Useless bus routes

In the June 21 article, "Bus Routes Expanding," the Green Mountain Express promoted its pending service between Bennington and Brattleboro in collaboration with the Deerfield Valley "Moover." The schedules were published this week, and to my dismay, the promised service to Brattleboro is nearly useless.

Although Green Mountain Express will provide three daily round-trips between Bennington and Wilmington, only one of them meets a connecting service to Brattleboro. This one link arrives in Brattleboro at 3:55 p.m., and the next return bus leaves Brattleboro at 9:05 a.m. the following morning. This makes it impossible for Bennington County residents to conduct a day trip to Brattleboro, which is only 41 miles away.

Furthermore, the sole bus to Brattleboro arrives too late to catch either Amtrak or Greyhound heading south toward New York City, or to catch Greyhound heading north toward Burlington. The schedule does allow you to pick up the northbound Amtrak Vermonter, but only after a long layover.

I have additional complaints about the lack of coordination among other Green Mountain Express routes, but the Brattleboro service represents the most egregious affront to the people of Bennington County. Also, my understanding is that Yankee Trails has no intention of using the new Pleasant Street Bus Terminal for its Albany line, rendering the whole idea of a common transfer point meaningless.

The board of Green Mountain Community Network should be ashamed, and the management of Green Mountain Express should be replaced with competent personnel without delay. It is urgent and essential for the town of Bennington, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Bennington County Regional Commission to focus their attention on development of a useful and rational transportation network.

PETER RUBIN

Bennington

From Randy Brock

Randy Brock, candidate for governor, recently met with the Lowell Mountains Group Inc. to discuss his position on several issues. He noted that "people are a natural resource and that Vermont’s environment is well protected; that’s as it should be."

He noted that "our bewildering array of environmental rules and laws has created widespread perception that government bureaucrats consider Vermont’s people to be the least important part of those environments."

Brock stated, "As your governor, I will ensure that we maintain America’s cleanest and most pristine environment, but I’ll also insist that permitting is made clear, transparent, timely, and certain."

Many of the several participants had questions about Brock’s energy policy and his plans in the event he is elected regarding same. Brock made the following statement: "Governor Shumlin has gambled Vermont’s entire energy futures on a pie-in-the-sky fantasy that wind and sunlight can power a modern economy. His massive, taxpayer-funded subsidies to a small number of politically connect solar/wind companies will force all Vermonter’s to pay up to 800 percent more for that portion of their electricity for years to come."

He also noted that Shumlin’s 2012 expansion of these schemes will cost ratepayers more than $95 million over the next 20 years. He concluded by noting that he will support a mixture of hydro, nuclear, natural gas, biomass, and a small amount of wind and solar. "Meanwhile, until we thoroughly study the potential environmental damage caused by large scale industrial wind development, my administration will demand a moratorium on it. I call this overall policy realistic."

Participants enthusiastically embraced his position on energy. Further disscusion with Mr. Brock focused on the health care plans for Vermonters and a variety of other topics.

DELVIN WARNER

President

Lowell Mountains Group

Lowell