Well, you all gave a excellent battle and should be proud of your selves for that. I knew this was going to be the outcome I said it a long time ago. Two things you have to have in politics today one is power to offset the politician and the other the money to get done what you want done. If you have either of these or both is better you get what you want most of the time. I salute you all for such great efforts. Just my thoughts. Sign, JP ( Joe Plummer) joeplummer@xxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Easy Talk Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 5:57 AM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [tabi] City aproves nova 2010 Here is the article that was in the paper to-day. This is upsetting to me since approximately 75 percent of the people who attended were against the change as presented in Star Metro's final plan. All I can say is the commissioners voted last night and I will vote at the next election I guess politicians don't listen. I hope one day all of them have to use what they just passed. I have never heard of such a rediceouless process of passing a plan that was in no way complete. I guess I was right from the beginning when I said it was a done deal before the first public hearing. Robert Tallahassee Democrat Published: March 25, 2010 Star Metro redesign gains city of Tallahassee approval By TaMaryn Waters DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER A massive revamp of Tallahassee's bus system was approved unanimously Wednesday by the City Commission. The often controversial "Nova 2010" plan drew nearly two dozen speakers who offered a mix of support for an upgraded system and deep-rooted concerns about safety and the impact on those riders with physical disabilities. The plan, orchestrated by StarMetro, was slated for launch by the end of this year. The date has been pushed back to possibly the end of 2011, said Ron Garrison, StarMetro executive director. StarMetro and the city's Public Works Department are hoping to get federal money to install more audible devices at intersections, which aid those who are visually impaired. And after much criticism, the city intends to build more sidewalks where needed, particularly in areas near the system's bus transfer points. "If it takes a little longer to do it right, then we'll take that time," Garrison said. StarMetro's overall budget for 2010 is roughly $16 million. Garrison said the Nova 2010 plan will cost $36,000 less than the current cost to operate the bus system. Efforts to restructure the bus system started about 16 months ago, and StarMetro staffers have since held nearly 100 public meetings. The original plan evolved into nine different versions due to feedback received, according to planners. The plan will reduce the 26 current routes to 12 "crosstown" routes, which will include nearly 43 transfer points. The decentralized concept is designed to eliminate the need to transfer at the C.K. Steele Plaza downtown. Planners say buses will come to bus stops more frequently, and the plan may attract more riders. One major change is the elimination of some routes, and buses will no longer go through residential neighborhoods. Residents may have to walk up to half a mile to a bus stop, compared to a quarter mile typical now. Linda Pulliam, a Tallahassee bus rider since 1991, said the plan is going to leave some residents without transportation they depend on. "I'm opposed to it because it's not ready yet," she said. "It's not a good plan. It's like trying to put a square peg into something round." Some residents, including those representing state workers and the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, said they are looking forward to an upgrade. Others say change was inevitable. "As times goes on, the changing demand will change even further," said Greg Thompson, chair of the city's Transit Advisory Committee. "We think, though, that time to make a change is now." Owen McCaul, a rider concerned about Nova 2010, said Tallahassee continues to be a dangerous place for pedestrians, and he mentioned the "Dangerous by Design" report, done by the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership and Transportation for America. It gave Tallahassee a "pedestrian-danger index" of 109.4 - more than twice the national number of 52.1. The commissioners agreed there were still safety issues and other looming questions, such as fares, that have to be addressed. But they agreed to move forward. "Change in general for our citizens is kind of hard to do," Commissioner Mark Mustian said. "In concept, I think we need to do this." [ Back ] [ Home ] Copyright (c) 2009 tallahassee.com 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.