MORE ON THE METRO LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ORIGINAL SHREWSBURY CONTRACTORS

The more I look into the Shrewsbury Metrolink extension, the more I want to see EVERY SINGLE Metro financial transaction.

I didn't live here then, but there is SUCH an obvious link between this fiasco and the Metro financial crisis in 2009 that resulted in 24 bus lines being shut down and a 30% reduction in services.

Look at this audit: http://auditor.mo.gov/press/2008-58.pdf
(This is the report, I think, that Salci tried to block McCaskill from conducting.)

Please, public transit rider, read this article.  It is VERY revealing about how Metro does it's dirty business.

https://enr.construction.com/news/transportation/archives/060124.asp

Here's a few more:

http://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/article_4ba7ba62-9d73-5509-be3a-fa0be34ab4e7.html?mode=jqm

http://www.dowdbennett.com/tag/trial-practice/page/2/

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2008/12/another_larry_salci_trainwreck_metro_metrolink_colorado_railcar_st_louis.php

We are "clowns" as the former Metro CEO says, for letting guys like him run our transit agency:
http://www.stlamerican.com/business/local_business/article_b1f3a6ef-3183-5bb6-bfe1-bafb3c13586a.html?mode=jqm

http://www.stlouiscnr.com/features/article/kwames_tony_thompson_when_being_right_is_not_enough/

http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/St-Louis-MetroLink-Takes-Shape-Despite-Delays/5874/

If further investigation leads me to conclude that all the scandal directed at Dooley's office comes from Salci I will rescind my accusations:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/ex-metro-chief-cites-st-louis-county-pressure-on-parking/article_22de1ea0-3ccd-5013-abc1-15b8b818a568.html

OH WOW, and this one on Salci-- just WOW, what an a**hole!:
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2005-08-03/news/metro-messy/

From the article:
In August 2004, in a move transit officials call unprecedented, he fired and sued the Cross County Collaborative, a group of four firms charged with designing the 8.2-mile MetroLink extension that will connect Forest Park and Shrewsbury by way of Clayton. The CCC countersued Metro three months later.
Then, earlier this year, Salci raised eyebrows by recommending that Metro refuse an audit requested by state auditor Claire McCaskill. Salci said it would jeopardize the agency's lawsuit. Salci lost the skirmish, and Missouri auditors are expected this week to begin a year-long financial audit to determine why cost overruns on the $550 million MetroLink project might total $126 million. The completion date for the new line was scheduled for May but has been pushed back to the fall of 2006.

Should have known he worked for Gephardt before Metro!
No more of these fancy businessmen and politcians as Metro CEOs!

Don't use this man's consulting services, EVER! http://www.salciconsult.com/Contact.aspx

DEAR FEDERAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

EDIT: 25 April 2014, I filed a formal complaint with the FTA Inspector General, asking them to investigate and audit Metro and Prop A and Dooley, and asked them to refuse to give Metro anymore funds for the Cortex Metrolink station proposed between the CWE and Grand.

The Region 7 FTA office in Kansas City has promised that someone from the Federal office will be returning my call about Metro.

I started Occupy Public Transportation In St. Louis on March 24th, exactly one month ago.  At the beginning I only wanted to stop the fare increase and to get Metro to listen to their riders' needs (better service, bathrooms, improved bus stops and sidewalk conditions, etc).  But in the course of the last few weeks my research has led me to the conclusion that the entire agency needs an overhaul.

• First and foremost, Metro needs to be separated from Bi-State Development Agency. 

• Metro bus drivers deserve a new bargaining agreement.  I don't understand how an Agency that receives so much federal funding can be allowed to treat their employees this way.  6 years without a new contract! Not to mention the slow erosion of pensions and benefits, and the fact that new driver's start at $12 an hour is ridiculous!  And even the top pay of $21 an hour is not enough for that job.  It should be $25, and the starting wage should be at least $15.  http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/rider-alert-metro-whines-about-one-day.html

• The entire current executive leadership needs to be removed.  And it should be mandatory that ALL Metro executives use public transportation frequently.    http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/do-metro-executives-ride-public-transit.html

• John Nations needs to resign as CEO or be fired.  (And no CEO of Metro should be making five times what a bus driver makes!  No more $250,000 a year executive salaries!)

• There needs to be public toilets at all Metrolink and major bus transfer centers.  http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/bi-state-development-agency-is.html

• Metro has mismanaged funds: received large federal grants for Metrolink extensions without producing trains to those areas (because they did not do the work to build community support, and apparently did not anticipate how hard those communities would fight), and generally done nothing more than acquire real estate and line the pockets of a few corrupt developers and local politicians.   They do not currently have any new rail lines in construction, just vague "plans" that seem to keep hitting snafus (and excuses).   http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/again-metro-has-long-history-of.html  AND  http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-apalling-racist-fiasco-of-2005-and.html

• County Executive Charlie Dooley needs to be investigated and audited by the public.  The same "Public Transportation" bond issue that failed before voters in 2008 was repackaged as a "Public Transit" bond in 2010.  Far too many sources either hint or say outright that Metro-- having lost too many lawsuits regarding mismanagement of funds on the Shrewsbury Metrolink, and the barring of minority contractors- had to be given a 39.5 million dollar bailout (when their yearly operating expense was $42 million) for legal fees and settlements.  Dooley did this only because Metro agreed to help "pull the wool" over voter's eyes in regards to Proposition "A".(I don't have court-worthy documentation on all of this yet, but it is coming.) http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/again-metro-has-long-history-of.html      AND  http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metro-is-doing-with-your-money-and.html  AND http://occupyurlife.blogspot.com/2014/04/occupy-saint-louis-county-executive.html

• The way that Metro does its survey and planning needs to change.  Their data is general population and employment statistics.  They admit that the buses are the bulk of their operation, and that north St. Louis city and county comprise their busiest transit hubs, yet they fail to survey the buses, or involve the communities in planning. When they do survey, almost always only once a year, and on the Metrolink, they do not gather the necessary information, or compute it accurately. Their starting point needs to be collecting the proper data on their riders-- who they are, where they travel and why, etc.  (In other words, they should serve their customers, and not the other way around.)   http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html

• Metro needs to focus all of its Metrolink expansion in north St. Louis city and county.  This is the area they admit has the most need and most transit riders.  This is the area that is "incarcerated by lack of decent public transportation." There is plenty of existing rail, and plenty of room to develop more light rail.  That they have not seriously addressed this, and continue to make other arrangements-- like the big buses for the Lucas Hunt and Natural Bridge bus routes-- demonstrates that they have no long term plans for this area.  http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/brand-new-big-buses-for-4-64-and-70-but.html  AND   .http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/east-west-gateway-council-of.html

• More outreach needs to be done with street services in regards to bus stop placement and bus stop maintenance and needs (lighting, sidewalk maintenance). And Metro needs to improve all of its' bus stops generally (route and schedule information at every bus stop, trash cans, more benches and covered stops).  People should be able to navigate their way from any bus stop, even if they have never ridden the bus before!   http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-should-be-metros-new-bus-stop-plan.html

The person I spoke to said that they (the FTA) were "aware of some of the problems" with Bi-State dba Metro. (It is pretty  obvious that they have not been able to add more than 9 miles of light rail track since 1999, although they received a lot of federal money for the failed proposed St. Charles, and also Illinois extensions to Madison County-- which was rejected due to the same racism as in St. Charles.)

When they call me, I am going to ask them what I would need to know if I were to take over Metro operations tomorrow.  To be clear, I know that this will not happen (I actually would never want the Metro job, and wish I wasn't even spending my time on OPTINSTL-- oh to live in a fair and honest world!), but in order to change anything I always start from the ideal and work my way back from there.

So, if I took over Metro tomorrow, what would I need to know and do to make the necessary changes outlined above?
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-anyone-can-change-world-outlined-in.html 
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/i-want-to-live-in-city-with-great.html 

Feel free to call the FTA and ask them these questions yourself.  The more people that call, the more power we have, and the more likely we are to see changes.  You can file a complaint with the FTA Inspector General anonymously, and receive a PIN to track the progress of the investigation on your complaint.

FTA Region 7 Office, 901 Locust Street, Suite 404, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Telephone (816) 329-3920, Fax (816) 329-3921 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.)

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:

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.

FTA HAS SENT ME THE LINK TO THE METRO 2011 METRO COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT

One thing we don't have to file a Sunshine Act request for:

http://www.metrostlouis.org/Libraries/Annual_Financial_Reports/FY_2011_Comprehensive_Annual_Financial_Report.pdf

Now to sort through it.

I hope some Occupy Accountants and Financial Wizards will get on board soon.

The Table of Contents alone has supplied me with some information, and a quick glance at page 29.

Table of Contents:

Regional Statistics

Regional Population.........................................................................................................96

Regional Per Capita Personal Income

.............................................................................97

Regional Unemployment Rate .........................................................................................98

Regional Top Businesses ................................................................................................99

General population statistics are sited, but nothing on their riders, or changes in their riders.

Page 29:
Metro shows increased ridership and boardings from 2005 through 2009 on their website.  

Page 29 says "unemployment" has caused them to LOSE riders.

PROP A:

Missouri Sources

. Funding for Missouri projects comes from the City of St. Louis, St. Louis

County and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). The City of St. Louis and

St. Louis County collect revenue from ½ cent and ¼ cent local sales taxes. Beginning this

fiscal year with the passage of Prop A, St. Louis County collects an additional ½ cent and the

City of St. Louis collects an additional ¼ cent. Both the City and the County appropriate all of

their receipts from the ¼ cent sales tax to Metro. The City of St. Louis appropriates virtually all

of its revenues from the ½ cent sales tax and Prop A to Metro. St. Louis County splits revenue

collected from the ½ cent sales tax between Metro and County road and bridge projects. They

also appropriated $39.5 mi

llion of the Prop A funds to Metro, of which $3 million was set aside

for future capital projects. Excluding Prop A, the County appropriated approximately $34.0

million and $34.8 million to Metro in FY 2011 and FY 2010, respectively. From FY 2002

through FY 2008, the County’s ½ cent sales-tax appropriation to Metro was indexed with the

Consumer Price Index. At least 2 percent of the appropriations to Metro from the ½ cent sales

tax must be used for transportation for developmentally disadvantaged persons. The balance

is usually required to fund Missouri operations. MoDOT provides Metro with limited operating

and FTA discretionary capital assistance.

Absolutely nothing going on with Metro in MO or IL:
http://www.fta.dot.gov/12304_14366.html


Statistics on boardings and fare box recovery, and miles/fleet/ etc.  There are conclusions to be drawn from this that no one bothers to (or does not want to) make.  They attribute the decline to "unemployment" and not reduced service. In 2011 service area decreased, according to a footnote, because of the cancellation of bus lines to Gray Summit, while rider demand increased.

METRO, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT YOUR STATISTICS NEED TO BE BASED ON YOUR TRANSIT RIDERS AND NOT GENERAL POPULATION STATISTICS.

Another very telling thing on this page is that they do not report the money they make from their business enterprises-- or how much of it goes to Metro.  I hope it is in this report somewhere.

http://www.metrostlouis.org/Libraries/Annual_Financial_Reports/FY_2011_Comprehensive_Annual_Financial_Report.pdf

Page 10 - The years are 2009 2010 and 2011

Metro Transportation System

Service area square miles

449

579

558 *

Metro Bus

Fleet size – total vehicles

449

412

432

Passenger trips

32,679,788

24,256,126

26,215,139

Revenue miles

16,938,053

16,082,275

18,198,927

Farebox recovery

22.3%

20.7%

19.9%

Metro Link

Fleet size – total vehicles

87

87

87

Passenger trips

19,423,931

15,828,981

16,209,098

Revenue miles

3,398,923

2,913,199

3,147,407

Farebox recovery

28.5%

30.4%

27.8

Demand response

Fleet size – total vehicles

129

147

144

Passenger trips

665,137

545,606

568,419

Revenue miles

4,903,975

4,616,903

4,626,716

Farebox recovery

4.8%

4.2%

4.7Will be adding more, check back.

Litigation is on page 29 of the report, page 50 of the PDF (all previous pages listed are the PDF page) Here is a nice pack of lies.

Metro is also the defendant in several lawsuits arising from matters other than workers

compensation and personal injury litigation. These matters principally relate to,

environmental cleanup, breach of contract, and

alleged violations of equal protection and

credit protection requirements. In the opi

nion of management, including its General

Counsel, the ultimate resolution of these matters is not likely to have a material effect of

the Metro’s financial position.

On page 56 of the document, page 75 of the PDF, they contradict themselves (not the first time-- still sorting through the Prop A doublespeak before I post that) 

In the ordinary course of business, a number of claims and lawsuits arise from individuals

seeking compensation for personal injury, death, and/or property damage resulting from

accidents occurring in the operation of the system. In addition, Metro has been named

as a defendant in a number of lawsuits relating to personnel and contractual matters.

Management does not believe that the outcome of these claims will have a material

adverse effect on Metro’s financial position. However, in the event of an unfavorable

outcome in one or more of these matters, the impact could be material to Metro’s

financial position or results of operations

METRO BUS AND TRAIN STATIONS NEED MORE PUBLIC TOILETS!

Buses aren't just slow and exhausting, they are dehydrating.

This is a common complaint and topic of conversation (second only to fares and slow service) about riding Metro transit.

My average trip by public transportation-- from the time I leave my front door, and including all the waiting between transfers-- is two hours.

An hour before I leave I stop drinking.  I'll go to the bathroom a few times, and always right before I leave.

Because at most Metrolink stations and Metro bus centers, there are no bathrooms.  And if you have to get off the bus to go to the bathroom, you are going to be late.  (And you might have a really long wait between buses.  Also, you may not be able to find a place that will let you use their bathroom without buying something, and if all you have is bus fare, well, then...)

If I am going somewhere for awhile, no problem re-hydrating.  But when I am going to a lot of places, with a lot of stops along the way (like job-hunting), I just go thirsty.

It is ridiculous, RIDICULOUS! and shameful that Metro does not address this.  They have all these excuses to make, and blame to place elsewhere, but USING THE TOILET IS A BASIC HUMAN NEED!

Metro is planning to use some of its development money (which the government does not allow them to use to improve existing services) to re-do the Civic Center bus bay.  Apparently, there are 16 bus lines that come through there and only 8 bays.  Even though the bus bay is not overcrowded, and runs fine the way it is.

(There is enough room for the buses to park in the bay while driver's take their breaks.  I catch the #74 there frequently and the driver's always have a 20 to 40 minute break-- at least in my observations.  Usually they will let people board and wait on the bus before they leave to go on their breaks.  Yet another reason to love bus drivers.)

Metro needs to address this issues and dump that plan for the Civic Center Bus Bay.  I am sorry that Metro executives are so clueless on what their priorities should be.

The North Hanley station needs bathrooms the most.  I'd be willing to bet that some of the longest transit trips have a stop at North Hanley.  To get from north St Louis city or county to one of those jobs in the county and Earth City and other middle-class suburbs, you have to get to North Hanley station.

And there are NO BATHROOMS.

Even a few porta-potties would be an improvement!  But there needs to be serious consideration to this MOST BASIC HUMAN NEED! There should be bathrooms, at the very least, at EVERY SINGLE METROLINK AND BUS TRANSFER CENTER!

Really, Metro, what is it going to take for you to wake up to the reality of life on your buses?

EDIT: Hey Metro, like Los Angeles, you could charge 25 cents to use the Metro bathrooms.