Friday, March 23, 2007
Doomsday, Delayed
The Port Authority revealed its plans for systemic change this morning, and the bitter pill will be delivered in phases. If approved by the board, the first phase of changes will occur in mid-June with service changes, followed by another phase (possibly) in September, and then a change in fare policy at the beginning of 2008.
Looking at outright elimination of fixed route weekday service—the bulk of traffic carried by the system—shows that the authority has dramatically scaled back its original scenario. That scenario would have eliminated 124 of the 213 routes carried by the authority. Now the plan will cut 29 of those 213 routes. Whereas the original cuts would have affected 11 percent of the ridership, today’s changes will affect 4 percent. To be sure, the public comment period helped to spare the important routes with heavy ridership.
The authority has stated that “an additional 10 percent service reduction would take effect September 2 absent means to reduce the remaining…deficit”.
The phased-in approach should allow for a few innovative changes, if the authority and County leadership is willing to make them. Much of this would come from asking the transit union for a contract reopener and allow for changes that would put smaller buses on the road in place of larger buses and for some outsourcing of routes. If the authority is ending 29 routes, why not solicit private interest in running this service and charging a rate in line with costs?
It is shameful that there has been no movement toward a contract reopener. Making these changes might be able to move the system in line with the more efficient ideal envisioned.
Looking at outright elimination of fixed route weekday service—the bulk of traffic carried by the system—shows that the authority has dramatically scaled back its original scenario. That scenario would have eliminated 124 of the 213 routes carried by the authority. Now the plan will cut 29 of those 213 routes. Whereas the original cuts would have affected 11 percent of the ridership, today’s changes will affect 4 percent. To be sure, the public comment period helped to spare the important routes with heavy ridership.
The authority has stated that “an additional 10 percent service reduction would take effect September 2 absent means to reduce the remaining…deficit”.
The phased-in approach should allow for a few innovative changes, if the authority and County leadership is willing to make them. Much of this would come from asking the transit union for a contract reopener and allow for changes that would put smaller buses on the road in place of larger buses and for some outsourcing of routes. If the authority is ending 29 routes, why not solicit private interest in running this service and charging a rate in line with costs?
It is shameful that there has been no movement toward a contract reopener. Making these changes might be able to move the system in line with the more efficient ideal envisioned.
