HOW MUCH DOES METRO KNOW ABOUT IT'S MOST FREQUENT CUSTOMERS?

Here's another gem from the Metro Website. As with all their models and figures, these numbers come from 2008, before the economic crash.

http://metrostlouis.org/Libraries/MTF_documents/Moving_Transit_Forward_plan_document.pdf

Why is transit important?

Great cities have great transit systems. The St. Louis region is a

wonderful place in which to live, work, and play, but in recent decades

its population and job growth has stagnated. To change this, the

region must move forward and boldly redefine itself as a catalyst for

entrepreneurism, an attractor of talented young professionals, and a

place that considers the needs of all its citizens. Transit alone will not

make this happen, but it does play a vital role in shaping the region’s

quality of life and growing its economy. Here’s how . . .

Transit moves thousands of

people every day to work,

school, and life:

✦

More than 50 million times

each year, someone boards a

MetroBus, MetroLink train or

Metro Call-A-Ride van

✦

Most Metro customers ride to

work or school

✦

Metro customers in Missouri alone

earn more than $2.2 billion in wages

annually

✦

Metro carries nearly 2 million riders a a

year to special events

 

Nice Orwellian double-speak in the first paragraph- "great city" that has become economically "stagnant".   And that part about considering the needs of all its citizens.

Where do these numbers come from? That 2.2 Billion in wages? How is that divided? How many people is that? What is the average income?  Who is your average rider?  How often does he/she ride the bus or train?  How many transfers does he/she make? What is the average time of waiting for/riding public transportation?  Are there more train riders than bus? Do you make more money from the Metrolink or Metro bus?

Where did you gather that information?

IS YOUR MOST FREQUENT, PUBLIC TRANSIT DEPENDENT CUSTOMER ABLE TO SUPPORT A 5% INCREASE IN FARES?