When I heard that more connectedness between Quebec and Vermont would be the subject of the Vermont Public Radio station (NPR), and that the focus would be, especially, transportation, I e-mailed this comment/question which indeed was read on the air on Monday, August 18:
Allo!
Northern Vermont needs more public
transportation if the previously shared cultural heritage of the Eastern
Townships/Northeast Kingdom is to thrive or even survive. Quebec City
is less than 4 hours by car from Stanstead/Derby Line, but for the
person who wants to travel conscientiously, there's no way to get to
Sherbrooke to catch a bus or to travel back from there on return.
It
doesn't help that Montreal is closer, because one still has to get to
Sherbrooke or Magog, and there's no way. (Montreal's great, but it's
not as French. Is it even in the Eastern Townships?)
There's
a dire need for public transportation in the NEK, and as someone who
has tried for many years to learn French and be a better neighbor to
Quebec, but also to the planet, I really hope that this issue of
connection through public transport can receive more attention.
Ignoring the need for public transportation while giving focus to such
as electric private vehicles is not even part of the solution but rather
part of the problem.
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I was glad they read it but quite sad with the answer or response to comment, all about how public transit regulations are too different for there to be any connections. Very bureaucratic answer from whomever, not really addressing the problem at all.
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