Janis Scott, a fixture of community meetings and public lectures who was lovingly called “the bus lady” by four generations of Houstonians, died Monday. She was 73.
A nearly lifetime bus rider — there was a time in the 80s when she bought a car but ditched driving after a few years — Scott was one of the most passionate advocates for Metropolitan Transit Authority service, specifically frequent buses crisscrossing oft-neglected communities.
"Janis was one of many riders who kept us accountable for providing good service,” former Metro board member Christof Spieler said. “But she stood out for the thoughtfulness of her comments, the way she stepped back to consider the needs of all the other riders as well, her caring for the bus operators who took her around Houston, and her love of the city and its transit system. She will be missed."
Beyond the bus Scott was a “lifelong learner” who “regularly attended public events with speakers from around the country,” said her friend, Oni Blair.
I knew Janis through my work, as she participated in transit-related workgroups and attended subcommittee meetings I was involved in. I'd oftentimes spend time chatting with her after meetings and listening to her stories. Even during the pandemic, when our transit subcommittee meetings were held virtually, she would call in to listen and then call me directly afterwards to share her thoughts on the discussions that had just transpired.
I would also occasionally see here at METRO Board meetings, where she as a fixture.
“Metro is a lifeline for many of us — it’s a mandate and a civil right,” Scott wrote in an essay for the Kinder institute for Urban Research at Rice University. “If you do not have a car, public transit gives you access to many opportunities, including jobs, medical appointments, education and what I call life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! Transit justice is a form of freedom, where sidewalks and curb cuts are fundamental provisions, especially for people with mobility challenges. It is crucial that the built environment is up to code.”
Scott was very willing to tell officials when bus service was being denied, or how they could improve it and make it affordable for riders. Always polite but never demure, Scott tussled with elected and appointed officials for what she believed, becoming a trusted voice along the way.
“Janis was a Metro treasure,” former transit board chairman Gilbert Garcia said. “She knew more about Houston transit than most Metro employees. When I became chairman, I would meet with her regularly to hear how we were really doing. I will miss her infectious laugh.”
At a time when the current mayoral administration (and by extension, its appointees on the METRO Board of Directors) seems hell-bent on ignoring local voters' wishes regarding improvements and expansions to local transit service, strong voices such as hers advocating for better public transportation are needed more than ever. Her passing is a tremendous loss, and I will miss her.
Janis was a 1974 graduate of Rice University and was one of that school's first black graduates. She continued to be involved in campus activities her entire life, and in 2016 received the school's award for outstanding achievement in civic and community service.
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