Robert,
Would you mind posting to TABI, or mind if I do?
I had absolutely no idea how the 3 systems were connected,
interdependent, and funded. Thanks for spelling this out for me.
Although I think lots of folks "know" this, I'm not sure they've
connected the dots so clearly.
Thank you so much!
Erica
-----Original Message-----
From: Easy Talk <easytalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, Oct 6, 2009 4:07 pm
Subject: Re: Nova2010: If you think it won't matter to you
Hi Erica,
You go girl!
I would like to point out the reality of some of the things you spoke
about
and maybe help people really understand the reality of what will most
likely
happen.
In Leon county and Tallahassee there are 3 forms of public
transportation.
Two of them are the fixed bus system and Dial A ride. Think of the
fixed
bus system as the center circle and the smallest. Think of Dial A Ride
as a
system that operates 3 quarters of a mile out side of the center which
is
covered by the fixed route/bus system. Both of these services are
dependent
on each other and funded by federal dollars and the city. Dial A ride
is
given federal dollars based on compliance of federal guidelines that
only
require them to provide service to the Disabled, elderly and
economically
disadvantaged. Dial A Ride doesn't get paid for each trip they make.
They
are paid quarterly based on the service provided by the fixed route
system
and the coverage of the fixed route system. The third system is the
state/county service of the TDC which does get paid by the trip and
operates
any where the other two systems do not cover. For instance if you live
at
the governors mansion and want to go to the Bradford Ville Blues club,
you
would have to use the third option. The third option also covers
medicade
trips that aren't covered by the first two options. This service is
the one
that is in most cases not available since they currently only provide
rides
for medical and work.
So what we are dealing with regarding the decentralization of Starmetro
is,
If you make the center circle/fixed system smaller then you also reduce
the
Dial A ride service since federal guidelines control the coverage out
side
the fixed route. I know some people have posted here that Dial A ride
provided more coverage than the federal law requires but in 20 years
here in
Tallahassee, it hasn't happened to me or anyone else I know. Even if
they
did, unless it was in writing as a city disability policy, I wouldn't
bank
on it based on my experience. Believe me if they did, it would be the
first
thing to go. Hell, FCB can't even meet in city hall which as a tax
payer, I
helped pay for.
It doesn't surprise me that Tallahassee would push for this since as we
all
know most of the bus stops in neighborhoods aren't accessible and also
most
of the current stops aren't either. By shrinking the coverage area,
just
think of the money the city will save.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: <ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 2:48 PM
Subject: Nova2010: If you think it won't matter to you
I'm going to put this out here for all ears to hear once, and only
once.
If you ride the bus, change-- not necessarily good-- is comin' You
have
opportunities to possibly stop this change, or at least make it less
inconvenient and dangerous for you or other riders. See below for
details
on how you can get your questions answered and make your voice heard.
If you DON'T ride the bus, you may think, "So what?"
Here's what: With the current centralized system, virtually all
transfers
are made downtown IN A SINGLE SAFE, CONTROLLED, PREDICTABLE, COVERED,
ACCESSIBLE location. With the newly proposed decentralized system,
90+% of
transfers will be made on NUMBEROUS STREET CORNERS WITH OR WITHOUT
THE
BENEFIT OF SIDEWALKS, FLAT TERRAIN, SHELTER, or any form of
ASSISTANCE;
with (but probably without) the aid of audible crosswalk
signals,visible
crosswalks, protective medians, and accessible signage. CERTAINLY
there
will be no "ticket person" or supervisor on hand to aid you, nor will
there be law enforcement nearby, should someone other than the bus
approach you on the side of the road.
You can imagine that it is possible that some folks who feel
comfortable
riding the bus now will no long feel this way. When these folks stop
riding the fixed bus system, where do you think they will turn for
transportation?? Dial-a-Ride.
So how well is Dial-a-Ride able to meet everyone's needs now? Are
there
scheduling difficulties? Is there enough money to keep the system
going?
Can anyone who's accepted ride for any purpose, or is prioritization
occurring already? If you think Dial-a-Ride is crowded, stretched, or
stressed NOW, imagine how it will fare when even more people come
looking
for a seat.
And, to the best I've been able to discern from the non-answers I've
gotten from StarMetro personnel at the listening sessions I've
attended,
NO, THERE IS NO MONEY SET ASIDE FROM STARMETRO TO BOLSTER
Dial-a-Ride.
Neither have I been assured that there is money from StarMetro or any
other department specifically set aside for the improvements needed
to
make this a safe system, such as:
1. traffic controlling devices (protective medians, repainted
crosswalks,
cameras to record or extra law enforcement to ticket red light
runners,
reworked light signals to include arrows for turners and ample time
for
pedestrian crossings, etc.)
2. amenities to make the stops and transfer points safe and
accessible
(culverts over ditches, wide and flat sidewalks with curb cuts,
removal/relocation of poles, low branches, etc., adequate lighting
and
signage-- remember, from November thru March it gets dark well before
6:00pm). Also, any stop that does NOT include a shelter NEED NOT BE
A.D.A.
accessible; StarMetro has only 30 shelters for this project (and may
use
some existing ones), but there are AT LEAST 20 intersections one must
navigate in order to fully use this network, and, ideally, each
intersection would have at least 2 sheltered stops!!!
StarMetro has not even hired an A.D.A. consultant yet. That is how
concerned they are.
And still, if you are not concerned, think about the proverbial
little old
ladies coming back from the pharmacy on the bus. Surely you've seen
(or at
least heard of) them. How will they manage???
HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD:
You can attend a listening session:
* Tue 10/6 / City Hall in the Tallahassee Room, 300 South Adams
Street, 12
noon - 1 pm & 5:30 - 7:00 pm
* Wed 10/7 / Leroy Collins Public Library, 200 West Park Avenue, 12 >
noon - 1:00 pm
* Thur 10/8 / Atkins Building in Koger Office Center, 1320 Executive
Center Drive, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
* Wed. 10/14 2:00 PM Meeting room, Miccosukee Hills Apartments,
3201
Miccosukee Road, Route 4- first bus stop after interning complex.
* Wed. 10/14 / Leroy Collins Public Library, 200 West Park Avenue,
5:30 -
7:00 pm
* Thur 10/22 / Northeast Branch Library, 5513 Thomasville Road, 5:30 -
7:00 pm
* Tue 10/27 / B.L. Perry Jr. Branch Library, 2817 South Adams Street,
11:30 am - 1 pm & 5:30 - 7:00 pm
or call starmetro at 891-5283
or email them at nova2010project@xxxxxxxxxx
Thank you for your consideration on this matter.
Erica McCaul
