Too many guns, not enough school or civic opportunities, too great a racial divide between North and South, too many young people that don't see a good future for themselves and decide to take what power they can. More cops aren't going to solve the problem.
http://www.kmov.com/story/31482991/3-teenagers-shot-at-north-st-louis-bus-stop
OPTINSTL
OCCUPY! PUBLIC TRANSIT Image by Eric Drooker for Occupy Wall Street, click on image for Drooker's website
Showing posts with label metro bus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metro bus. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
NEW METRO STATION IN FERGUSON
Couldn't find any local reporting on this. It was "Drumpfed", I guess. The orange-faced Amerikkkan Hitler got all the news this weekend.
I haven't been there yet, but will check it out tomorrow. I hope those restrooms are really "public". At Riverview the toilets are operated by the privately owned snack shop. (Which means it is only open when they are open and you have to get a key- or at least you did last time I used it, which was actually about 2 years ago. Will check that out this week, too.)
Also, they need to put in sidewalks all the way along Pershall. The construction has made the already dangerous walk on Pershall between West Florissant and New Halls Ferry a nightmare. Especially at night.
At least we have a train up here now. EDIT: Please see this post: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2016/04/optinstl-is-red-faced.html
http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/12180965/st-louis-metro-celebrates-completion-of-north-county-transit-center
As for John Nations comments that "five years ago we identified" etc... Stop patting yourself on the back. North City and County are the most transit dependent areas you service and you don't deserve congratulations for figuring that out. Your own data proves that. And that new Cortex Metrolink stop is a big waste of money, rivalled only by the St. Charles turned to Shrewsbury extension that bankrupted the Agency in 2010.
I haven't been there yet, but will check it out tomorrow. I hope those restrooms are really "public". At Riverview the toilets are operated by the privately owned snack shop. (Which means it is only open when they are open and you have to get a key- or at least you did last time I used it, which was actually about 2 years ago. Will check that out this week, too.)
Also, they need to put in sidewalks all the way along Pershall. The construction has made the already dangerous walk on Pershall between West Florissant and New Halls Ferry a nightmare. Especially at night.
http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/12180965/st-louis-metro-celebrates-completion-of-north-county-transit-center
As for John Nations comments that "five years ago we identified" etc... Stop patting yourself on the back. North City and County are the most transit dependent areas you service and you don't deserve congratulations for figuring that out. Your own data proves that. And that new Cortex Metrolink stop is a big waste of money, rivalled only by the St. Charles turned to Shrewsbury extension that bankrupted the Agency in 2010.
Monday, September 1, 2014
IDOT HAS THE RIGHT IDEA, BUT TRANSIT RIDERS NEED TO OCCUPY THE RAILWAYS
The Illinois Department of Transportation has the right idea. We definitely need a high-speed rail line from St. Louis to Chicago.
http://www.kmov.com/news/talkers/100-million-being-invested-in-St-LouisChicago-rail-project-273409391.html
But WE, THE PEOPLE need to take over the railroads in the same way we need to take over public transit. Trains-- local commuter, state, and national-- are the future, not more buses, and not more cars and highways!
http://www.eia.gov/countries/index.cfm?view=consumption
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/07/how-parking-spaces-are-eating-our-cities-alive/374413/
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/does-uber-mean-the-end-of-cars--134641160.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/19/opinion/iraq-war-oil-juhasz/
As with public transit, railroads should be communally owned and operated by the public-- Amtrak is government owned-- and only leased to private, for-profit, companies, freight or otherwise.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transportation_in_the_United_States
And safety of the public should be the first priority, not down the list after profits and corporate convenience.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/who-is-shaping-the-nation-s-railroad-safety-rules/article_87cfc631-3db4-595f-b0f1-a3e02058820f.html
The first step is to learn more about current railways in your region, and to begin questioning elected and transportation officials on what is being done to develop them.
Railway is not "other transportation", it is our first priority as a forward thinking nation.
http://www.modot.org/othertransportation/rail/documents/MAPrail_passenger_dated11_15_07.pdf
http://www.kmov.com/news/talkers/100-million-being-invested-in-St-LouisChicago-rail-project-273409391.html
But WE, THE PEOPLE need to take over the railroads in the same way we need to take over public transit. Trains-- local commuter, state, and national-- are the future, not more buses, and not more cars and highways!
http://www.eia.gov/countries/index.cfm?view=consumption
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/07/how-parking-spaces-are-eating-our-cities-alive/374413/
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/does-uber-mean-the-end-of-cars--134641160.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/19/opinion/iraq-war-oil-juhasz/
As with public transit, railroads should be communally owned and operated by the public-- Amtrak is government owned-- and only leased to private, for-profit, companies, freight or otherwise.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transportation_in_the_United_States
And safety of the public should be the first priority, not down the list after profits and corporate convenience.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/who-is-shaping-the-nation-s-railroad-safety-rules/article_87cfc631-3db4-595f-b0f1-a3e02058820f.html
The first step is to learn more about current railways in your region, and to begin questioning elected and transportation officials on what is being done to develop them.
Railway is not "other transportation", it is our first priority as a forward thinking nation.
http://www.modot.org/othertransportation/rail/documents/MAPrail_passenger_dated11_15_07.pdf
Monday, August 25, 2014
PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDERS AREN'T EVEN IN THE ST. LOUIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN
During the protests concerning Michael Brown's murder, the people that really got left behind in the dust were public transit riders. And I don't just mean the ridiculous re-routing of the #74 West Florissant bus. There was no reason for re-routing that the bus. Even with the illegal road blocks and checkpoints that the Police instituted, public transit is carrying pedestrians. Making anyone that lived along West Florissant walk a mile or more was WRONG WRONG WRONG.
IF ONLY Metro were about public transit, and they had someone "on board" in the executive offices that could have gone to bat for their customers. And not just Metro, but the smaller transit agencies, too. Thank you, KMOV, for picking up the slack and responding to the needs of the transit dependent public:
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Man-with-disability-says-public-transportation-refused-to-pick-him-up-272654621.html
In smaller towns it is often the Parks And Recreation department that runs excursion and para-transit service. Since these relatively small fleets, and either only for recreational purposes, the people that really need them-- as in the KMOV story linked to above-- are often completely overlooked. And there is generally no one to hold accountable for failure of service.
I wonder how many people in the St. Louis region know what it is like to be sick or disabled, and unable to afford a taxi, and to have no recourse when public transit fails? How I wish we had more broad-minded, empathetic, caring leaders and representatives, that truly wanted to change St. Louis for everyone-- and NOT just the people that vote for them or contribute campaign funds.
As I said in my previous posts about the police and Ferguson City Council** --and their violation of Constitutional Law, and response to the protestors which was solely dictated by making their own jobs easier-- they all need to be fired and replaced. Along with all the people whose salaries are paid for by public transit funding.
Public Transit isn't even mentioned in the St. Louis County Emergency Plan.
www.bknp.com/St.
Because OPTINSTL chose to align with Occupy, some people think I mean "occupy the bus and ride it for free, or direct the routes". I don't. But maybe during the next set of protests we SHOULD Occupy the buses and trains for real. Maybe it is time to hijack public transit.
I'd trust any of the protestors (and no, not the same as the very few people looting, protesting and looting are not the same) to do a better job of directing public transit than any of the people currently in charge. Ridiculous.
REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER, 2014- THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED!!!
**http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/08/occupy-gang-police-end-police-state.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/08/dear-ferguson-police-department-mo.html
IF ONLY Metro were about public transit, and they had someone "on board" in the executive offices that could have gone to bat for their customers. And not just Metro, but the smaller transit agencies, too. Thank you, KMOV, for picking up the slack and responding to the needs of the transit dependent public:
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Man-with-disability-says-public-transportation-refused-to-pick-him-up-272654621.html
In smaller towns it is often the Parks And Recreation department that runs excursion and para-transit service. Since these relatively small fleets, and either only for recreational purposes, the people that really need them-- as in the KMOV story linked to above-- are often completely overlooked. And there is generally no one to hold accountable for failure of service.
I wonder how many people in the St. Louis region know what it is like to be sick or disabled, and unable to afford a taxi, and to have no recourse when public transit fails? How I wish we had more broad-minded, empathetic, caring leaders and representatives, that truly wanted to change St. Louis for everyone-- and NOT just the people that vote for them or contribute campaign funds.
As I said in my previous posts about the police and Ferguson City Council** --and their violation of Constitutional Law, and response to the protestors which was solely dictated by making their own jobs easier-- they all need to be fired and replaced. Along with all the people whose salaries are paid for by public transit funding.
Public Transit isn't even mentioned in the St. Louis County Emergency Plan.
www.bknp.com/St.
Because OPTINSTL chose to align with Occupy, some people think I mean "occupy the bus and ride it for free, or direct the routes". I don't. But maybe during the next set of protests we SHOULD Occupy the buses and trains for real. Maybe it is time to hijack public transit.
I'd trust any of the protestors (and no, not the same as the very few people looting, protesting and looting are not the same) to do a better job of directing public transit than any of the people currently in charge. Ridiculous.
REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER, 2014- THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED!!!
**http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/08/occupy-gang-police-end-police-state.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/08/dear-ferguson-police-department-mo.html
Saturday, July 19, 2014
METRO'S NEW GATEWAY CARD: HOW METRO COULD ATTRACT MORE RIDERS AND REALLY SERVE THE PUBLIC
Metro has a new Transit Debit card they are bringing out in 2015. As usual, it is just enough to produce reams of self-congratulating marketing propaganda, but not really anything new, useful or revolutionary.
http://www.mygatewaycard.com/
It's the third story down on this article:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/03700176-1c14-50c0-aab3-7a74ebddf147.html
That's great that it the card will "tap out" at $7.50 but to really do something useful, they need to have it tap out at $78 every month (the price of the monthly pass).
Moreover, as OPTINSTL keeps reminding people, WHETHER YOU RIDE METRO OR NOT, YOU PAY FOR IT! Metro needs to be separated from Bi-State Development Agency and it needs to be community or communally owned by the cities and municipalities and counties it serves.
EVERYONE should get a Gateway card, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have people's names on it. EVERYONE should get two free rides (two hour passes) a year on the card.
And EVERY ELECTION DAY and the FOURTH OF JULY should be FREE FARE DAYS.
If Metro was run by people whose only purpose was to make public transit serve the needs of the public, instead of being a funnel for massive government funds for Bi-State to use in leveraging "business development" and making private contractors rich, and thereby padding the CEO's future political ambitions, these changes would have already been made.
We would already have a North-South Metrolink (instead of those worn-out reconditioned 64 foot buses at $1.5 million each). And that $5 million a year fare increase would have been paid for with the funds currently going to "Contributions to Outside Entities" (that's political campaign donations).
CALL METRO, CALL THE GOVERNOR, CALL MAYOR SLAY AND YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES AND DEMAND A BETTER GATEWAY CARD, FREE FARE DAYS, AND AN END TO THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OF METRO AND BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY!
http://www.mygatewaycard.com/
It's the third story down on this article:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/03700176-1c14-50c0-aab3-7a74ebddf147.html
That's great that it the card will "tap out" at $7.50 but to really do something useful, they need to have it tap out at $78 every month (the price of the monthly pass).
Moreover, as OPTINSTL keeps reminding people, WHETHER YOU RIDE METRO OR NOT, YOU PAY FOR IT! Metro needs to be separated from Bi-State Development Agency and it needs to be community or communally owned by the cities and municipalities and counties it serves.
EVERYONE should get a Gateway card, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have people's names on it. EVERYONE should get two free rides (two hour passes) a year on the card.
And EVERY ELECTION DAY and the FOURTH OF JULY should be FREE FARE DAYS.
If Metro was run by people whose only purpose was to make public transit serve the needs of the public, instead of being a funnel for massive government funds for Bi-State to use in leveraging "business development" and making private contractors rich, and thereby padding the CEO's future political ambitions, these changes would have already been made.
We would already have a North-South Metrolink (instead of those worn-out reconditioned 64 foot buses at $1.5 million each). And that $5 million a year fare increase would have been paid for with the funds currently going to "Contributions to Outside Entities" (that's political campaign donations).
CALL METRO, CALL THE GOVERNOR, CALL MAYOR SLAY AND YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES AND DEMAND A BETTER GATEWAY CARD, FREE FARE DAYS, AND AN END TO THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OF METRO AND BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY!
Saturday, July 12, 2014
DEAR METRO: RIDERS NEED DRINKING FOUNTAINS AS WELL AS TOILETS
Sitting at the Delmar Metrolink the other day, in the hot sun, was a woman waiting for a bus that runs every 40 minutes. She was 60ish, African-American, in somewhat fragile health, and on that day, dry as dust.
"Why don't they have a drinking fountain?" she asked. "All this money we pay, and we can't get a drinking fountain." She didn't have even a quarter to buy water from one of the local restaurants.
"We need bathrooms, too," I commented.
"Yes, but right now, I am so dry, I couldn't even go to the bathroom," she said. "I need a drink of water!"
The need for bathrooms has already been well documented on this blog.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/metro-bus-and-train-stations-need-more.html
But we need drinking fountains, too. Riding your buses is thirsty work. There is rarely enough shade at bus stops and terminals, and often there is no shade. Too often there are no places nearby where a person can get a drink of water for free. If you want water you will need to pay at least a quarter to get a cup from a fountain machine, or buy a plastic bottle of water. Of course, that is the same as needing the toilet. You have to buy something at most places.
If I were driving a car for an hour and a half on the highways, there would be ample rest stops where I could get water and go to the bathroom. But during my daily three hour trip on the buses (90 minutes one way, on three bus lines each way, with at least a 20 minute wait between one of those transfers) there is no consideration for my most basic needs.
It's the 21st Century and we can send a man to outer space, but we don't have public facilities in our earthbound cities. Legislators, lawmakers, and the media argue endlessly over when life begins in a woman's uterus. Corporations are ruled to be "persons".
But the one thing that all people have in common (except for corporate "persons") is a bladder and bowels. One thing we all need to survive is water.
Our city and nation, our entire planet, is ruled by shareholders and executives seeking profits for themselves. They don't care about us, and they never have. We are cash cows to be milked for labor and then again for taxes.
We, the people, pay for everything but get very little in return.
Maybe when we are all thirsty and incontinent enough, we will begin to demand our fair share.
Let's start with public toilets and drinking fountains at St. Louis Metro transfer centers, and go from there.
"Why don't they have a drinking fountain?" she asked. "All this money we pay, and we can't get a drinking fountain." She didn't have even a quarter to buy water from one of the local restaurants.
"We need bathrooms, too," I commented.
"Yes, but right now, I am so dry, I couldn't even go to the bathroom," she said. "I need a drink of water!"
The need for bathrooms has already been well documented on this blog.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/metro-bus-and-train-stations-need-more.html
But we need drinking fountains, too. Riding your buses is thirsty work. There is rarely enough shade at bus stops and terminals, and often there is no shade. Too often there are no places nearby where a person can get a drink of water for free. If you want water you will need to pay at least a quarter to get a cup from a fountain machine, or buy a plastic bottle of water. Of course, that is the same as needing the toilet. You have to buy something at most places.
If I were driving a car for an hour and a half on the highways, there would be ample rest stops where I could get water and go to the bathroom. But during my daily three hour trip on the buses (90 minutes one way, on three bus lines each way, with at least a 20 minute wait between one of those transfers) there is no consideration for my most basic needs.
It's the 21st Century and we can send a man to outer space, but we don't have public facilities in our earthbound cities. Legislators, lawmakers, and the media argue endlessly over when life begins in a woman's uterus. Corporations are ruled to be "persons".
But the one thing that all people have in common (except for corporate "persons") is a bladder and bowels. One thing we all need to survive is water.
Our city and nation, our entire planet, is ruled by shareholders and executives seeking profits for themselves. They don't care about us, and they never have. We are cash cows to be milked for labor and then again for taxes.
We, the people, pay for everything but get very little in return.
Maybe when we are all thirsty and incontinent enough, we will begin to demand our fair share.
Let's start with public toilets and drinking fountains at St. Louis Metro transfer centers, and go from there.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
METRO TO SENIORS: TAKE WHAT YOU CAN GET
It's not much, but you can at least get a little discount.
It's a hike to Affton.
http://fox2now.com/2014/07/10/metro-reduces-fares-for-seniors/
Metro has a page on it, but I can't get their site to load.
http://www.nextstopstl.org/12247/senior-sign-up-events-at-schnucks/
You can go their site and it is the first story featured:
http://www.metrostlouis.org/Default.aspx
I really wish it were required the executives use public transit at least one week a month for all their
travel needs. They need to be out with us, experiencing what it is like, and engaging us in surveys and discussion.
It's a hike to Affton.
http://fox2now.com/2014/07/10/metro-reduces-fares-for-seniors/
Metro has a page on it, but I can't get their site to load.
http://www.nextstopstl.org/12247/senior-sign-up-events-at-schnucks/
You can go their site and it is the first story featured:
http://www.metrostlouis.org/Default.aspx
I really wish it were required the executives use public transit at least one week a month for all their
travel needs. They need to be out with us, experiencing what it is like, and engaging us in surveys and discussion.
MORE ON AMENDMENT 7: HIGHWAY ROBBERY BENEFITS ONLY THE CONCRETE AND CONSTRUCTION "CARTELS"
OPTINSTL'S previous post about Amendment 7:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-no-on-amendment-7-proposed.html
The St. Louis Post Dispatch and their St. Louis Today website have been running some really good opinion pieces and articles on the proposed increased sales tax.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-modot-s-list-of-shiny-objects-can-t-obscure/article_20186cfd-9edc-5782-bb59-8b4d54dd2f9b.html
Both terms in this post's title, "Highway Robbery" and "Concrete Cartels", come from this brilliant and well-written Op-Ed:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/stop-missouri-s-highway-robbery/article_68a94d5c-22e8-5af5-b854-a1e0ea14d1b7.html
And this one is great on who is paying for the "pro" Amendment 7 campaign:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/kevin-mcdermott/transportation-interests-donated-k-to-key-sales-tax-proponent/article_f41d8c5e-cdbc-584d-820f-ea9e7ec2ffce.html
Many people have written in that what we need to do is increase gasoline tax-- ours is the lowest in the nation! Let the trucking companies that use the highways the most pay for the roads!
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/no-to-raising-missouri-s-transportation-sales-tax/article_ce043f0d-546f-54f9-a27c-d2a3aeb318bc.html
This is great opinion letter, from a transit rider:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/public-transit-rider-can-t-support-higher-sales-tax/article_87bf77c3-6966-51dc-ab2f-acdd03f577f1.html
And this great piece really spells out the ridiculousness of the few transit related items on the City's wishlist.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/slay-gives-city-residents-reason-to-oppose-transportation-tax/article_b4674df1-ea0f-5eaa-b18a-ee691fc711ef.html
On the project list biking and pedestrian paths are considered "public transit". So you might see a lot of X marks in the transit column but read the descriptions carefully. The few that actually deal with bus, trains and streetcars are nothing more than government subsidies to private developers, such as the Loop Trolley, McKee's Northside "Redevelopment" and a Lindell street car that runs parallel to the Metrolink!
https://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/documents/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=402539
MO DOT has released their final "wishlist" draft, but it isn't readily available to the public, which is just OUTRAGEOUS. We are being asked to pay for something, but don't get to see the details? A reporter from Associated Press had to file a Sunshine Act request to get the project, and even then, he only reports on what is in it, we do not get to see the actual list.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/missouri-updates-project-list-for-transportation-tax/article_a5dfaf8f-496c-5e1e-9959-a05bd4466c6a.html
And even if we did see the wishlist, that is all it is. Once they get the money they will do whatever they want with it. Let's not forget April 2010's Prop A. It was going to "save" Metro. And look what they have done with it. Nothing. They get the 11 million a year from the city for the Metrolink, but County Executive Charlie Dooley controls the purse strings on the $78 million the county collects. And even if he is does allot some to Metro, they are still insolvent!
SAY NO TO HIGHWAY ROBBERY!!!!
MORE ON AMENDMENT 7:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/transportation-tax-is-the-wrong-means-to-the-wrong-ends/article_8013b86e-ced2-5e7a-980b-520559989dec.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/increase-the-gasoline-tax-to-pay-for-publicly-maintained-roads/article_05cce727-f345-53d6-8481-84c8f87d6dcb.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/nixon-opposes-missouri-transportation-sales-tax/article_c1ced8f4-3ee6-55db-b05f-269c0ac54195.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-no-on-amendment-7-proposed.html
The St. Louis Post Dispatch and their St. Louis Today website have been running some really good opinion pieces and articles on the proposed increased sales tax.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-modot-s-list-of-shiny-objects-can-t-obscure/article_20186cfd-9edc-5782-bb59-8b4d54dd2f9b.html
Both terms in this post's title, "Highway Robbery" and "Concrete Cartels", come from this brilliant and well-written Op-Ed:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/stop-missouri-s-highway-robbery/article_68a94d5c-22e8-5af5-b854-a1e0ea14d1b7.html
And this one is great on who is paying for the "pro" Amendment 7 campaign:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/kevin-mcdermott/transportation-interests-donated-k-to-key-sales-tax-proponent/article_f41d8c5e-cdbc-584d-820f-ea9e7ec2ffce.html
Many people have written in that what we need to do is increase gasoline tax-- ours is the lowest in the nation! Let the trucking companies that use the highways the most pay for the roads!
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/no-to-raising-missouri-s-transportation-sales-tax/article_ce043f0d-546f-54f9-a27c-d2a3aeb318bc.html
This is great opinion letter, from a transit rider:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/public-transit-rider-can-t-support-higher-sales-tax/article_87bf77c3-6966-51dc-ab2f-acdd03f577f1.html
And this great piece really spells out the ridiculousness of the few transit related items on the City's wishlist.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/slay-gives-city-residents-reason-to-oppose-transportation-tax/article_b4674df1-ea0f-5eaa-b18a-ee691fc711ef.html
On the project list biking and pedestrian paths are considered "public transit". So you might see a lot of X marks in the transit column but read the descriptions carefully. The few that actually deal with bus, trains and streetcars are nothing more than government subsidies to private developers, such as the Loop Trolley, McKee's Northside "Redevelopment" and a Lindell street car that runs parallel to the Metrolink!
https://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/documents/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=402539
MO DOT has released their final "wishlist" draft, but it isn't readily available to the public, which is just OUTRAGEOUS. We are being asked to pay for something, but don't get to see the details? A reporter from Associated Press had to file a Sunshine Act request to get the project, and even then, he only reports on what is in it, we do not get to see the actual list.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/missouri-updates-project-list-for-transportation-tax/article_a5dfaf8f-496c-5e1e-9959-a05bd4466c6a.html
And even if we did see the wishlist, that is all it is. Once they get the money they will do whatever they want with it. Let's not forget April 2010's Prop A. It was going to "save" Metro. And look what they have done with it. Nothing. They get the 11 million a year from the city for the Metrolink, but County Executive Charlie Dooley controls the purse strings on the $78 million the county collects. And even if he is does allot some to Metro, they are still insolvent!
SAY NO TO HIGHWAY ROBBERY!!!!
MORE ON AMENDMENT 7:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/transportation-tax-is-the-wrong-means-to-the-wrong-ends/article_8013b86e-ced2-5e7a-980b-520559989dec.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/increase-the-gasoline-tax-to-pay-for-publicly-maintained-roads/article_05cce727-f345-53d6-8481-84c8f87d6dcb.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/nixon-opposes-missouri-transportation-sales-tax/article_c1ced8f4-3ee6-55db-b05f-269c0ac54195.html
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!
Friday, May 23, 2014
STRIKE CITYWIDE JULY 1ST!
Metro is raising Metrolink fares and transit pass prices on July 1st.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/208cc625-9915-521c-be77-2323ae485680.html
Strike citywide, don't ride the bus or train on July 1st!
We need national media attention. The public is not a cash cow for a transit agency that spends $5 million dollars on "contributions to outside entities" (CEO John Nations grooming is political career, once his $250,000 a year "sentence" at Metro is over.)
Public transit should not be about "business development." It should be about serving the public.
Keep the phone campaign going! Call everytime you ride! Demand they not raise fares, and demand accountability!
Print and share the Jam The Phone Lines leaflet:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/jam-phone-lines-leaflet-for-use-and-to.html
Keep checking back! I've been "occupied" with other matters, but will be back in blogging action next week!
OCCUPY METRO!!!!!!!!!!
ON JULY 1ST- STRIKE CITYWIDE! DON'T RIDE!!!!
http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/208cc625-9915-521c-be77-2323ae485680.html
Strike citywide, don't ride the bus or train on July 1st!
We need national media attention. The public is not a cash cow for a transit agency that spends $5 million dollars on "contributions to outside entities" (CEO John Nations grooming is political career, once his $250,000 a year "sentence" at Metro is over.)
Public transit should not be about "business development." It should be about serving the public.
Keep the phone campaign going! Call everytime you ride! Demand they not raise fares, and demand accountability!
Print and share the Jam The Phone Lines leaflet:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/jam-phone-lines-leaflet-for-use-and-to.html
Keep checking back! I've been "occupied" with other matters, but will be back in blogging action next week!
OCCUPY METRO!!!!!!!!!!
ON JULY 1ST- STRIKE CITYWIDE! DON'T RIDE!!!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
THE INDUSTRY STANDARD SHOULD BE SAFETY FIRST
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/investigation-continues-into-fatal-accident-at-umsl-metrolink-crossing/article_9743980d-0a35-5e2b-93ea-afa672301c66.html
From the above article, a Metro spokesperson commenting on the crosswalk where the woman died:
There is no signal or gate at the crossing, or at any of Metro’s other pedestrian crossings.
“Per the industry standard, we only have signals at street grade crossings,” Beck said. “If we had gates at pedestrian access crossings, people would just walk around them.”
I especially love the editorial on "people would just walk around them." Really? Are you sure? Maybe SOME people would. Maybe the girl that died would have waited for the signal or gate. But you don't know, do you? That's just your low opinion of your rider's, right out there in the open.
There is a pretty serious lack of commitment to safety on the part of Metro. The lack of coordination with street services on sidewalk and street maintenance near bus stops is obvious. But the Metrolink has a lot of problems, not just at the crossings.
The Maplewood Metrolink is one of the most badly designed and unsafe stations I have ever seen. There is no crosswalk at the street, to the bus stop. The eastbound buses have to make a right turn out of the station and go down a Manchester a quarter mile, turn around, and come back up, because there were too many problems with oncoming traffic.
There is a naturally occurring blindspot for eastbound traffic at the curve in Manchester just before the Metrolink station.
That's just one of the most obvious examples. You see, the people that do the planning and development and construction don't ride the train and buses. They don't build the stations with an organic understanding of the flow of rider foot traffic.
It looks okay, and it follows the "industry standard". They collect their paychecks and go home in their cars. If there is a problem, it is never found until everything is built. Like the traffic accidents that plagued the Maplewood station before Metro re-routed the buses to make right turns out of the bus depot.
Their should be more safety at rail crossings. And there should be more safety from the rider's point of view built in to new structures.
Two people have died at this crossing. What is it going to take Metro?
EDIT: There is no story or news link posted about the fatality on Metro's website.
From the above article, a Metro spokesperson commenting on the crosswalk where the woman died:
There is no signal or gate at the crossing, or at any of Metro’s other pedestrian crossings.
“Per the industry standard, we only have signals at street grade crossings,” Beck said. “If we had gates at pedestrian access crossings, people would just walk around them.”
I especially love the editorial on "people would just walk around them." Really? Are you sure? Maybe SOME people would. Maybe the girl that died would have waited for the signal or gate. But you don't know, do you? That's just your low opinion of your rider's, right out there in the open.
There is a pretty serious lack of commitment to safety on the part of Metro. The lack of coordination with street services on sidewalk and street maintenance near bus stops is obvious. But the Metrolink has a lot of problems, not just at the crossings.
The Maplewood Metrolink is one of the most badly designed and unsafe stations I have ever seen. There is no crosswalk at the street, to the bus stop. The eastbound buses have to make a right turn out of the station and go down a Manchester a quarter mile, turn around, and come back up, because there were too many problems with oncoming traffic.
There is a naturally occurring blindspot for eastbound traffic at the curve in Manchester just before the Metrolink station.
That's just one of the most obvious examples. You see, the people that do the planning and development and construction don't ride the train and buses. They don't build the stations with an organic understanding of the flow of rider foot traffic.
It looks okay, and it follows the "industry standard". They collect their paychecks and go home in their cars. If there is a problem, it is never found until everything is built. Like the traffic accidents that plagued the Maplewood station before Metro re-routed the buses to make right turns out of the bus depot.
Their should be more safety at rail crossings. And there should be more safety from the rider's point of view built in to new structures.
Two people have died at this crossing. What is it going to take Metro?
EDIT: There is no story or news link posted about the fatality on Metro's website.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
METRO DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRASH CANS, OR MAYBE IT IS AN EXCUSE TO REMOVE BUS STOPS
Oh Metro is in the news again:
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Metro-might-eliminate-bus-stops-where-there-is-too-much-littering-257268111.html
There is a good chance that the trash issue is an excuse. There are a lot of trashy bus stops. Clayton does provide a decent amount of trash cans. Shrewsbury not so much, but still moreso than the other places these signs are posted.
But they are mostly on the north side. News crews only venture north of the "Delmar Divide" for violent crimes and fires and theft.
So this being newsworthy is really only that someone at K-MOV (called the "Evening Whirl" of newscasters by a friend of OPTINSTL's) noticed the signs.
Or maybe they want a good excuse to move these bus stops for another reason? I would have to actually go to that Clayton location to be certain, but Google Earth confirms this is pricey area. It's a stop for the "Gold Line", the #1, a Washington University subsidized bus line.
It's been awhile since I've been on the #1, but I suspect it is still a "maid and busboy" route. That particular bus stop might mostly be maids and busboys, students being more likely to use the Metrolink.
It's probably not just the litter they want out of the area. It is very vulgar to have one's maid standing out on the street for 30 minutes after her shift, waiting for the bus. And why should Clayton have to provide a maid with a trash can while she waits for her "proletarian limousine"?
That area in Shrewsbury is really just across the highway from Webster Groves' Old Orchard shopping center. The #46- a bus line I don't recall ever having ridden- looks like a connection for employees of St. Anthony's Medical center from the Shrewsbury Metrolink.
A trash can placed there would serve only the bus stop patrons, and no one cares about us. It's not really about trash, it's about whose trash it is. A public transit rider represents only 22% of the revenue of Metro. We don't pay for cars or car insurance or gas or vehicle property taxes.
We are only considered worthy of cleaning up other people's trash.
Metro doesn't even consider putting up bus schedules on bus stops, I actually left the trash can and light off the idea and design in this post:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-should-be-metros-new-bus-stop-plan.html
And actually I think trashcans and lighting are the city and towns responsibility. Street services in every community should be full partners in providing great public transportation. And the necessary maintenance and facilities required to make riding transit a wonderful--instead of dismal-- experience.
If Metro were truly a public transit agency, gathering meaningful statistics about the transit needs of its' riders, working to develop strong community support with neighborhood liaisons, we would have trash cans at every bus stop. (They are too busy juggling all their "IOU's".)
Metro doesn't have any control over where bus stops are placed, and they do not think it is important to put trash cans near their bus stops.
Now, if the executives of Metro were required to use public transportation, they would understand why the bus stops in certain areas have a lot of trash around them. The city and counties are also woefully negligent on the need for more trash cans. Especially in low income areas.
But no one with any power is ever on the streets in poor neighborhoods. Or they would see lots of "trashy" bus stops. I have eaten my daily meals at many bus stops. If it takes two or three hours to get somewhere, and then work, and then two or three hours home (and sometimes even just a one hour ride), yes you are going to eat and drink at the bus stop.
A lot of people in this city litter. It would be nice if everyone carried their trash around with them, too. But I don't think the city should expect that, and further, it would be nice if they took the lead on this issue.
A trash can says "it is important to us that you do not litter." If there are waste cans at these stops and they aren't being used, that is another issue. But even without travelling to these stops first hand, it seems pretty likely there aren't any provided.
Once again, Public Transit Rider, Metro has left you with their waste.
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Metro-might-eliminate-bus-stops-where-there-is-too-much-littering-257268111.html
There is a good chance that the trash issue is an excuse. There are a lot of trashy bus stops. Clayton does provide a decent amount of trash cans. Shrewsbury not so much, but still moreso than the other places these signs are posted.
But they are mostly on the north side. News crews only venture north of the "Delmar Divide" for violent crimes and fires and theft.
So this being newsworthy is really only that someone at K-MOV (called the "Evening Whirl" of newscasters by a friend of OPTINSTL's) noticed the signs.
Or maybe they want a good excuse to move these bus stops for another reason? I would have to actually go to that Clayton location to be certain, but Google Earth confirms this is pricey area. It's a stop for the "Gold Line", the #1, a Washington University subsidized bus line.
It's been awhile since I've been on the #1, but I suspect it is still a "maid and busboy" route. That particular bus stop might mostly be maids and busboys, students being more likely to use the Metrolink.
It's probably not just the litter they want out of the area. It is very vulgar to have one's maid standing out on the street for 30 minutes after her shift, waiting for the bus. And why should Clayton have to provide a maid with a trash can while she waits for her "proletarian limousine"?
That area in Shrewsbury is really just across the highway from Webster Groves' Old Orchard shopping center. The #46- a bus line I don't recall ever having ridden- looks like a connection for employees of St. Anthony's Medical center from the Shrewsbury Metrolink.
A trash can placed there would serve only the bus stop patrons, and no one cares about us. It's not really about trash, it's about whose trash it is. A public transit rider represents only 22% of the revenue of Metro. We don't pay for cars or car insurance or gas or vehicle property taxes.
We are only considered worthy of cleaning up other people's trash.
Metro doesn't even consider putting up bus schedules on bus stops, I actually left the trash can and light off the idea and design in this post:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-should-be-metros-new-bus-stop-plan.html
And actually I think trashcans and lighting are the city and towns responsibility. Street services in every community should be full partners in providing great public transportation. And the necessary maintenance and facilities required to make riding transit a wonderful--instead of dismal-- experience.
If Metro were truly a public transit agency, gathering meaningful statistics about the transit needs of its' riders, working to develop strong community support with neighborhood liaisons, we would have trash cans at every bus stop. (They are too busy juggling all their "IOU's".)
Metro doesn't have any control over where bus stops are placed, and they do not think it is important to put trash cans near their bus stops.
Now, if the executives of Metro were required to use public transportation, they would understand why the bus stops in certain areas have a lot of trash around them. The city and counties are also woefully negligent on the need for more trash cans. Especially in low income areas.
But no one with any power is ever on the streets in poor neighborhoods. Or they would see lots of "trashy" bus stops. I have eaten my daily meals at many bus stops. If it takes two or three hours to get somewhere, and then work, and then two or three hours home (and sometimes even just a one hour ride), yes you are going to eat and drink at the bus stop.
A lot of people in this city litter. It would be nice if everyone carried their trash around with them, too. But I don't think the city should expect that, and further, it would be nice if they took the lead on this issue.
A trash can says "it is important to us that you do not litter." If there are waste cans at these stops and they aren't being used, that is another issue. But even without travelling to these stops first hand, it seems pretty likely there aren't any provided.
Once again, Public Transit Rider, Metro has left you with their waste.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC TOILETS
Metro is a "doing business as" (dba) of Bi-State Development Agency.
Bi-State Development Agency was formed in 1949 for the purpose of "making the region more attractive to business".
What was their first job? CREATING THE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT. Which is now a separate entity.
Bi-State did not even get into Public Transit until the 1960's, when they bought 15 failing private bus lines.
According to Wikipedia:
In addition, Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport (formerly Parks) and the adjoining industrial business park, paddlewheel-style river excursion boats, the tram system leading to the top of the Gateway Arch, and the Arch's parking garage.
...
The agency was created on September 20, 1949 through a compact between Missouri and Illinois and ratified by the United States Congress. Metro's broad powers enable it to cross local, county, and state boundaries to plan, construct, maintain, own, and operate specific facilities in its effort to enhance the quality of life in the region. Its service area encompasses 200 municipalities. The agency continued to operate streetcars from the St. Louis Public Service Company in St. Louis until May 1966 with the discontinuation of the Hodiamont line.[4] First public support of transit came to the region in 1974. Buses continued to dominate Metro's fleet until a feasibility study in the late 80's suggested the construction of a light rail line from Lambert St. Louis International Airport to 5th and Missouri in East St. Louis via an abandoned segment of railway; that included abandoned tunnels under downtown St. Louis and the then disused Eads Bridge lower deck railway.
Metro's own Comprehensive Annual reports show that the only thing that DOESN'T operate at a loss in the Arch Trams and the parking garage!
Without the public transit they are a tiny little agency, operating on less than $5 million a year. It's the public transit that brings in the 160 million of taxpayer money. It's Metro that allows people like John Nations to get a quarter of a million a year salary and the "grooming" for a senate seat.
When Metro (Bi-State Development Agency d.b.a.) says that they are "not in the business of supplying public toilet facilities" they are lying. They are in the business of whatever they want to be, as long as they can justify it fitting in with "making the region more attractive to talented young professionals".
Business owners benefit from increased public toilet facilities, too. For example, one of my favorite restaurants is The Kitchen Sink (TKS). They started out next to the Debalivere Metrolink. They moved to Union Blvd. last fall because the owner was tired of people coming in to use the restroom, and also peeing on the side of the building and in his entryway when the restaurant was closed.
Yesterday-- even though I don't drink an hour before I leave for the bus, and often go 5 hours without using a toilet when riding the bus and Metrolink- I found myself needing a bathroom at the Delmar Metrolink. Every business I approached had a sign stating "NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS."
If you own a business near a bus or Metrolink stop, you should call Metro and demand they get in the business of providing toilets.
Metro's money comes solely from public money. We should have the right to determine how they spend it.
There is a legal basis for their responsibility to provide toilets. Hold them accountable for this!
JAM THE PHONE LINES! CALL EVERYTIME YOU RIDE! DEMAND THAT THEY INSTALL TOILET FACILITIES!
From Metro's Website:
In existence for more than 60 years, Metro Transit is one of the nation's oldest interstate agencies. However, it hasn't always been known as Metro Transit.
It was established as the Bi-State Development Agency (BSDA) in 1949 through an interstate compact between Missouri and Illinois, ratified by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Harry S. Truman. (The BSDA adopted the name Metro in 2003.) The BSDA was created to serve the region on both sides of the Mississippi - to have a regional outlook not tied to any one municipality, county or state. As such, it was given broad powers that enable it to cross local, county and state boundaries to enhance the development of the region.
Although the Agency is now best known for its transit system, it would be 14 years - in 1963 - before it operated a public transit vehicle. In fact, during its first year of operation, the BSDA:
Bi-State Development Agency was formed in 1949 for the purpose of "making the region more attractive to business".
What was their first job? CREATING THE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT. Which is now a separate entity.
Bi-State did not even get into Public Transit until the 1960's, when they bought 15 failing private bus lines.
According to Wikipedia:
In addition, Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport (formerly Parks) and the adjoining industrial business park, paddlewheel-style river excursion boats, the tram system leading to the top of the Gateway Arch, and the Arch's parking garage.
...
The agency was created on September 20, 1949 through a compact between Missouri and Illinois and ratified by the United States Congress. Metro's broad powers enable it to cross local, county, and state boundaries to plan, construct, maintain, own, and operate specific facilities in its effort to enhance the quality of life in the region. Its service area encompasses 200 municipalities. The agency continued to operate streetcars from the St. Louis Public Service Company in St. Louis until May 1966 with the discontinuation of the Hodiamont line.[4] First public support of transit came to the region in 1974. Buses continued to dominate Metro's fleet until a feasibility study in the late 80's suggested the construction of a light rail line from Lambert St. Louis International Airport to 5th and Missouri in East St. Louis via an abandoned segment of railway; that included abandoned tunnels under downtown St. Louis and the then disused Eads Bridge lower deck railway.
Metro's own Comprehensive Annual reports show that the only thing that DOESN'T operate at a loss in the Arch Trams and the parking garage!
Without the public transit they are a tiny little agency, operating on less than $5 million a year. It's the public transit that brings in the 160 million of taxpayer money. It's Metro that allows people like John Nations to get a quarter of a million a year salary and the "grooming" for a senate seat.
When Metro (Bi-State Development Agency d.b.a.) says that they are "not in the business of supplying public toilet facilities" they are lying. They are in the business of whatever they want to be, as long as they can justify it fitting in with "making the region more attractive to talented young professionals".
Business owners benefit from increased public toilet facilities, too. For example, one of my favorite restaurants is The Kitchen Sink (TKS). They started out next to the Debalivere Metrolink. They moved to Union Blvd. last fall because the owner was tired of people coming in to use the restroom, and also peeing on the side of the building and in his entryway when the restaurant was closed.
Yesterday-- even though I don't drink an hour before I leave for the bus, and often go 5 hours without using a toilet when riding the bus and Metrolink- I found myself needing a bathroom at the Delmar Metrolink. Every business I approached had a sign stating "NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS."
If you own a business near a bus or Metrolink stop, you should call Metro and demand they get in the business of providing toilets.
Metro's money comes solely from public money. We should have the right to determine how they spend it.
There is a legal basis for their responsibility to provide toilets. Hold them accountable for this!
JAM THE PHONE LINES! CALL EVERYTIME YOU RIDE! DEMAND THAT THEY INSTALL TOILET FACILITIES!
From Metro's Website:
History
In the beginning...In existence for more than 60 years, Metro Transit is one of the nation's oldest interstate agencies. However, it hasn't always been known as Metro Transit.
It was established as the Bi-State Development Agency (BSDA) in 1949 through an interstate compact between Missouri and Illinois, ratified by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Harry S. Truman. (The BSDA adopted the name Metro in 2003.) The BSDA was created to serve the region on both sides of the Mississippi - to have a regional outlook not tied to any one municipality, county or state. As such, it was given broad powers that enable it to cross local, county and state boundaries to enhance the development of the region.
Although the Agency is now best known for its transit system, it would be 14 years - in 1963 - before it operated a public transit vehicle. In fact, during its first year of operation, the BSDA:
- Commissioned a comprehensive plan for development of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District, outlining the major needs of the area and recommending solutions.
- Sponsored a study of the pollution in the Mississippi River in the St. Louis area. This led to a successful program where local industries voluntarily agreed to treat wastes in order to reduce pollution.
- Completed a study of the sewer problems of St. Louis County, which led to the establishment of the Metropolitan Sewer District.
- Sponsored an area-wide survey of highways and expressways in Missouri and Illinois - one of the first instances of coordinated interstate highway planning.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
CITIZENS FOR MODERN TRANSIT: MORE RICH PEOPLE THAT DON'T RIDE THE BUS
I found out about these people today, from this post: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/metro-optinstl-is-driven-by-you.html
The Citizens for Modern Transit. That this organization even exists is an insult to public transit riders.
They don't seem to do ANY outreach to areas that rely on public transit the most. Looking at their "About" section they seem like the suburban "park and ride the Metrolink to Cardinals game" crowd.
The fact that they are behind the ridiculous proposal of adding another $9 million stop between the CWE and Grand for a new "business development" (for the corporation Cortex), pretty much makes them useless to those of us that have to ride the bus.
However, OPTINSTL recommends taking their "surveys". The people that designed their surveys are huffing glue! They ask you a question about how many bikes and scooters and cars you own, with no choice for NONE, AFTER they have already asked you this, and you have to choose 1,2, or 3 cars or scooters, or something, to move to the next page of the survey. Clearly they do not have the non-car household in mind at all!
Feel free to abuse them by checking "Other" and writing "you idiots I told you I don't have a car". Later, when the survey won't let you move on without answering what options your employer offers, remind them of how you checked "unemployed" two answers back (also by checking "other".)
THIS IS THEIR SURVEY: http://cmt-stl.org/programs/cmt-surveys/
Add them to JAM THE PHONES LINES when you are tired of calling Metro and Mayor Slay and Metro East West Gateway Council of Governments and the County Executive's office!
Citizens For Modern Transit:
Making Transit a Priority for the Region
911 Washington, Ste. 200
St. Louis, MO 63101
314.231.7272
(Making Transit a priority????? FOR WHOM???)
Call them and ask them what they are doing to get a train to the parts of the city that use public transit the most.
Ask them why their survey is only designed for people that drive? Ask them what they are doing to really "move transit forward"?
Ask them how often THEY ride public transit, and how long their trip is? Then suggest they adopt the OPTINSTL survey to REALLY gather MEANINGFUL STATISTICS instead of crap about the park and ride crowd that owns cars.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html
Look at this junk statistic they throw around on their website:
Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased business sales, and every $10 million in operating investment in public transportation yields $32 million in increased business sales.
Translation: Your money becomes profit for businessmen and developers.
Please, Public Transit rider, FLOOD THEM WITH FEEDBACK!
PUBLIC TRANSIT SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE PEOPLE THAT RELY ON IT THE MOST!!!
OCCUPY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN ST. LOUIS!
The Citizens for Modern Transit. That this organization even exists is an insult to public transit riders.
They don't seem to do ANY outreach to areas that rely on public transit the most. Looking at their "About" section they seem like the suburban "park and ride the Metrolink to Cardinals game" crowd.
The fact that they are behind the ridiculous proposal of adding another $9 million stop between the CWE and Grand for a new "business development" (for the corporation Cortex), pretty much makes them useless to those of us that have to ride the bus.
However, OPTINSTL recommends taking their "surveys". The people that designed their surveys are huffing glue! They ask you a question about how many bikes and scooters and cars you own, with no choice for NONE, AFTER they have already asked you this, and you have to choose 1,2, or 3 cars or scooters, or something, to move to the next page of the survey. Clearly they do not have the non-car household in mind at all!
Feel free to abuse them by checking "Other" and writing "you idiots I told you I don't have a car". Later, when the survey won't let you move on without answering what options your employer offers, remind them of how you checked "unemployed" two answers back (also by checking "other".)
THIS IS THEIR SURVEY: http://cmt-stl.org/programs/cmt-surveys/
Add them to JAM THE PHONES LINES when you are tired of calling Metro and Mayor Slay and Metro East West Gateway Council of Governments and the County Executive's office!
Citizens For Modern Transit:
Making Transit a Priority for the Region
911 Washington, Ste. 200
St. Louis, MO 63101
314.231.7272
(Making Transit a priority????? FOR WHOM???)
Call them and ask them what they are doing to get a train to the parts of the city that use public transit the most.
Ask them why their survey is only designed for people that drive? Ask them what they are doing to really "move transit forward"?
Ask them how often THEY ride public transit, and how long their trip is? Then suggest they adopt the OPTINSTL survey to REALLY gather MEANINGFUL STATISTICS instead of crap about the park and ride crowd that owns cars.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html
Look at this junk statistic they throw around on their website:
Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased business sales, and every $10 million in operating investment in public transportation yields $32 million in increased business sales.
Translation: Your money becomes profit for businessmen and developers.
Please, Public Transit rider, FLOOD THEM WITH FEEDBACK!
PUBLIC TRANSIT SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE PEOPLE THAT RELY ON IT THE MOST!!!
OCCUPY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN ST. LOUIS!
METRO, OPTINSTL IS DRIVEN BY YOU
Metro, you not only drive me (verrrryyyy slowwlllly) where I am going, you also drove me to activism.
Just when I think you can't be anymore ridiculous, you prove me wrong.
Today, on my transfer from the #16 at the Delmar Metrolink, as I ran around for twenty minutes trying to find a bathroom before I peed my pants (the hot dog place is gone, and the library doesn't have bathrooms, and the restaurants only have them for customers) I picked up a West End Word.
Imagine my delight at finding an article about a new $9 million station at Sarah street, that includes a bike rack and other "amenities". (What amenities??? Despite the fact the most humans possess bladders, the news also does not consider toilets worthy of reporting. Metro claims they have "amenities" at every station- but since they don't have toilets at most Metrolink and Metro bus centers, we have to assume they mean something else. Like ticket machines, and security, and signs, and bike racks, or something.)
Of course, Metro, me and all the other real public transit riders know what this proposed new station is really about. This is about Cortex getting to put its name on a piece of real estate under the guise of "job creation" because it is "key to achieving the company's goals."
This is about Cortex, not YOU public transit rider!
Dennis Lower, president and CEO of Cortex, said the proposed station is key to achieving the company's goals of being an international standard for innovation communities."
Cortex has its sights set on the creation of a sustainable, walkable twenty-four/seven community and becoming a center for job creation," he said. "Our redevelopment plan includes work spaces, residential development, retail establishments and evening destinations. The development will attract international businesses with expectations of reliable and convenient public transportation. The MetroLink stop will serve the Cortex workforce and will be viewed as a regional connector."
http://www.westendword.com/Articles-Area-News-c-2014-04-08-192011.114137-9-Million-Price-Tag-On-Proposed-MetroLink-Station-For-Midtown.html
Metro, Mr. Lower, and the rest of you lot, we need a metrolink or two in north city and county. We need toilets at every facility. We need real jobs and real community development, not something that taxpayers fund for private companies to put their name on and claim credit for. We do not want our $1 of funds to make Cortex $4 richer.
(Metro claims that every a dollar a "community" puts towards public transit "the community" gets $4 in return from Metro's government funding. Pretty vague statistics meant to disguise what is really going on.)
Yes, Mr. Lower, we know that Metro CEO John Nations can expect a nice fat campaign contribution to his political career when he dumps Metro (he likes to tell his employees that he is only doing this for a few years to get his political career lined up-- of course, the private car and $250,000 a year salary don't hurt him either).
Mr. Lower, your company is named for part of the human brain, but you aren't very smart. There is nowhere "greener" than a community without cars. And you know there are a lot of places that need housing and retail and work spaces in this city. But you aren't really planning on doing anything new or innovative, are you?
And seriously-- 800 boardings a day-- and almost 20 years to add 1000 more? Pathetic.
And when you say "job creation" I wonder if you really mean minimum wage jobs in retail and restaurants, that workers will ride the bus two or three hours to get to? With a big huge corporate Cortex logo on the building. And "international businesses" setting up shop. (Nice doublespeak for "multinational corporation".)
Yeah. We get it.
Mr. Lower, you seem like another crap human being. Sorry. Your big cortex and you can't do anything more than figure out a way to spend $9 million dollars ripping out the current CWE station, moving it a few blocks, rebranding it with the Cortex logo, and building up another "development" that may or may not catch on, and may or may not include local companies, and may or may not have anything to offer anyone but yourselves and few already rich developers and politicians?
Just so that it is easy for your white collar workers to park and ride the Metrolink and bring their bicycles? Wow.
I mean that is JUST what St. Louis needs right now-- ANOTHER METRO STATION in between Grand and CWE. You know, if the parts of the city that relied on public transit the most had a train, and there were bathrooms, and programs for low income to get discount passes, and "feasibility studies" weren't based on 80 participants, a big bioscience center, and greedy businessmen, but instead on transit riders needs-- yeah, great go forth with your little plan!
But there are lots of other very obvious CEREBRAL INNOVATIONS this city needs, and I guess you geniuses won't be the ones to provide them!
Hey Metro executives, I forgot to charge my phone last night, or you would have heard from me A LOT today, but I am gonna call you EXTRA tomorrow! We have a lot to talk about.
Like how you say you don't have the $9 million, and you are going to the Federal Transit Authority. You don't deserve one dime of federal money (income taxes), state money (property and income taxes), or city money (sales taxes). You don't deserve our fares!
Tomorrow I am calling the FTA, too. I bet they know just what I can do to stop you.
Just when I think you can't be anymore ridiculous, you prove me wrong.
Today, on my transfer from the #16 at the Delmar Metrolink, as I ran around for twenty minutes trying to find a bathroom before I peed my pants (the hot dog place is gone, and the library doesn't have bathrooms, and the restaurants only have them for customers) I picked up a West End Word.
Imagine my delight at finding an article about a new $9 million station at Sarah street, that includes a bike rack and other "amenities". (What amenities??? Despite the fact the most humans possess bladders, the news also does not consider toilets worthy of reporting. Metro claims they have "amenities" at every station- but since they don't have toilets at most Metrolink and Metro bus centers, we have to assume they mean something else. Like ticket machines, and security, and signs, and bike racks, or something.)
Of course, Metro, me and all the other real public transit riders know what this proposed new station is really about. This is about Cortex getting to put its name on a piece of real estate under the guise of "job creation" because it is "key to achieving the company's goals."
This is about Cortex, not YOU public transit rider!
Dennis Lower, president and CEO of Cortex, said the proposed station is key to achieving the company's goals of being an international standard for innovation communities."
Cortex has its sights set on the creation of a sustainable, walkable twenty-four/seven community and becoming a center for job creation," he said. "Our redevelopment plan includes work spaces, residential development, retail establishments and evening destinations. The development will attract international businesses with expectations of reliable and convenient public transportation. The MetroLink stop will serve the Cortex workforce and will be viewed as a regional connector."
http://www.westendword.com/Articles-Area-News-c-2014-04-08-192011.114137-9-Million-Price-Tag-On-Proposed-MetroLink-Station-For-Midtown.html
Metro, Mr. Lower, and the rest of you lot, we need a metrolink or two in north city and county. We need toilets at every facility. We need real jobs and real community development, not something that taxpayers fund for private companies to put their name on and claim credit for. We do not want our $1 of funds to make Cortex $4 richer.
(Metro claims that every a dollar a "community" puts towards public transit "the community" gets $4 in return from Metro's government funding. Pretty vague statistics meant to disguise what is really going on.)
Yes, Mr. Lower, we know that Metro CEO John Nations can expect a nice fat campaign contribution to his political career when he dumps Metro (he likes to tell his employees that he is only doing this for a few years to get his political career lined up-- of course, the private car and $250,000 a year salary don't hurt him either).
Mr. Lower, your company is named for part of the human brain, but you aren't very smart. There is nowhere "greener" than a community without cars. And you know there are a lot of places that need housing and retail and work spaces in this city. But you aren't really planning on doing anything new or innovative, are you?
And seriously-- 800 boardings a day-- and almost 20 years to add 1000 more? Pathetic.
And when you say "job creation" I wonder if you really mean minimum wage jobs in retail and restaurants, that workers will ride the bus two or three hours to get to? With a big huge corporate Cortex logo on the building. And "international businesses" setting up shop. (Nice doublespeak for "multinational corporation".)
Yeah. We get it.
Mr. Lower, you seem like another crap human being. Sorry. Your big cortex and you can't do anything more than figure out a way to spend $9 million dollars ripping out the current CWE station, moving it a few blocks, rebranding it with the Cortex logo, and building up another "development" that may or may not catch on, and may or may not include local companies, and may or may not have anything to offer anyone but yourselves and few already rich developers and politicians?
Just so that it is easy for your white collar workers to park and ride the Metrolink and bring their bicycles? Wow.
I mean that is JUST what St. Louis needs right now-- ANOTHER METRO STATION in between Grand and CWE. You know, if the parts of the city that relied on public transit the most had a train, and there were bathrooms, and programs for low income to get discount passes, and "feasibility studies" weren't based on 80 participants, a big bioscience center, and greedy businessmen, but instead on transit riders needs-- yeah, great go forth with your little plan!
But there are lots of other very obvious CEREBRAL INNOVATIONS this city needs, and I guess you geniuses won't be the ones to provide them!
Hey Metro executives, I forgot to charge my phone last night, or you would have heard from me A LOT today, but I am gonna call you EXTRA tomorrow! We have a lot to talk about.
Like how you say you don't have the $9 million, and you are going to the Federal Transit Authority. You don't deserve one dime of federal money (income taxes), state money (property and income taxes), or city money (sales taxes). You don't deserve our fares!
Tomorrow I am calling the FTA, too. I bet they know just what I can do to stop you.
Monday, April 21, 2014
HOW ANYONE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD, OUTLINED IN STEPS
- PICK SOMETHING YOU WANT TO CHANGE
- ENVISION THE END RESULT
- RESEARCH THE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF THE THING YOU WANT TO CHANGE
- IDENTIFY WHAT ACTIONS COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE THE CHANGES YOU SEEK
- FIGURE OUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN AND DO IT
- STAY PASSIONATE, BUT DON'T LET IT MESS WITH YOUR HEAD
- YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAY NOT BE INTERESTED
- BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
PICK SOMETHING YOU WANT TO CHANGE: METRO
ENVISION THE END RESULT: METRO provides services based on ridership and riders needs. Facilities that are deemed important and necessary to riders are integrated into the overall development plans. Executives have the public's interests at heart, and the agency is not run by or dictated to by businessmen. The agency is totally transparent to the public, and the information about the agency's operations is made accessible and easily disseminated by the public.
RESEARCH THE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF THE THING YOU WANT TO CHANGE: METRO has a lot of reasons why it can't provide better services, and why the current structure is the best. First and foremost in your mind whenever you encounter a "problem" or "obstacle" to your vision is to realize that within every problem is the solution to that problem.
Metro says it is not in the business of providing toilets: Not true. Metro is about "business development" and doing whatever is deemed necessary to make the city more attractive to "business development." Metro is run Bi-State Development Agency. Initially Bi-State started out in 1950 as the Metropolitan Sewer District. They didn't get into public transit until they bought some private bus lines in the late 1960's.
The addition of Public Transit to Bi-State is what began to bring in the large government monies to subsidize the bus lines (business developers need cheap labor, and cheap labor doesn't generally own cars).
Bi-State dba Metro is actually about any business it chooses to be in. Bi-State dba Metro also owns and operates the Arch trams and Riverboat attractions, and the St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia Illinois. The trams are the only part of their endeavors that makes a profit. Metro bus and metrolink, the airport, and the riverboat attractions all operate at a loss.
However, their other enterprises are in the amount of a 2 million or less a year. METRO bus and trains are worth 225 million a year.
Moreover, ALL of the money from Metro bus and trains comes from the public: government money (income tax), sales tax (city and country), and state money (property taxes). And then that 22% that comes from rider revenues.
A businessman like Metro's CEO John Nations is not going to get elected to a senate seat from running Bi-State, or get a $250,000 a year salary from the airport, trams and riverboat attractions. it is the 225 million a year from Metro that gives him the platform. In his current position, he gets to hob-knob with the local rich boys and politicians, and begin creating the network he will need if he gets to office.
No one at Metro is looking to make the transit system self-sustaining because that would remove the government monies. They would have to really work with the public to make transit feasible for people of all income levels, and to make public transit the first choice of people that owned cars. That is a lot for an agency that is set up exclusively for the manipulation of private interests and does not have to do any "real" work.
It would also create a situation where the transit agency would have to work AGAINST the interests of private business developers and local government officials in many instances. (For example, challenging the city and county towns to let Metro decide where bus stops were placed and where trains would run, etc.) It would mean wresting Metro's checkbook away from the County Executive and a separation of "transportation" and "transit" bonds.
The current situation does not work in the transit riding public's interest. That is fairly easy to demonstrate.
If the agency were run by someone with urban planning at heart, the buses and train would be the first and foremost priority, instead of developing personal relationship with future campaign contributors.
The riding public would be consulted first on future train extensions and bus lines, with the thought of attracting passengers with cars by making public transit more convenient than driving.
IDENTIFY WHAT ACTIONS COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE THE CHANGES YOU SEEK: This is the part that calls for flexibility. If you don't need the cooperation of anyone else to make the changes, you can do the work yourself, but if you need the public you will have to "try and try again."
Don't be afraid to fail. For instance, if the "Jam the Phone Lines" doesn't work- either enough people don't call, or the calls don't generate any changes- I will have to devise another strategy.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/why-flooding-metros-phone-lines-is.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/flooding-phone-lines-be-polite-but-dont.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/actions-to-take-to-change-public.html
However, it may be that a lawsuit challenging Bi-State's ability to run Metro, and the contention that Metro transit is owned wholly by the people (all of their income comes from public money, as outlined above), and that public transit is a necessity for approximately 75,000 people in the city and 25,000 people in the surrounding counties. (Roughly 5% of the entire metro area, and 20% of the city.)
That is a strong enough reason for a lawsuit. However, I am not a lawyer, so I still need to engage some other people-- that are lawyers.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/call-for-public-audit-of-metro-bi-state.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/again-metro-has-long-history-of.html
FIGURE OUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN AND DO IT: This is fairly obvious. But the most important thing is-- PACE YOURSELF. I leaflet when ever I can. I talk to people when I can.
I call everytime I ride, about something-- questions about how they operate, demands for changes, and any problems I see. (A bus stop without a bus line number. problems with routes, etc. Suggestions for immediate improvement. The only thing I DON'T call about is the drivers. They get enough calls about that and the bus drivers take enough crap about Metro's awful service. I DO call about the fact that Metro has refused to reach a new bargaining agreement with the driver's union for 6 years.)
STAY PASSIONATE, BUT DON'T LET IT MESS WITH YOUR HEAD: You are in this for the long haul. Don't let them upset you. The agency is going to say stupid things to you, insult you, insist that nothing that can be done. You have to hang in there. Don't work on it everyday. Take a break. Allot a certain amount of time each day or week or month and focus.
Live your life, but incorporate your activism into it. I find out stuff about Metro all the time now, even when I am not talking to people about it. I've started to look and listen.
Also, determine how much of troublemaker you want to be. I don't believe in violence, and I don't want to take on so much that I have to worry about being arrested. Most changes can be done legally.
There is always a risk, when challenging the current power structure, that draconian measures will be taken if you really become a threat. The police and the military are controlled and used by private wealth to maintain private wealth and to create "order"-- meaning "business as usual." However, in those circumstances, your actions will uncover any lurking fascism.
And in that case, they will have to come right out in the open. And generally, the public will respond in your favor. It is worth it to challenge the power structure in any society, because that is what keeps fascism at bay.
This is one of the reasons that "Occupying" needs to become a hobby of every single person in this country. By "occupying"-- learning about and monitoring-- all levels of government and public structures, we can exert our power and demand accountability. We can keep fascism and violent upheaval at bay. The more people that "Occupy" the less work there will be for any one of us.
YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAY NOT BE INTERESTED: The people closest you will be interested because they are interested in you, but they may not have the same passion or vision. After a while they may get bored with your cause. This is normal.
Seek out the people that do, and form your alliances there. Even when I am handing out leaflets, I ask people if they are interested in changing Metro to make it better for the people that ride it. Not everyone is. Save your leaflets and your energy. Move on to the next person. Identify the people most interested first. The less motivated will become more interested as you continue to get results.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF: In our society we are taught to believe that money is the only source of power. But the wealthy are actually the least powerful among us. ALL THEY HAVE IS MONEY.
When I was a radical political activist in my teens and early twenties (I am almost 50 now) we used to say "Money is the lowest form of participation." TIME and IDEAS are the strongest.
Every person has something to offer. The wealthy are the smallest part of the population. There are far more of us than of them. And without us doing the work or consuming to generate their wealth, they would have nothing.
Most social change has been generated by 3.5% of the population. African-Americans are less than 20% of the population, and during the Civil Rights era, not all African-American's participated in the struggle. Don't discount what a small but empowered group of people can do. The powers that be cannot handle any disruption of "business as usual". They are all about profits. They count on the majority of the people being too downtrodden, or too unmotivated, or too divided, to work for change.
Prove them wrong. Believe in yourself, your power, and your vision.
If you pace yourself and seek like-minded others, you will succeed.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
MORE PRETTY WORDS FROM METRO AND A FEW WORDS OF MY OWN
Metro sent me some more "feedback" on my suggestion that they provide
toilets. It's the same thing they said in the last post, about my
first post on this subject.
Here: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/metro-says-bathrooms-are-to-expensive.html
and
Here: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/metro-bus-and-train-stations-need-more.html
Metro executives, and people in power generally, I would like for you to understand something. People like me are tired of "business of usual." I get that you are just "doing your jobs" and "this is how it is" but you see, THAT IS NOT WORKING. FOR MOST OF US.
Not just bus riders in Saint Louis, Missouri, but on every part of this planet, and in every section of society. That the BASIC NEEDS of humans are routinely ignored in favor of profit, and that our entire world has become a "for profit" venture, designed to benefit only a small percentage of the population.
Now, it might be working for you. That's great. As I have said many times before, if you all had to ride the bus every day, everywhere you went, your perspectives would be a lot different.
But the real bottom line is: Public Transit Agencies should NOT BE ABOUT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. If the funding for necessary structures is not available and your customers need it, someone on your staff should be looking into it.
Truly powerful people do not accept limitations. Truly powerful people do what is best for everyone, and not what is best for themselves alone.
Metro SHOULD be in the business of getting better facilities and street services because their riders depend on it.
FROM ANY POINT OF YOUR SERVICE THERE SHOULD BE A TOILET WITHIN-minimum- 90 MINUTES. And 60 minutes would be better. Now, you could have a lot fewer facilities if your system had more Metrolink services in the areas with the most transit riders. But this needs to be part of your overall plan.
I HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT BEING A FORWARD THINKING HUMAN BEING, WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE AHEAD OF YOUR OWN JOB COMFORT.
So I am going to continue to send my requests for better service, regardless of how tiresome you find them, I find the lack of toilets tiresome.
I find the fact that your agency- and everyone else "in power"-- does not have an ideal that it is working from, and only deviating from that ideal when all possibilities have been exhausted.
The solutions are out there. Apparently you cannot see them.
Metro's response:
Jessica Mefford-Miller
Chief of Planning and System Development
Metro
707 North First Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2595
Ph: 314.982.1479jnmefford@metrostlouis.org
Here: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/metro-says-bathrooms-are-to-expensive.html
and
Here: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/metro-bus-and-train-stations-need-more.html
Metro executives, and people in power generally, I would like for you to understand something. People like me are tired of "business of usual." I get that you are just "doing your jobs" and "this is how it is" but you see, THAT IS NOT WORKING. FOR MOST OF US.
Not just bus riders in Saint Louis, Missouri, but on every part of this planet, and in every section of society. That the BASIC NEEDS of humans are routinely ignored in favor of profit, and that our entire world has become a "for profit" venture, designed to benefit only a small percentage of the population.
Now, it might be working for you. That's great. As I have said many times before, if you all had to ride the bus every day, everywhere you went, your perspectives would be a lot different.
But the real bottom line is: Public Transit Agencies should NOT BE ABOUT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. If the funding for necessary structures is not available and your customers need it, someone on your staff should be looking into it.
Truly powerful people do not accept limitations. Truly powerful people do what is best for everyone, and not what is best for themselves alone.
Metro SHOULD be in the business of getting better facilities and street services because their riders depend on it.
FROM ANY POINT OF YOUR SERVICE THERE SHOULD BE A TOILET WITHIN-minimum- 90 MINUTES. And 60 minutes would be better. Now, you could have a lot fewer facilities if your system had more Metrolink services in the areas with the most transit riders. But this needs to be part of your overall plan.
I HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT BEING A FORWARD THINKING HUMAN BEING, WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE AHEAD OF YOUR OWN JOB COMFORT.
So I am going to continue to send my requests for better service, regardless of how tiresome you find them, I find the lack of toilets tiresome.
I find the fact that your agency- and everyone else "in power"-- does not have an ideal that it is working from, and only deviating from that ideal when all possibilities have been exhausted.
The solutions are out there. Apparently you cannot see them.
Metro's response:
In
response to customer requests, Metro has begun to integrate public
restroom facilities in select MetroBus and MetroLink facilities. I
believe I discussed this with you, but to reiterate we currently provide
public restrooms at Riverview and Hall Transit Center; Clayton
MetroLink Station; and Belleville MetroLink Station. In 2015 we
anticipate opening one new transit center (North County Transit Center)
and opening an expanded Civic Center Transit Center. Both of these
new/expanded facilities will include public restrooms.
Metro
is not in the business of providing public restrooms throughout the
entire region, or even at all MetroLink stations and MetroBus Transit
Centers. These facilities, even the pay facilities we have explored, are
expensive to purchase and maintain and in some locations present public
safety challenges. Resources devoted to constructing and maintaining
public toilets reduce available resources for operating public transit.
Metro’s policy moving forward is to integrate public restrooms at new or
reconstructed facilities where they make sense from the perspective of
customer volume and public safety, and where funding permits.
Thank You,
Chief of Planning and System Development
Metro
707 North First Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2595
Ph: 314.982.1479jnmefford@metrostlouis.org
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
METRO RESPONDS TO THE NEW SURVEY I DESIGNED FOR THEM
I hope everyone will do the survey voluntarily and post it here, too. Because they are totally out of touch with their bus riders. And it is ridiculous that the biggest part of their service is buses, and they only survey the Metrolink.
They don't know their customers' needs or they pretend they don't. They need overwhelming evidence of how difficult it is to get around in a timely manner on their buses!
They need to be confronted with how ridiculous so many of their routes and transfers are, especially travelling from north St. Louis and county.
Take the survey by calling customer service and volunteering the answers to the questions in the post (actually compiled from the surveys in use in bigger cities- conducted as I outline).
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html
They could save some money on words. So many pretty words, that don't really say anything at all. Thanks Metro!
They don't know their customers' needs or they pretend they don't. They need overwhelming evidence of how difficult it is to get around in a timely manner on their buses!
They need to be confronted with how ridiculous so many of their routes and transfers are, especially travelling from north St. Louis and county.
Take the survey by calling customer service and volunteering the answers to the questions in the post (actually compiled from the surveys in use in bigger cities- conducted as I outline).
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html
They could save some money on words. So many pretty words, that don't really say anything at all. Thanks Metro!
Thank
you for your feedback regarding Metro customer surveys. I appreciate
your comments regarding the potential for a “take one” survey or comment
card made available onboard vehicles. I will discuss this with our
Market Research and Customer Service staff. In the past, our front-line
supervisors routinely collected customer feedback via comment cards, but
the volume of information made it difficult to enter a database, and we
found that the trends present in that information mirrored the
information collected via other mechanisms, including our Onboard Survey
(detailed below) and Customer Contacts database (assembled from
customer contacts presented via telephone, e-mail, postal mail and
social media).
You
may not be aware that Metro does conduct onboard surveys, most every
spring as funding permits. This Onboard Survey project serves as Metro’s
primary market research effort for collecting a wealth of information
about its bus and rail customers, including key data related to
demographics, travel patterns and behavior, usage characteristics,
loyalty and turnover intentions, and attitudes toward service.
Historically, the Onboard Survey effort has provided Metro with numerous
operational benefits such as:
· Measuring the “attitudinal pulse” of our customers
· Providing crucial insight into who our customers are and how to best serve them
· Determining key service factors driving customer satisfaction
· Improving Metro’s ability to manage customer turnover and increase ridership
· Providing necessary information to make data-driven service planning decisions
· Enabling
the examination of specific customer segments and their unique
characteristics, preferences, and behavior, allowing the development of
transit service best suited to their needs
· Providing
critical data required for Federal Transit Administration reporting
(e.g., Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Program Guidelines) and
federal and state grant documentation support.
In
recent years, the survey has been divided into two components: an
Onboard Travel and a Customer Satisfaction survey. The Onboard Travel
survey is designed to help illuminate how/when/where customers travel,
including origin and destination locations and route pairs. The Customer
Satisfaction Survey provides meaningful feedback about customer
satisfaction with specific components of Metro service. We employ a
stratified random sampling strategy for conducting both surveys. This
sampling strategy is designed to create samples that are reflective of
system-wide passenger characteristics and travel behaviors.
Thank You,
Jessica Mefford-Miller
Chief of Planning and System Development
Metro
707 North First Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2595
Ph: 314.982.1479jnmefford@metrostlouis.org
Chief of Planning and System Development
Metro
707 North First Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2595
Ph: 314.982.1479jnmefford@metrostlouis.org
METRO RESPONDS TO MY POST ABOUT BATHROOMS
All the improvement posts on this blog I send to Metro via their Customer Feedback Form.
They gotta a lot of pretty words. I am reprinting them here, but they don't mean a thing, until they walk their talk.
Also, this email fails to mention that the restrooms at Riverview are maintained by the little privately owned store.
Further, the "public safety challenges" are no greater than a restroom at a park, and certainly less hazardous than having to pee behind a building or tree.
Does these people not have bladders? IT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO RIDE THE BUSES AS PART OF THEIR JOB. Things would change real fast.
And "where they make sense from the perspective of volume". That means Metrolink. That is the only part of Metro that gets any play.
Ridiculous.
The response to this post http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/metro-says-bathrooms-are-to-expensive.html
and this one http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/metro-bus-and-train-stations-need-more.html
Jessica Mefford-Miller
Chief of Planning and System Development
Metro
707 North First Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2595
Ph: 314.982.1479
jnmefford@metrostlouis.org
They gotta a lot of pretty words. I am reprinting them here, but they don't mean a thing, until they walk their talk.
Also, this email fails to mention that the restrooms at Riverview are maintained by the little privately owned store.
Further, the "public safety challenges" are no greater than a restroom at a park, and certainly less hazardous than having to pee behind a building or tree.
Does these people not have bladders? IT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO RIDE THE BUSES AS PART OF THEIR JOB. Things would change real fast.
And "where they make sense from the perspective of volume". That means Metrolink. That is the only part of Metro that gets any play.
Ridiculous.
The response to this post http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/metro-says-bathrooms-are-to-expensive.html
and this one http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/metro-bus-and-train-stations-need-more.html
In
response to customer requests, Metro has begun to integrate public
restroom facilities in select MetroBus and MetroLink facilities. I
believe I discussed this with you, but to reiterate we currently provide
public restrooms at Riverview and Hall Transit Center; Clayton
MetroLink Station; and Belleville MetroLink Station. In 2015 we
anticipate opening one new transit center (North County Transit Center)
and opening an expanded Civic Center Transit Center. Both of these
new/expanded facilities will include public restrooms.
Metro
is not in the business of providing public restrooms throughout the
entire region, or even at all MetroLink stations and MetroBus Transit
Centers. These facilities, even the pay facilities we have explored, are
expensive to purchase and maintain and in some locations present public
safety challenges. Resources devoted to constructing and maintaining
public toilets reduce available resources for operating public transit.
Metro’s policy moving forward is to integrate public restrooms at new or
reconstructed facilities where they make sense from the perspective of
customer volume and public safety, and where funding permits.
Thank You,
Chief of Planning and System Development
Metro
707 North First Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2595
Ph: 314.982.1479
jnmefford@metrostlouis.org
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