...with embarrassment AND rage!
Okay, so OPTINSTL IS SO WRONG! Allow me to explain- the new North County transit center was planned originally for the Metrolink. While the bathrooms are great, the bus center is essentially worthless without a train. Why did OPTINSTL not notice there is no train right away? Because it is such a no-brainer! WHY WASTE 10 MILLION DOLLARS ON THAT "TRANSIT CENTER" WITHOUT A METROLINK???
Like the other bus transit centers, the overdevelopment of the CWE with Cortex, the extra-long Grand buses, North County transit center is just another big fat joke at the expense of the transit-dependent public. The self-congratulations and PR will just keep coming from $80-350K-a-year executives that drive cars from their county homes. They will keep spending money on stupid sh*t that makes it appear they are doing something, and leave the riders to stand around out in the sun and rain and snow, waiting for their slow buses on stupid routes.
Please, transit rider, CALL METRO AND COMPLAIN. ASK THEM QUESTIONS! TELL THEM WHAT YOU NEED!
They will not change until we make them change!
EVERY DIME THEY SPEND IS PUBLIC MONEY!
OPTINSTL
OCCUPY! PUBLIC TRANSIT Image by Eric Drooker for Occupy Wall Street, click on image for Drooker's website
Showing posts with label east west gateway council of governments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label east west gateway council of governments. Show all posts
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
WHAT STL METRO COULD LEARN FROM LA METRO'S BLUE LINE
I find it really shocking how dismissive Metro executives are about their terrible surveys. (Once a year, on the Metrolink only.) They are really clueless about the actual transit needs of their riders.
Without meaningful, accurate data, from a large representative group of patrons, no business or entity can make decisions or do planning.
It is only because Metro is not a completely private, for profit business that they can get away with this. (And there is very little chance that any public transit agency is every going to be lucrative enough for a private company to want to own one. All of these agencies are really just funnels for government funds to be used in "business development." And to further political careers of CEO's and top executives. "Hey I mismanaged Metro's 350 million dollar budget, I can mismanage the state's budget just as well." Um, yes, that was sarcasm.)
This article about Los Angeles' Metro's Blue Line is a real eye opener if you know how to read between the lines.
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/07/when-las-blue-line-was-new/374421/
It was a big deal, perhaps even more so than the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LACMTA) expected. Originally projected to have a daily ridership of 5,000, the Blue Line was carrying 32,000 riders a day by the end of 1990. As of last May, the system's oldest line has an average weekday ridership of 86,065.
THAT'S RIGHT! Expected versus actual ridership BEGAN at SIX TIMES the agency's estimate! And is now, what? SEVENTEEN TIMES the estimate???
The Blue Line runs through South Central and down to Long Beach. It definitely covers LA's most transit dependent areas.
When public transit takes people where they need to go, in a timely manner, the sky is the limit.
You know, OPTINSTL's survey for Metro to use is modelled from the Los Angeles Metro's semi-annual survey. For an entire week, on every single bus and train, LA Metro has survey takers handing out and collecting lengthy, detailed questionnaires to every rider.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html
St. Louis Metro relies on general population and employment statistics. And those once a year, five question, Metrolink-only surveys.
Of course, business developers and local politicians don't really want Metro to provide good service to the people that need it the most. St. Charles demonstrated that most blatantly when they shot down the proposed Metrolink ten years ago.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-apalling-racist-fiasco-of-2005-and.html
What they want is bus service that will actually get a person to a low wage job, but not convenient enough for those workers to come spend their free time in the "nice areas".
Incarceration by lack of decent public transit is a very effective way of cordoning off parts of the city using federal funds to do so.
If St. Louis Metro actually surveyed their riders, a north-south metrolink would be the obvious top-priority. But then it would be easier and faster for transit riders to get around.
And that is exactly what they don't want.
Without meaningful, accurate data, from a large representative group of patrons, no business or entity can make decisions or do planning.
It is only because Metro is not a completely private, for profit business that they can get away with this. (And there is very little chance that any public transit agency is every going to be lucrative enough for a private company to want to own one. All of these agencies are really just funnels for government funds to be used in "business development." And to further political careers of CEO's and top executives. "Hey I mismanaged Metro's 350 million dollar budget, I can mismanage the state's budget just as well." Um, yes, that was sarcasm.)
This article about Los Angeles' Metro's Blue Line is a real eye opener if you know how to read between the lines.
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/07/when-las-blue-line-was-new/374421/
It was a big deal, perhaps even more so than the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LACMTA) expected. Originally projected to have a daily ridership of 5,000, the Blue Line was carrying 32,000 riders a day by the end of 1990. As of last May, the system's oldest line has an average weekday ridership of 86,065.
THAT'S RIGHT! Expected versus actual ridership BEGAN at SIX TIMES the agency's estimate! And is now, what? SEVENTEEN TIMES the estimate???
The Blue Line runs through South Central and down to Long Beach. It definitely covers LA's most transit dependent areas.
When public transit takes people where they need to go, in a timely manner, the sky is the limit.
You know, OPTINSTL's survey for Metro to use is modelled from the Los Angeles Metro's semi-annual survey. For an entire week, on every single bus and train, LA Metro has survey takers handing out and collecting lengthy, detailed questionnaires to every rider.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html
St. Louis Metro relies on general population and employment statistics. And those once a year, five question, Metrolink-only surveys.
Of course, business developers and local politicians don't really want Metro to provide good service to the people that need it the most. St. Charles demonstrated that most blatantly when they shot down the proposed Metrolink ten years ago.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-apalling-racist-fiasco-of-2005-and.html
What they want is bus service that will actually get a person to a low wage job, but not convenient enough for those workers to come spend their free time in the "nice areas".
Incarceration by lack of decent public transit is a very effective way of cordoning off parts of the city using federal funds to do so.
If St. Louis Metro actually surveyed their riders, a north-south metrolink would be the obvious top-priority. But then it would be easier and faster for transit riders to get around.
And that is exactly what they don't want.
Friday, June 20, 2014
BOYCOTT METRO JULY 1ST
On July 1st, the day the new fares go into effect, it is time for transit riders to send Metro a message: WE NEED A BETTER TRANSIT SYSTEM! WE, THE PEOPLE, DEMAND IT!
On July 1st, get a ride if you have to go to work or must travel with in St. Louis.
Don't ride the bus or train.
Call Metro, Governor Nixon,your local representatives (in the City that would be Mayor Slay and your local alderman), and local media of your choice, and tell them that you are not riding in protest of the increased fares, that bring no improvements in service.
Tell them you are boycotting Metro because they are asking riders to pay $5 million more over the next two years, even though Metro spent that same amount in 2013 in political campaign contributions ("contributions to outside entities").
Tell them you want Metro separated from Bi-State Development Agency, and from "business development" altogether! Public transit should be developed where it is needed most, not subsidizing private business interests.
Demand that Metro negotiate a new contract with their drivers! 6 years without a contract is enough! Demand that Metro stopping robbing driver's pension plans and benefits!
Tell them what services you need as public transit rider: public toilets? improved safety, signage, trash cans, and shelters at bus stops? discount passes for low income and unemployed?
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
If you want to publicly demonstrate, make a sign and walk or get a ride to the nearest bus stop or bus and Metrolink transfer center and hold the sign up to passing cars.
JULY 1ST! STRIKE CITYWIDE! DON'T RIDE! BOYCOTT METRO! TRANSIT RIDERS ARE AGAINST THE FARE INCREASE! WE DEMAND BETTER SERVICE!
WE DEMAND A PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC- NOT POLITICAL AND PRIVATE BUSINESS INTERESTS!
OPTINSTL will be at Riverview Transfer Center in the afternoon, striking publicly! We hope you will join us. And please email us the details of your protest to share on this blog: optinstl@gmail.com
On July 1st, get a ride if you have to go to work or must travel with in St. Louis.
Don't ride the bus or train.
Call Metro, Governor Nixon,your local representatives (in the City that would be Mayor Slay and your local alderman), and local media of your choice, and tell them that you are not riding in protest of the increased fares, that bring no improvements in service.
Tell them you are boycotting Metro because they are asking riders to pay $5 million more over the next two years, even though Metro spent that same amount in 2013 in political campaign contributions ("contributions to outside entities").
Tell them you want Metro separated from Bi-State Development Agency, and from "business development" altogether! Public transit should be developed where it is needed most, not subsidizing private business interests.
Demand that Metro negotiate a new contract with their drivers! 6 years without a contract is enough! Demand that Metro stopping robbing driver's pension plans and benefits!
Tell them what services you need as public transit rider: public toilets? improved safety, signage, trash cans, and shelters at bus stops? discount passes for low income and unemployed?
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
If you want to publicly demonstrate, make a sign and walk or get a ride to the nearest bus stop or bus and Metrolink transfer center and hold the sign up to passing cars.
JULY 1ST! STRIKE CITYWIDE! DON'T RIDE! BOYCOTT METRO! TRANSIT RIDERS ARE AGAINST THE FARE INCREASE! WE DEMAND BETTER SERVICE!
WE DEMAND A PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC- NOT POLITICAL AND PRIVATE BUSINESS INTERESTS!
OPTINSTL will be at Riverview Transfer Center in the afternoon, striking publicly! We hope you will join us. And please email us the details of your protest to share on this blog: optinstl@gmail.com
Sunday, June 15, 2014
BUS STOPS: CHESTERFIELD STEPS IN WHERE METRO HAS FAILED
So Chesterfield is going to pitch in on getting some bus stops with shelters. I am glad that Chesterfield is stepping up to the plate. Metro's
deplorable CEO John Nations is the former Mayor of Chesterfield. It is
good to know that Nations attitude towards public transit riders is not
shared by all of his neighbors.
From:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/71253dd7-dd14-5589-ab69-cf56542ff0a6.html
Chesterfield’s City Council on Monday night gave initial approval an cooperation agreement between the city, Metro, and the Chesterfield Valley Transportation Development District for of bus stop shelters in Chesterfield valley and in other areas of the city in which there are Metro bus routes. A final vote on the legislation is set for June 16.
The article states that the shelters will be installed in Chesterfield and also in other areas of the city. In Chesterfield the bus stop trashcans will be maintained by the Chesterfield's waste management provider. The trash around bus stops is an issue for everyone.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/metro-does-not-take-responsibility-for.html
Too bad Metro gave away $5 million in "contributions to outside entities" (political campaign contributions) in 2013. That would surely pay for some new shelters and maintenance. ($5 million is also the exact amount that Metro is demanding riders pay for in the next two years through the fare hikes.)
OPTINSTL thinks it might be a bad idea to leave the planning and construction up to Metro. Mismanagement of funds is systemic at Metro. After the Shrewsbury debacle, and their continued insolvency and inability to complete Metrolink expansion to north Saint Louis and Florissant, they need to be audited and overhauled before they are entrusted with any new projects or public money.
At the very least, I hope that someone from Chesterfield will be appointed to audit the planning and construction very closely.
OPTINSTL would like to suggest that Chesterfield add bus schedules and route information, and perhaps install recycling bins that issue public transit credits for plastic bottles. Also, I hope they will work closely with street services to make sure the new shelters have sufficient lighting and sidewalks in good condition. Not just in Chesterfield, but all over the city.
Bus stops: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-should-be-metros-new-bus-stop-plan.html
Recycling: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/metro-could-save-on-trash-cans-with.html
It is a shame that Metro has not placed a greater priority on surveying its' bus riders. (They do a once a year survey, a very incomplete survey, on the Metrolink. But the bus is the biggest portion of their service, and north St. Louis City and county constitute the greatest share of riders. Metro executives and planners know almost nothing about their best customers.)
If Metro did thorough surveys, they could tell the city of Chesterfield the bus routes that were used the most. The #91 and #258 easy guesses, but what about the many riders that make one or more transfers?
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html
OPTINSTL spoke with a rider on the #90 bus that lives in Baden and works in Chesterfield. It is a two hour ride each way. He takes the #90 to the Metrolink, and then the Blue Line to the #258. There are no shelters at either of his bus stops. (And no public bathrooms at all along the way. When will this most basic of human needs be addressed?)
Improved bus stop shelters will help a lot, but Metro still has a long way to go in becoming a truly viable public transit agency.
TIME TO SEND METRO A MESSAGE:
JULY 1ST! BOYCOTT METRO! STRIKE CITYWIDE! DON'T RIDE!
From:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/71253dd7-dd14-5589-ab69-cf56542ff0a6.html
Chesterfield’s City Council on Monday night gave initial approval an cooperation agreement between the city, Metro, and the Chesterfield Valley Transportation Development District for of bus stop shelters in Chesterfield valley and in other areas of the city in which there are Metro bus routes. A final vote on the legislation is set for June 16.
The article states that the shelters will be installed in Chesterfield and also in other areas of the city. In Chesterfield the bus stop trashcans will be maintained by the Chesterfield's waste management provider. The trash around bus stops is an issue for everyone.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/metro-does-not-take-responsibility-for.html
Too bad Metro gave away $5 million in "contributions to outside entities" (political campaign contributions) in 2013. That would surely pay for some new shelters and maintenance. ($5 million is also the exact amount that Metro is demanding riders pay for in the next two years through the fare hikes.)
OPTINSTL thinks it might be a bad idea to leave the planning and construction up to Metro. Mismanagement of funds is systemic at Metro. After the Shrewsbury debacle, and their continued insolvency and inability to complete Metrolink expansion to north Saint Louis and Florissant, they need to be audited and overhauled before they are entrusted with any new projects or public money.
At the very least, I hope that someone from Chesterfield will be appointed to audit the planning and construction very closely.
OPTINSTL would like to suggest that Chesterfield add bus schedules and route information, and perhaps install recycling bins that issue public transit credits for plastic bottles. Also, I hope they will work closely with street services to make sure the new shelters have sufficient lighting and sidewalks in good condition. Not just in Chesterfield, but all over the city.
Bus stops: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-should-be-metros-new-bus-stop-plan.html
Recycling: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/metro-could-save-on-trash-cans-with.html
It is a shame that Metro has not placed a greater priority on surveying its' bus riders. (They do a once a year survey, a very incomplete survey, on the Metrolink. But the bus is the biggest portion of their service, and north St. Louis City and county constitute the greatest share of riders. Metro executives and planners know almost nothing about their best customers.)
If Metro did thorough surveys, they could tell the city of Chesterfield the bus routes that were used the most. The #91 and #258 easy guesses, but what about the many riders that make one or more transfers?
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html
OPTINSTL spoke with a rider on the #90 bus that lives in Baden and works in Chesterfield. It is a two hour ride each way. He takes the #90 to the Metrolink, and then the Blue Line to the #258. There are no shelters at either of his bus stops. (And no public bathrooms at all along the way. When will this most basic of human needs be addressed?)
Improved bus stop shelters will help a lot, but Metro still has a long way to go in becoming a truly viable public transit agency.
TIME TO SEND METRO A MESSAGE:
JULY 1ST! BOYCOTT METRO! STRIKE CITYWIDE! DON'T RIDE!
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