Comments on: Topeka Transit: What is the long term solution? http://www.transformtopeka.com/topeka-transit-what-is-the-long-term-solution/ Topeka Image Improvement Project Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:42:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: callie http://www.transformtopeka.com/topeka-transit-what-is-the-long-term-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-861 callie Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:32:21 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=871#comment-861 what kinds of long term multiple use tickets are there? is there a way for the tmta to generate a more solid expectation of necessary bus lines and where to focus their time and energy by tracking the routes that daily repeat users need and want? would marketing this type of ticket help the tmta with up-front revenue?<br><br>i don't use the bus, generally because it has a terrible reputation for being inconvenient and unreliable. there are bus stops very near my house and i would love to live in a community where bus schedules were solid and the transit system was easy to use. i don't feel that way about it now/yet. i don't even know where to get a bus schedule or a map. i definitely don't want to stake my time and my hydration level on a day this hot hoping that the bus will be there nearly on-time. if the tmta can convince me that they are dependable, i would love to ride the bus. what kinds of long term multiple use tickets are there? is there a way for the tmta to generate a more solid expectation of necessary bus lines and where to focus their time and energy by tracking the routes that daily repeat users need and want? would marketing this type of ticket help the tmta with up-front revenue?

i don't use the bus, generally because it has a terrible reputation for being inconvenient and unreliable. there are bus stops very near my house and i would love to live in a community where bus schedules were solid and the transit system was easy to use. i don't feel that way about it now/yet. i don't even know where to get a bus schedule or a map. i definitely don't want to stake my time and my hydration level on a day this hot hoping that the bus will be there nearly on-time. if the tmta can convince me that they are dependable, i would love to ride the bus.

]]> By: Matt http://www.transformtopeka.com/topeka-transit-what-is-the-long-term-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-613 Matt Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:18 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=871#comment-613 As a proponent of a better community, I support public transportation. However, I think very few people understand exactly what TMTA is spending its money on, and we get for that expenditure. I have personally looked at the data and I have several opinions. So, I would encourage everyone to do the same before claiming that the sky is falling. TMTA should prove to the taxpayers that its routes, buses, and operations are in-line with other EFFICIENT and comparable cities. This has not yet been done publicly. Last, I'd like to point out that Sunday service is not always offered EVERYWHERE, all of the time. Neither is evening service. Somehow those cities survive. Bizarre! As a proponent of a better community, I support public transportation.

However, I think very few people understand exactly what TMTA is spending its money on, and we get for that expenditure. I have personally looked at the data and I have several opinions. So, I would encourage everyone to do the same before claiming that the sky is falling.

TMTA should prove to the taxpayers that its routes, buses, and operations are in-line with other EFFICIENT and comparable cities. This has not yet been done publicly.

Last, I’d like to point out that Sunday service is not always offered EVERYWHERE, all of the time. Neither is evening service. Somehow those cities survive. Bizarre!

]]> By: Ryan http://www.transformtopeka.com/topeka-transit-what-is-the-long-term-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-612 Ryan Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:14:06 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=871#comment-612 The question should be, "What are we doing to prevent this from happening in the future?" Those who are supporting need to ask the same question. We must get away from the idea, to always raise taxes when we are in a fiscal crunch. I would like to ask, the head of the Topeka Transit Authority to volunteer to reduce their salary in order to help meet the TTA budget, if they have not already. Their are plenty of organizations and taxes, homeowners support. It would be interesting to know how many people who are want to raise the mill levy are homeowners? Finally, the bus does not get support because the bus is not convenient for the majority of people. Furthermore, why should they ride the bus, if they don't want to. People need to have the choice and not be forced into doing this or doing that. The question should be, “What are we doing to prevent this from happening in the future?” Those who are supporting need to ask the same question.

We must get away from the idea, to always raise taxes when we are in a fiscal crunch. I would like to ask, the head of the Topeka Transit Authority to volunteer to reduce their salary in order to help meet the TTA budget, if they have not already. Their are plenty of organizations and taxes, homeowners support. It would be interesting to know how many people who are want to raise the mill levy are homeowners?

Finally, the bus does not get support because the bus is not convenient for the majority of people. Furthermore, why should they ride the bus, if they don’t want to. People need to have the choice and not be forced into doing this or doing that.

]]> By: gwenda http://www.transformtopeka.com/topeka-transit-what-is-the-long-term-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-610 gwenda Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:43:26 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=871#comment-610 Karl - I do think that public transit is a good & necessary thing for Topeka to have. I am glad to hear that you were on a full bus today, and obviously at that time & that route, they need the large buses, but like Brandon, I can't remember the last time I saw a full bus. Mostly I see the ones along Wanamaker because that is where I work. At least in some areas, the large buses do not seem to be necessary Looking at how to make an organization more efficient can never be a bad thing & in times like these when many peoples budgets are already strained, I think it is the responsible thing to look at what can be done to save money and then go to the taxpayers if more is still needed. Karl – I do think that public transit is a good & necessary thing for Topeka to have. I am glad to hear that you were on a full bus today, and obviously at that time & that route, they need the large buses, but like Brandon, I can’t remember the last time I saw a full bus. Mostly I see the ones along Wanamaker because that is where I work. At least in some areas, the large buses do not seem to be necessary Looking at how to make an organization more efficient can never be a bad thing & in times like these when many peoples budgets are already strained, I think it is the responsible thing to look at what can be done to save money and then go to the taxpayers if more is still needed.

]]> By: callie http://www.transformtopeka.com/topeka-transit-what-is-the-long-term-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-609 callie Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:28:45 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=871#comment-609 what kinds of long term multiple use tickets are there? is there a way for the tmta to generate a more solid expectation of necessary bus lines and where to focus their time and energy by tracking the routes that daily repeat users need and want? would marketing this type of ticket help the tmta with up-front revenue? i don't use the bus, generally because it has a terrible reputation for being inconvenient and unreliable. there are bus stops very near my house and i would love to live in a community where bus schedules were solid and the transit system was easy to use. i don't feel that way about it now/yet. i don't even know where to get a bus schedule or a map. i definitely don't want to stake my time and my hydration level on a day this hot hoping that the bus will be there nearly on-time. if the tmta can convince me that they are dependable, i would love to ride the bus. what kinds of long term multiple use tickets are there? is there a way for the tmta to generate a more solid expectation of necessary bus lines and where to focus their time and energy by tracking the routes that daily repeat users need and want? would marketing this type of ticket help the tmta with up-front revenue?

i don’t use the bus, generally because it has a terrible reputation for being inconvenient and unreliable. there are bus stops very near my house and i would love to live in a community where bus schedules were solid and the transit system was easy to use. i don’t feel that way about it now/yet. i don’t even know where to get a bus schedule or a map. i definitely don’t want to stake my time and my hydration level on a day this hot hoping that the bus will be there nearly on-time. if the tmta can convince me that they are dependable, i would love to ride the bus.

]]> By: Karl http://www.transformtopeka.com/topeka-transit-what-is-the-long-term-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-608 Karl Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:11:35 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=871#comment-608 It's hard for an organization to make cuts when you've been working with fixed sources of income for more than a decade. The TMTA lost a federal grant for Sunday and evening routes. They've been working with the same amount from the mill levy since 1994. I think it's fair and good to raise the mill levy to support an organization that serves 8,000 Topekans a day (which, by the way, is more than city-supported fire and police departments ever have, combined). I rode a full bus at 12:15 today. Wouldn't broader support and ridership of public transit transform Topeka? It’s hard for an organization to make cuts when you’ve been working with fixed sources of income for more than a decade. The TMTA lost a federal grant for Sunday and evening routes. They’ve been working with the same amount from the mill levy since 1994. I think it’s fair and good to raise the mill levy to support an organization that serves 8,000 Topekans a day (which, by the way, is more than city-supported fire and police departments ever have, combined). I rode a full bus at 12:15 today. Wouldn’t broader support and ridership of public transit transform Topeka?

]]> By: Brandon Sheley http://www.transformtopeka.com/topeka-transit-what-is-the-long-term-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-607 Brandon Sheley Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:08:51 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=871#comment-607 Something needs to be done, I've yet to see a full bus anywhere in town. I've only looked off of Wanamaker and Topeka Blvd, but I'd say the most I've seen on a buss at any given time is 5.. Wasteful indeed Something needs to be done, I’ve yet to see a full bus anywhere in town. I’ve only looked off of Wanamaker and Topeka Blvd, but I’d say the most I’ve seen on a buss at any given time is 5..

Wasteful indeed

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