Transit Could Play Stronger Role in Emergencies, Officials Say
The massive traffic jams heading out of Houston as residents attempted to flee Hurricane Rita show that more planning work needs to be done, said Bill Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association at the groups annual conference and triannual exposition in Dallas Sept. 25-28. "Imagine if they had had more alternatives to a car...there is more that public transit could do in these situations," he added.
Gary Thomas, president of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, noted that DART carried 450 evacuees on freight rail tracks from the Houston area to Dallas. "More than anything, its about coordination," said Thomas. He said the agency will evaluate its evacuation plan and its relationship with the freight railroads.