I check out the headlines before I sign off for the night-including the PD. Tonight there was a glaring headline about RTA losing money and maybe even having to cut more routes. They claim (RTA does) ridership is up 10% and many buses along the routes are full. That’s good right? Yes and no. Because the money generated by riders covers only a percentage of RTA total costs. Bah humbug. Now I shouldn’t be surprised, and I guess I’m not. I’ve been reading a lot of articles over the past six months about Washington D.C.’s Metro line and how it’s aging (aging….it’s only been open since the ’70s and in some cases the ’80s and ’90s). They have an incredible ridership and keep opening up new lines. But they are still suffering budget issues.
How do we make a system that is sustainable? The first two comments (OK the only comments when I read the PD blog post) were truly negative, how much of a waste RTA is, how it should just be shut down. Obviously relying on auto transportation is not the answer. So what is?
RTA claims, as usual, there will be public hearings before any cuts are written in stone. Oh and by the way, it seems to me that RTA is saying they couldn’t handle more than a 10% increase in ridership because of money woes. What’s wrong with this picture?
What do we need to do to the system (and I’m asking a real question, not a rhetorical one!) to make it viable? Oh, and the rates might go up too.
I say again, bah humbug! Peace Out – 3C
2 responses so far ↓
1 TimFerris // Jun 25, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Just for starters, how much do you suppose we could save by not running that lonely little train down to the Flats all the time? It’s just so ridiculous to keep flogging the dead horse when there’s no destination at hand yet…this is the kind of management that tells me they’re not out on the street, not supervising properly, not listening–there’s never enough money for these sorts of managers, and they always tell you what they can’t do with existing resources–it’s a malaise…
TimFerris’s last blog post..my Saturday night pastime
2 Carole Cohen // Jun 25, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Tim that is an excellent suggestion. It’s something that could be put on hold for a few years for sure.
About once or twice a week, there will be two #22 buses running in tandem. It makes no sense to me. If one got held up and meets up with another, one should go back to ‘go’ and be the next bus. Or something that makes more sense than two doing the same thing when only one will fill up.
I bet they have management people who could become the street managers. Anyway, your suggestion is a good start!
Leave a Comment