[tabi] Re: Bringing all the issues together

  • From: ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx
  • To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:13:21 -0500

from John Plescow: "You forgot the mantra of Safe and Accessible.
This would include not having to navigate major intersections.  More
specifically, a single pickup and drop off transfer point, that is a covered facility, not just a pole on the side of the road, which would also make it have
to be ADA compliant.
This would also include buses going into both malls."

----- Original Message -----
From: <ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 3:49 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: Bringing all the issues together

Here is a starting list pursuant to Kevin's request:

Nova 2010 Pros:
1. More frequent buses.
2. Lengthened hours of operation on Sundays. (This also mandates
lengthened hours of Dial-a-Ride service on Sundays.)
3. Minimal difference between daytime and night/Sunday coverage.
4. Some people get a considerably more direct route to their primary
destinations.

Nova 2010 Cons*:
1. Increased walking distances to/from points of origin/destination
and
bus stops.
2. Many of these walking routes are along major roadways with
inadequate,
incomplete, or no sidewalks.
3. Transferring buses may require crossing one or both multi-lane
thoroughfares at major intersection heretofore unaccustomed, due to
their
heavy traffic flow, to pedestrians.
4. Tallahassee is NOT a pedestrian-friendly city. Drivers lack
consequences for law-breaking.
5. Some people will have to transfer more than once to reach their
destination (or will have to transfer once, where before they had a
direct
route). Walking further and waiting on connections will offset the
time-saving benefit of higher bus frequencies.
6. The goodwill alone of StarMetro, Public Works, TPD and/or other
City
entities in no way guarantees public safety.
Grants are wonderful... ONCE RECEIVED AND IMPLEMENTED, but provide no
protection before then.

* It should be noted that the Cons cannot be completely assessed by
many
riders or potential riders because the route descriptions provided to
date
do not reference where bus routes cross. Therefore, riders may not
have an
understanding of how they would get from point A to point B, and
which
intersection crossings would be required.

IN SUMMARY: Many on TABI who have voiced their opinions seem to be
open to
the concept of a grid-type system. However, a nearly universal,
overwhelming concern seems to be the desire of StarMetro to barrel
ahead
with this plan before travel routes to, from and between buses are as
safe
as possible. If there's no money for sidewalks, audible signals and
the
like, then the project should be postponed. Nova 2010 should not be
implemented until the safety improvements are complete at all
transfer
points.

-----Original Message-----
From: daviska9 <daviska9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sun, Nov 8, 2009 1:09 pm
Subject: [tabi] Bringing all the issues together

Good Afternoon All,

I have been monitoring the
discussions for and against NOVA 2010, first through Laurie, and now
I
have
joined TABI. I wonder if some of you would be willing to help me get
all
of the points, both pro and con, put together in one posting. I will
then
forward that to the Transportation Advisory Committee(TAC), of which
I am
a
part. The TAC is very interested in the safety issues involved, and
have
been reviewing these even before NOVA 2010 was presented to us.

We are a part of the city
commission, and not a part of StarMetro. We are due to make a
recommendation one way or the other to the commission after the first
of
the
year, and I want to make sure all of the information that can be is
put on
the
table.

I may not be perfect,
but I am trying to be neutral and represent the interests if the
visually
impaired on the TAC.
You should know
that the new system provides Laurie and I with some VERY positive
benefits. That interest is only one piece that I present to the TAC.
If
you are willing,
a consolidated list of your views would be very helpful to me. Let me
know what you think.
There is a little
known “be attitude” Blessed be the flexible, for they will
bend and not breakJ.


Hope to hear from
you all soon

Kevin Davis



Check out the TABI resource web page at
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and please make suggestions for new material.



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Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.



if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.


Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.



if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by 
sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
"unsubscribe" in the subject.

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