Yuma Community Call for More Public Transportation Resources

YCAT bus in Downtown Yuma

Community members are speaking up about the need for more resources, funding and routes for Yuma County’s public transportation system, Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT).

Nearly a dozen community members attended the YCIPTA (Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority) board meeting on August 24 to share public comments about the importance of keeping YCAT accessible and expanding services to meet the needs of local residents.

Board Chair Louie Galaviz was surprised by the turnout, saying, “This is the first time we have the public come and give public comment.”

San Luis educator Luisa Arreola emphasized that public transportation should be seen as an investment in the community rather than a cost. She brought up how for many residents, YCAT is what makes it possible to get to work, attend college, make medical appointments and access opportunities outside their communities.

Jhanitzel Bogarin, a Yuma local and organizer with Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE), spoke about the need for more routes connecting San Luis students to Arizona Western College (AWC). Currently, the Silver Route 9 is the only direct YCAT route between San Luis and AWC’s main campus in Yuma. She shared that limited routes and schedules can force some students to leave home several hours before their classes begin just to make it to campus on time.

“For many students in San Luis, the YCAT is not simply a bus service. It is connected to education, opportunity and a better future,” Bogarin said.

She also called for more shade at YCAT bus stops to help protect riders from Yuma’s extreme summer heat.

Two San Luis students and current participants in the RAZE Leaders program also attended the meeting to advocate for continued funding and expanded routes.

Sixteen-year-old Julian Guzman and Brenda Lopez relied on YCAT this summer to get to their college classes at AWC. As part of their community projects with RAZE Leaders, the students chose to focus on advocating for better public transportation, especially as students who have experienced firsthand how resources like the YCAT can impact their education and future.

“Thanks to [YCAT], I was able to get an A by the end of the semester for my pre-calculus class,” Guzman said. “It was a big part of the summer, waking up at 5 in the morning to make it to the YCAT. It was very vital to my growth as a 16-year-old.”

For students like Julian and Brenda, and countless other Yuma County residents, reliable public transportation can mean access to education, work, health care, and a better future.

Want to help advocate for better public transportation in Yuma County? Sign up at ruralarizona.us/YCAT to get connected with ways you can make an impact and use your voice.

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