Prayer For County of 1.2 Million, No Service For Days, Weeks, From Strike of Primary Bus Transit Provider

[sprknjc]

This is prayer for especially the most needy Matthew 25:35-40 in the western VA suburb of Washington, DC about 8 to 25 miles away from the city which stretches out to Dulles Airport. On February 22 the Fairfax Connector which is the primary transit provider for the county used by tens of thousands daily, the contractor's 650 bus drivers and mechanics went on strike. Zero replacement bus service since then, even with an option of getting drivers from other cities the nationwide contractor operates in (someone has to foot their hotel expenses), is the sad part in one of the richest counties of the US. County leadership not getting involved in union-management negotiations which the last 12 rounds have failed, and another session with federal mediators scheduled for March 5 (may be hope). If that fails, the five year bus service contract with the contractor expires April 17. As retired, I use the Connector service maybe once or twice a month, but am not totally dependent on it like some others who use it frequently daily or weekly. There is the DC Metrorail, 3-4 lines (Orange, Silver, Blue/Yellow) still operating normally, but that is 5-15 miles away for some. Not everyone can afford Uber or Lyft daily for that distance. Ok, some can work remotely including federal workers if their jobs permit it instead of taking express buses from a suburban park and ride lots. There are people from over 100 countries in this county, some of them struggling financially working two or more jobs. This needs much prayer, but even a baseline critical bus service with replacement hourly service for the 'least of these' as spoken in the Gospel. Unlike county leadership here, Jesus would have handled this much better. Sadly, this strike is much about money, the bus contractor making huge corporate profits and treating its workers poorly; and the county trying to keep upcoming property tax bills down, a $500 increase on an average $750K residential assessment at an increased around $1.13 per $100 rate, which can be hurtful especially for some senior citizens. At the same time, passengers/customers/taxpayers/constituents suffer. This situation in a way, maybe be a little humorous, perhaps IMO comparing county leadership here with Pharaoh's hardened heart in the Old Testament, where the phrase 'let my people go' which in 2024 with people who use buses locally here primarily for getting around allowing them to GO to take care of daily needs including work across the metro area.

If you are in the DMV (DC, MD, and VA) region, you have almost surely heard about the strike from TV or internet news. Know this is a more regional issue that needs prayer. How can social service agencies and churches fill in, I do not fully know, but some transportation is already provided through those. As a good Samaritan, Day 1 of the strike, dropping off a piece of mail walking outside the neighborhood, at a highway bus stop shelter, I posted a sign in the covered shelter about the strike and no bus service. Seen one other car picking up a neighbor without a car walking to the bus stop. Hope more of this is happening at least until the strike is over.

 

[linux.poet]

Dear Lord, I pray that you would help the striking bus drivers and the county come to an agreement, amd that you would help those affected find other affordable transportation. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

 

[sprknjc]

Answer to many prayers for some passengers here in NoVA quite dependent on the local and commuter bus service - Fairfax Connector service to resume after nearly 2 weeks of worker strike (update as of this evening).