VIA Holds Tilley Dr Medical Facilities Action

June 17, 2009

See CCTV's footage of the Action. Watch Video

Watch Fox 44's coverage. Watch news clip

100 members and friends of Vermont Interfaith Action met at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul on Tuesday June 16, 2009 to discuss the lack of accessible transportation to Fletcher Allen Health Care’s (FAHC) medical facilities located at Tilley Drive in South Burlington, Vermont.  Leaders met with FAHC Vice-President Dawn LaBaron, South Burlington’s City Manager Chuck Hafter, and Executive Director of the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA) Chris Cole.

At the meeting, Rev. Stan Baker, deacon of St. Paul’s Cathedral outlined the problem: The facilities at Tilley Drive were over .5 mile from any existing bus stop, on a busy road without sidewalks, preventing patients without cars access to their appointments. As a result, patients were not completing care they needed at the specialty clinics, which include a cardiac practice, orthopedics, and chronic pain center.  A copy of the extensive research report can be found here.

Members from the refugee community gave testimony about their difficulty getting to the clinic, including Ma Moh, a Burmese refugee who shared that last winter he began walking from the nearest bus stop in the middle of a snow storm and was nearly hit by on-coming traffic: “I came to fix my back, not get hit by a car.” Frustrated, he turned around and walked back to the bus stop completely missing his appointment.

Janet Patterson, a member of Christ Church Presbyterian, testified that on her limited income it was impossible for her to attend the cardiac rehabilitation program which had relocated to Tilley Drive. She, along with a group of senior citizens, organized a walking group in Burlington accessible to bus service. She urged VIA’s guest to come together to find a viable short term and long term solution to the problem because she knew other senior citizens who could not get to Tilley Drive for the care they needed.

All three guests committed to meeting together along with VIA leaders to begin formulating solutions that would be agreeable to all parties. Additionally, South Burlington’s City Manager Chuck Hafter reported that South Burlington would be vying for Federal Stimulus money to build a sidewalk to Tilley Drive, and was also working with the City’s Planning Commission to amend the City’s Zoning Regulations to include public transportation as an important factor in approving any commercial development.

The Action was a culmination of months of research and organizing by leaders of Vermont Interfaith Action. Leaders will continue to work with the parties to find a viable solution, and are scheduled to meet with their guests no later than September 30, 2009.