Navajo Council Law & Order Committee now on Legislation 0043-15, which is increase revenues for the Navajo Transit System to use for Park & Ride designated areas, Bus Stops, the collection of ridership data for new routes. That’s according to the sponsor of 0043-15, Delegate Jonathan Hale, who serves as the Health, Education and Human Services Commitee chairperon.

Hale is also reporting to the Law and Order Committee that the Navajo Transit System is working on getting its Electric Bus up and running for Local routes. Navajo Transit System is under Navajo Division of Community Development and in Indian Country, the Navajo Transit System is the only such public transportation on a reservation. The additional revenues would come from Navajo Nation Fuel Excise Tax Fund, which is just sitting there.

L&O MEMBER RAYMOND SMITH JR.
Students attending University of NM-Gallup have to ride a Navajo Transit bus from Nahatdaziil to Window Rock, Ariz., and then to Gallup. It would be great to have Navajo Transit bus from Nahadatziil to Gallup, NM.

NAVAJO NATION DIVISION OF GENERAL SERVICES DIRECTOR VIRGIL BROWN
since 2008 to now, there are 500,000 programs tribal programs. since 2008, we’ve had 400 percent ridership. we use to be out in fort defiance property office and during winter and summer, all the mechanics worked outside. we had old buses and unsafe. back then Mr. Bigwater, who is now retired, came on, same time as me. Demand on Transit very high across the reservation. Sometimes we have to leave riders behind and that is unfortuante. And it’s only $2.

And more than half of funding for Transit System is from federal and state grants and so we are asking for your support for tribal funding for a program that serves Navajo people. We have route from Torreon to Cuba, NM, to Farmington, where we work with city’s transit system.

as to electric bus, it was grant from federal grant. i had to testify before head man in Washington DC. So the electric bus is here. it’s very sophisticated. there is no engine. we are working with company out of Detroit, Mich. If you go to city, electric buses are calibrated at 35 miles per hour but since this is for rez, it’s calibrated at 55 mph. we have portable plug in to generate power daily. we get grants from NM ADOT and it really helps Navajo Nation. We are leading transit system across Indian Country.

The Health, Education and Human Services Committee has been very supportive.

LAW AND ORDER COMMITTEE VOTES 4 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPOSED ON LEGISLATION 0043-15 AND SENDS IT TO BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE, RESOURCES & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND FINALLY TO THE NAVAJO COUNCIL.

LAW & ORDER COMMITTEE ADJOURNS AT 1:35 pm