‘Transportation is a barrier in Rapid City.’

That’s something staff at the John T. Vucurevich Foundation have heard for years from residents, leaders and nonprofit officials.

Reliable transportation is essential in communities like ours—a vehicle dependent city with a low walkability score. For families to maintain a healthy life and secure a stronger future, they need a way to get around.

JTVF staff and board recently gathered with community stakeholders to learn how transportation barriers currently affect life for some Rapid City residents. It boils down to this—transportation insecurity is an employment barrier in Rapid City. 

And it’s an employment barrier manifesting in three key ways in the Rapid City area. 

First is public transit operating hours make it harder for people to retain employment. 

“Clients have had to turn down job opportunities due to limited hours of operation for busing,” said Lori Larson, program manager for Workforce Connections, which provides support, mentoring and advocacy for those pursuing adult education. “Entry level jobs are typically not available in shifts that are within the bus route hours.”

Rapid Transit System (RTS) operates roughly from 6 AM to 6 PM, which means employees using public transit must find another way to get home after their shift ends. 

The second is that Rapid Valley and Box Elder need public transit. 

Many find affordable housing in those communities, but are unable to tap into the transit system, which ends at Rapid City’s borders. Folks living there have their own transportation to reach work, school, and other services.

The third is the need for affordable auto repair. 

While increased wages for mechanics is a good thing, higher repair costs (and parts) are squeezing those who live on the margins. Nonprofits like Shift Garage are helpful in getting those who need help back on the road. But repairs are often weeks out.

Removing employment barriers is imperative for business in a community with a 1.7% unemployment rate.

Transportation insecurity is indicative of other forms of material hardship, including food access, unmet medical needs, and housing insecurity.

“The people that are utilizing our services absolutely need it,” said Megan Gould, manager for Rapid Transit System, which has been in operation since 1992. “A lot of them are there every single day—day in, day out.”

RTS is a vital community resource. The system is currently conducting a microtransit feasibility study to help citizens who are underserved by the existing fixed-route service. 

The Foundation looks forward to the results of that study. Meanwhile, we are actively engaging with those who have already invested in transportation solutions to better understand approaches that could inform local efforts.

JTVF recently released a document titled “’It’s Literally Limiting’ How Transportation Barriers Affect Employment and Quality of Life in Rapid City.” 

If you have ideas about how to reduce transportation barriers in Rapid City and want to share them, email Lee Strubinger at lstrubinger@jtvf.org.

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