will operate six days a week (Monday-Saturday).

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Peninsula Transit Pilot Program makes significant contributions to the achievement of multiple SDGs by addressing critical issues of accessibility, equity, and economic opportunity.

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By providing safe, affordable, and accessible public transportation (Target 11.2), the program enhances the sustainability of the community. It connects a rural, underserved peninsula with the services and opportunities available in the urban center of Gig Harbor.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program directly tackles inequality by providing a vital service to a rural population. It ensures that residents without private vehicles, including the elderly and youth, have equitable access to essential services, thereby reducing the mobility gap between rural and urban areas.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The shuttle service acts as a crucial link to employment, removing transportation as a barrier for residents seeking jobs. As exemplified by rider Kristopher Price-Paul, the service opens up access to job markets in Gig Harbor, fostering economic independence and growth.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The program promotes community well-being by facilitating access to healthcare services, such as doctor’s offices. Furthermore, it enhances safety for residents who are unable or prefer not to drive in the dark and combats social isolation by enabling participation in social activities.
5. SDG 1: No Poverty: By offering the service completely free of charge, the program alleviates the financial burden of transportation. This allows low-income individuals to access jobs, services, and commercial centers without incurring travel costs, contributing to economic resilience.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Community Impact

The program’s launch has been positively received by various community stakeholders who recognize its potential to address long-standing challenges.

• Local Businesses: Allison Zimmerman and Rena Blalock of Purdy Cost Less Pharmacy noted the program is crucial for residents, particularly those in rural areas, to safely access essential services like pharmacies, retail, and entertainment, thereby supporting the local economy.
• Residents: Early users of the service, such as Kristopher Price-Paul, have highlighted its immediate impact on personal independence and the ability to pursue employment opportunities that were previously inaccessible.
• Government Officials: County Councilmember Robyn Denson emphasized that the pilot is a critical step toward establishing a permanent, funded transit solution for the Key Peninsula, aiming to rectify the long-term lack of services in the area.

Future Outlook

The nine-month duration of the pilot program is designed to serve as an evaluation period to demonstrate the need for public transit and refine service delivery. The ultimate goal is to leverage the program’s success to justify and secure permanent funding. Establishing a permanent transit system would solidify the region’s commitment to sustainable development, ensuring long-term social equity, economic opportunity, and community well-being for the residents of the Key Peninsula.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article’s primary focus is on the introduction of the Peninsula Transit Pilot Program, a public transportation initiative aimed at providing shuttle service to the residents of the Key Peninsula. This directly relates to making communities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by improving access to public transport.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article mentions that the new shuttle service enables residents to get to “doctor’s offices” and pharmacies like the Purdy Cost Less Pharmacy. This highlights the connection between transportation and access to essential healthcare services, which is a key component of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The shuttle service is presented as a crucial link to economic opportunities. A resident, Kristopher Price-Paul, explicitly states the shuttle will help him look for and get to a job in Gig Harbor. This demonstrates how access to transportation can facilitate employment and contribute to economic growth.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • By providing a free and accessible transportation service to a rural area that has lacked consistent public transit since 2012, the program addresses inequalities. It promotes social and economic inclusion for residents who may not have private vehicles or cannot drive, allowing them to access services, jobs, and social activities previously out of reach.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.
   • The article describes the launch of the “Peninsula Transit Pilot Program,” a free shuttle service designed to fill a public transportation gap for the Key Peninsula. It aims to provide an accessible and affordable (free) transport system for the community, with a specific mention of safety, as one person noted it would help people who “don’t drive in the dark.”
2. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services.
   • The article explicitly states that the shuttle service helps residents in “getting to doctor’s offices” and reaching a pharmacy. This directly supports the goal of ensuring access to essential healthcare services for the population of the Key Peninsula.
3. Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.
   • The personal account of Kristopher Price-Paul, who is “looking for a job” and can use the shuttle to “get one in town,” directly links the transit program to enabling employment. The service removes a significant barrier to finding and maintaining work for residents, thus contributing to this target.
4. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.
   • The program is designed to serve a rural community that has been without consistent transit, thereby promoting the inclusion of its residents. The article mentions the service allows people to “safely still get out and socialize,” “come shopping,” and “get on with friends,” which are all aspects of social and economic inclusion.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 11.2 (Access to public transport):
   • Implied Indicator: Proportion of the population with convenient access to public transport. The article provides metrics that can be used to measure this, such as the establishment of the service itself, the number of shuttle stops (ten), the service frequency (seven, then six days a week), and the duration of the pilot program (nine months). The ultimate success would be measured by ridership numbers and the ability to secure “future funding for more transit permanently.”
2. For Target 3.8 (Access to healthcare):
   • Implied Indicator: Number of residents accessing healthcare services via public transport. While not explicitly stated as a metric, the mention of trips to “doctor’s offices” and a pharmacy implies that tracking the number of passengers using the service for health-related appointments could be a way to measure its impact on healthcare access.
3. For Target 8.5 (Access to employment):
   • Implied Indicator: Number of individuals who gain employment due to improved transportation. The story of Kristopher Price-Paul suggests that a potential measure of success for the program would be the number of residents who are able to find and commute to jobs using the new shuttle service.
4. For Target 10.2 (Social and economic inclusion):
   • Implied Indicator: Ridership data, particularly for non-essential trips like socializing and shopping. The article highlights the importance of the shuttle for allowing residents to “socialize,” “go see a movie,” and “come shopping.” Tracking the number of people using the service for these activities would indicate its success in reducing social isolation and promoting community participation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: king5.com