http://t4america.org/blog/2010/01/14/creating-jobs-and-environmental-benefits-with-cleaner-transit-buses/ Wed, 23 May 2012 06:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://t4america.org/blog/2010/01/14/creating-jobs-and-environmental-benefits-with-cleaner-transit-buses/#comment-4496 Michael F. Sarabia Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:35:13 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=5163#comment-4496 In the San Francisco Bay Area we are facing a critical problem. Due to the Recession, bus lines had to cut back service and both, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and local area busses, that bring riders to the BART Stations. In the past, other government agencies, in the County and State, have helped the bus lines survive. We have about half a dozen of them. Even BART has contributed, I was told. Now, BART is in bad shape due to loss of commuters from the heavy job losses in the area, they are not helping and both, commuters and job seekers, have problems reaching their job interviews and later, they will have a bigger problem commuting, without the Bus feeder lines. And, to make matter worse.... BART decided to borrow $300 Million to build a 3-mile overhead tram between a BART Station and the Oakland Airport, it is called the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC). Since BART is cutting service, can you imagine, or should ask, why can't they ask themselves, "What will BART do when they have loan payments?" Will they raise fares and drive more out of BART? And, will they have to, again, cut back service because of loss in riders? Etc. Of course, after they cut service, they will need even more money to pay on the loans, will they increase fares, over and over, until what? And, THAT is the problem: Until What? The solution is to force them to live within their means and refuse the $70 Million in Federal money and shift these funds to the half dozen bus lines that keep the Low Income Workers from living in total despair. No need to project or exaggerate, the effect is fully predictable. What is not clear, to me, the best legal path to accomplish this. HELP! Tell whoever needs to know of this problem how it can be solved. I, and 200 others, went to the last Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting and some 50 of us signed up to speak for 3 minutes, before the first speaker, the time was cut to ONE minute and after about 20 speakers the mike was shut down. In the San Francisco Bay Area we are facing a critical problem. Due to the Recession, bus lines had to cut back service and both, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and local area busses, that bring riders to the BART Stations.
In the past, other government agencies, in the County and State, have helped the bus lines survive. We have about half a dozen of them. Even BART has contributed, I was told.
Now, BART is in bad shape due to loss of commuters from the heavy job losses in the area, they are not helping and both, commuters and job seekers, have problems reaching their job interviews and later, they will have a bigger problem commuting, without the Bus feeder lines.
And, to make matter worse….
BART decided to borrow $300 Million to build a 3-mile overhead tram between a BART Station and the Oakland Airport, it is called the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC).
Since BART is cutting service, can you imagine, or should ask, why can’t they ask themselves, “What will BART do when they have loan payments?” Will they raise fares and drive more out of BART? And, will they have to, again, cut back service because of loss in riders? Etc.
Of course, after they cut service, they will need even more money to pay on the loans, will they increase fares, over and over, until what?
And, THAT is the problem: Until What?
The solution is to force them to live within their means and refuse the $70 Million in Federal money and shift these funds to the half dozen bus lines that keep the Low Income Workers from living in total despair. No need to project or exaggerate, the effect is fully predictable.
What is not clear, to me, the best legal path to accomplish this. HELP!
Tell whoever needs to know of this problem how it can be solved.
I, and 200 others, went to the last Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting and some 50 of us signed up to speak for 3 minutes, before the first speaker, the time was cut to ONE minute and after about 20 speakers the mike was shut down.

]]> http://t4america.org/blog/2010/01/14/creating-jobs-and-environmental-benefits-with-cleaner-transit-buses/#comment-4495 Stephen Lee Davis Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:04:29 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=5163#comment-4495 Ila, note the map above. LOTS of dots there producing equipment (and jobs) for transit there all over the middle of the country. Ila, note the map above. LOTS of dots there producing equipment (and jobs) for transit there all over the middle of the country.

]]> http://t4america.org/blog/2010/01/14/creating-jobs-and-environmental-benefits-with-cleaner-transit-buses/#comment-4494 ILA JONES Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:59:27 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=5163#comment-4494 WHY IS THERE SO LITTLE FOCUS RE: RAIL...AND SMALL BUSSES...WITH REGARD TO THE INLAND STATES 'WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI?' WE EXIST. WE PAY TAXES. WHERE THE HELL IS OUR TRANSIT? WHY IS THE 'FOCUS' ALWAYS ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD...OH, YEAH, I GET IT....THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS... BAH WHY IS THERE SO LITTLE FOCUS RE: RAIL…AND SMALL BUSSES…WITH REGARD TO THE INLAND STATES ‘WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI?’
WE EXIST.
WE PAY TAXES.
WHERE THE HELL IS OUR TRANSIT?
WHY IS THE ‘FOCUS’ ALWAYS ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD…OH, YEAH, I GET IT….THAT’S WHERE THE MONEY IS…
BAH

]]> http://t4america.org/blog/2010/01/14/creating-jobs-and-environmental-benefits-with-cleaner-transit-buses/#comment-4421 Stephen Lee Davis Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:09:44 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=5163#comment-4421 Certainly not JUST Grand Rapids — but towns and cities like it across the country. Noted! Certainly not JUST Grand Rapids — but towns and cities like it across the country. Noted!

]]> http://t4america.org/blog/2010/01/14/creating-jobs-and-environmental-benefits-with-cleaner-transit-buses/#comment-4420 The Electrics Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:04:03 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=5163#comment-4420 Well, not just jobs in Grand Rapids, Mi. Grand Rapids is on the verge of expanding transit services with bus rapid transit and light rail. Well, not just jobs in Grand Rapids, Mi. Grand Rapids is on the verge of expanding transit services with bus rapid transit and light rail.

]]>