Government robs the stage

For several decades the Orange Belt Stage line served Tulare County faithfully, providing residents with transportation and out of the county.

Next month that will come to an end and government shoulders much of the blame.

Over the past 20 years a good portion of government transportation funding has gone to create or subsidize public transportation. When Orange Belt began, there was no transit service in town and Tulare County did not operate its intercity service which has been the biggest hit to a private enterprise company like Orange Belt. Tulare County Transit offers rides between cities, including stops in Terra Bella and other rural areas, at much less cost to the rider than Orange Belt.

We agree with Mike Haworth, the president and general manager of Orange Belt Stages and a descendent of the founder, that government subsidize service killed their business. And, we agree with his statement, “The State of California Air Resources Board Diesel Vehicles Regulations are adding big operational costs and other increasing expenses continue to raise the costs of operation.” Unlike government run buses, Orange Belt does not get grants to purchase new vehicles, or in the case of the City of Porterville, an entire fleet of electricpowered buses.

The loss of Orange Belt Stages, which was the only bus service between Porterville and Lindsay for many years, will probably not impact the daily rider that much because of the government run bus lines, but it is a shame that a service which was paid for by riders and not heavily subsidized, has to stop.

But, it will impact some riders who depended on it to make connections with Amtrak and Greyhound which only runs through Tulare and Visalia.

Editorials in The Porterville Recorder are the opinion of the editorial board which consists of Publisher Rick Elkins and the managing editor. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily of The Recorder.