You bring up a very important point Robert: it's not anything particular
about nova 2010; it's that this has been the most concerted effort, the
most
cooperative effort from the different groups, of the local blind community
that I've ever seen anyway.
It's the primary reason I first put TABI together, to try and provide a
talking place for the different groups, and no matter how the bus system
turns out, we've proven to ourselves that we can do things like this
together. It's a good start, and I hope too many people don't end up
leaving it, when it's all over, with any hurt feelings. Instead, they
ought
to be proud of what they were able to contribute, despite their hurt
feelings (because we all get them at times). being able to keep going
after
our feelings get hurt, or after we lose a battle, shows us what kind of
people we really are.
As for the particulars of Robert's response, and the article, Kevin would
you please take note of this question: starMetro has indicated that they
won't go into the mall unless someone pays the $46000 cost; why can't they
just as easily drop one route, and put it's $46000 towards the mall, and
make the same statement about some other section of town that's a
destination a lot less of the time? This mall choice is entirely their
own,
and in my opinion was designed from the very start to try and extort money
out of Governor's Square, who perhaps stand to lose enough business to
make
them consider paying it. At no time do I think StarMetro has taken the
consideration of the ridership into their decisions.
Please everyone, don't forget to write members of the TAC (such as Kevin)
to
let them know your views; and if the TAC recommends the plan, please don't
forget to start writing the city commission. I suspect, being ultimately
responsible for losses the city may incur due to lawsuits (from injuries),
they will be the most sensitive to the idea of putting so many people in
danger by making them walk through so many intersections to get to their
destinations.
thanks.
Chip
-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
Of Easy Talk
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 12:26 PM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: from today's Democrat: Lack of quorum stalls vote on
bus
changes
This is pretty interesting and I would like to thank Kevin and Owen for
there efforts. in fact I would like to thank all who have been involved
with this issue. During the 20 years I have lived in Tallahassee I think
this has been the most involvement I have seen from the blind community.
With all that said, I think we need to put our concerns aside and take a
look at the bill of goods the city is trying to push on us and personally
I
don't think safety and our concerns as disabled citizens is going to be
enough to stop the change.
Now that we have put our concerns aside, let's look at what we are
getting.
Do you remember the 50 pounds of dog food that are now 44 pounds and the 5
pound bags of sugar that are now 4 pound bags? but the price is the same
or
more. Well that is the way I see this bill of goods. Less coverage but
more frequent service, no safe or weather proof transfer points just to
mention a few are what you will get for the same price of the current
service. How many of you will ride the new bus system in weather like we
had last Thursday or walk a mile in 100 degree weather?
Star Metro is selling the plan based on more frequent buses and longer
hours
of service and they admit the coverage area is less. More frequent bus
service isn't going to benefit people who can't get to the bus in the
first
place. Star Metro might be able to show where extended hours benefit some
people but just to give an example of how this is a bunch of bunk, let me
tell you how it works on my route. During the week days I could catch a
buss about every 15 or 20 minutes to Wal-Mart or target but not at all
during evenings or weekends. Most people work during the week and most
likely won't be going to Wal-Mart or target unless they are state
workers!!smile. So my question is are we getting any benefit from this
proposed bill of goods and have we let our concerns become our main
objection to the plan.
If you notice in the article, Sam Scheib says As for a route into
Governor's
Square mall, Scheib said it would cost
$46,000 per
year. He said the plan must remain "cost neutral."
"If we can get Governor's Square mall to pay for it, then we can do it,"
this basically tells me the city had said we could do this as long as It
doesn't cost more than the current budget. We all know government doesn't
provide increased service with out it costing more.
I think the advisory board should ask Star Metro If the plan is
implemented
and is a failure, how long do we have to put up with it and is there a
plan
in place to go back to the old system.
I also think the plan is not ready to be implemented based on the current
proposals. I am not saying it is impossible but needs more work and
commitment from the city and taltran and should be delayed until all
problems are addressed and ready to implement with the roll out as apposed
to making promises that may never come to light.
Kevin, please feel free to bring my concerns to the TAC board.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 1:53 PM
Subject: [tabi] from today's Democrat: Lack of quorum stalls vote on bus
changes
January 22, 2010
Lack of quorum stalls vote on bus changes By TaMaryn Waters DEMOCRAT
STAFF WRITER
The city of Tallahassee's Transit Advisory Committee, a
citizen-advisory board, couldn't vote on StarMetro's proposed Nova
2010 plan Thursday night since it didn't have a quorum.
A special meeting is now set for Thursday so the committee can vote on
whether to support the plan, which includes changes in how the city's
bus system operates. StarMetro planners will use the vote as a guide
for finishing a draft report and map, which has had eight revisions
since August. It's slated to go before the City Commission in March.
During Thursday's meeting, several concerns were brought up by
committee members and riders. Those include safety, particularly when
crossing busy intersections, the elimination of a route into
Governor's Square mall and a need for more audible signals.
"The safety concerns are riding over everything," Kevin Davis, a
committee member and StarMetro rider, said.
Davis said he supports some of the proposals, but he said the safety
concerns are "overwhelming" compared to the plan's benefits.
Owen McCaul, a bus rider, agreed, especially since the new plan has 39
transfer points but only two audible signals, which he says are
helpful for people with disabilities.
"I really feel like they are not giving adequate attention to the
safety concerns,"
McCaul said.
Sam Scheib, a senior StarMetro planner, said the plan, which is
designed to decentralize the bus system, would create bus-transfer
spots across town rather than run all routes through the C.K. Steele
Plaza. It would increase the number of buses coming to a bus stop
during peak hours, and it would reduce routes in some areas.
He said planners are looking into safety and logistical issues. The
draft has been changed several times as a result of input from riders.
For example, service to Trojan Trail was added instead of backtracking
on Conner Boulevard, and a "loop route" was divided into two different
routes in an effort to increase connectivity between the south side
and Lake Jackson areas.
Some riders were worried about the lack of sidewalks at some of
transfer points.
Scheib said the city is working on that, although he couldn't
guarantee they'd be complete by nova2010's target launch in December.
As for a route into Governor's Square mall, Scheib said it would cost
$46,000 per year. He said the plan must remain "cost neutral."
"If we can get Governor's Square mall to pay for it, then we can do it,"
he said.
Or, Scheib said, some other service will be affected.
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.
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.
