[tabi] Re: Nova2010: If you think it won't matter to you
- From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:18:43 -0400
Thanks Erica; both for the route descriptions, and for the
well-thought-out critique, and well-written description, of the problems
pertaining to the proposed system.
I understand why people may not make it to a listening session; I do not
understand any dial-a-ride user (or bus rider), who doesn't bother to
write StarMetro or their city commissioners, and express their needs and
feelings. I think you should do so, even if you don't feel you have a
full understanding of the new system. It's perfectly fine to express
your needs, and ask the officials to make sure the changes will meet
them.
Chip
------------------------------
Chip Orange
Database Administrator
Florida Public Service Commission
Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(850) 413-6314
(Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not
necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 2:48 PM
> To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [tabi] 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
>
> Check out the TABI resource web page at
> http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> 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.
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