Even A Planned Temporary Absence is Unacceptable!
First, I want to make it clear that I’m not griping at the former manager of our local bus station. He’s a fine gentleman who did the best he could under the conditions presented to him. I’m griping at the people of Wichita Falls.
Second, the sign in the photo above is very deceptive. The Jolly Travel Center is in Jolly, and Jolly is in Clay County, Texas. It’s not even in Wichita County so how can it be in Wichita Falls?
There’s been recent “city council” talk lately about making expensive improvements to our airport. I’m not going to pretend that I’m fully informed on this topic because I’m not. I haven’t flown commercially since 1997 and haven’t flown commercially out of Wichita Falls since 1971. I have, however been inside the Wichita Falls Municipal Airport many, many times over the years. If our city leaders say we need major improvements on the airport, that’s ok, but let’s not forget our bus station, or lack of one!
Many more out-of-towners will see a city’s bus station than will ever see its airport. It’s simply a matter of economics. Many more people can afford a bus ticket than can afford a plane ticket, and sometimes the bus is just the best or only way to get there.
Many bus riders, before our bus station disappeared, used to pass though Wichita Falls on the way to other places. People landing at the airport have usually reached their destination. I don’t think we’re a midway point on many popular air routes.
Many of you will remember when the old bus station was located on the corner of 7th and Lamar, just south of the county courthouse. Then it moved to the north side of the courthouse at 6th and Lamar. The building now houses the Juvenile Justice Center, Detention Center, or something like that (Jail 4 Kidz is what it is). That bus station boasted a snack bar and small newsstand. I think there was even a shoeshine concession also.
Then the station moved to Seymour Highway, across from Riverside Cemetery. There’s an auto repair facility there now. It pretty much looked like an auto repair facility then, too. It looked like one of those places where the bus stops in small towns that don’t have a bus station. I’m talking about the little towns where the bus stop is out in front of a local restaurant or service station. It was shameful – actually embarrassing – for the people of Wichita Falls to have to put up with such a facility.
Then the station moved to 14th Street, between Holiday & Broad Streets. The new location was just a few steps away from a Carl’s Jr., or some other franchise. At least our travelers didn’t starve. But I’ve seen many a traveler step off the bus with that “where in the hell are we” look! We’re home to an Air Force base and a University and the first thing our new arrivals see is a chain restaurant? Sorry, that’s another gripe for another article! But I know we can do better than this!
Now, things have gone even further downhill. Now we don’t even have a bus station. The operation has shut down and now, if you want to catch a bus, you have to go to the Jolly Truck Stop!
Imagine that! A friend or relative wants to travel to Wichita Falls, a city of 100,000 people, and they can’t even get here by bus! They have to find a ride or hire a taxi to take them the rest of the way! And what about the lower income people who lived in the area of the 14th St. location? What are they to do? They’re probably already traveling by bus because their pockets aren’t overflowing with money, and now they have to find a way to the bus station, which is now 10 miles outside of the city!
Now I understand that some sort of “transportation center” is in the planning, but even the temporary absence of a bus station is unacceptable.
UPDATE: The City has posted this sign in an attempt to shut me up – but it won’t work! By the way, the new location doesn’t offer much surrounding “eye candy” for our visiting travelers, but at least they’ll be able to eat at some real eateries. Pat’s is just next door and they can walk a block or so to McBride’s & El Gordo’s. Just think of it, first-time visitors to Wichita Falls can step off a bus and not see a McDonalds or a Burger King! I just hope the City of Wichita Falls doesn’t let some chain restaurant sucker them into setting up inside the Travel Center.
Maynard
© 2010-2011 Maynard Hawkins