By: Diane Benjamin
I’m busy with other projects today, I might be back tomorrow or the next day.
Meanwhile, enjoy this WGLT story:
Connect Transit may have to shut down in January. Relying on bankrupt Illinois for money was a big mistake. Loosing more than $26 million in three years was an even bigger one. Maybe they should call the Brady bunch. See the YELLOW below.
http://wglt.org/post/connect-transit-could-suspend-bus-service-january#stream/0
Fiscal Year 2016
PDF page 7: http://www.connect-transit.com/documents/July%2026,%202016%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Binder1.pdf
Fiscal Year 2015
PDF page 7: http://www.connect-transit.com/documents/July%2028,%202015%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Binder1.pdf
Fiscal Year 2014
PDF page 7: http://www.connect-transit.com/documents/Meetings/Packets/8-26-14Binder1.pdf
Thus the push for the transportation thing on the ballot? It is absolutely crazy to have these huge buses running around town that have such low ridership.
The amendment for a transportation “lock box” would allow the continuation of wasteful spending by Connect Transit.
So much for the fancy new buses…. I see them all the time running empty…. They could sell the new buses… like new, seats are in perfect almost unused condition!
You commenters obviously don’t ride connect transit.
#1. These buses sent empty , mi e is always packed.
#2. If you relied.on it like me and hundreds if others , your tune would change.
You don’t have a right to make everybody else pay for your transportation! It’s theft. They earned their money, you aren’t entitled to it.
Some buses are packed. The rest are empty. Any real business plan would schedule routes accordingly with the proper size vehicle.
Tory, you’re right I don’t ride Connect Transit. I pay for my own vehicle and my own gas to drive it. I also pay taxes that go to support Connect Transit so I think I along with the rest of the tax paying public should have a say in this bilking of government at every level, federal, state and local. I’m not sure what bus you’re riding, but the rest of us see empty buses burning up gas all over town. I understand your need for transportation, but Connect is not your only option. Maybe you should look into Uber or car pooling. Better start now because Connect may not be around much longer.
Election year, they will get bailed out and as Skunk mentioned – the amendment will pass because people are now too uninformed to realize it’s a scam. Permanent funding will be in place.
It would be cheaper to pay buy 200 people $10k cars per year and give another 400 people $10k per year to take Uber than continue to operate these busses at loses of $8-10 million per year.
I also expect to pay a fair cost for what I use. If it costs me $20 to take a taxi to the airport, I don’t expect other people in town to pay $18 of that $20 for me.
If they are going to continue operating this system at a loss, at least cut/reduce sparsely used routes and sell these busses and buy smaller shuttle busses.
I’m sure there are a few routes that have a decent usage. I just must not see them and only see the sparse routes (all over town).
You don’t rely on it, it’s just another tool for you. Find another way to get your ass around town.
Tory, I don’t have a problem with helping out people that need it. Never did, never will. However that said many here are concerned about the wasteful spending. The loss of almost a million dollars a month is not sustainable.
I dont see the contributions from Normal and Bloomington in their list of operating assistance. The new route changes were to increase ridership by 19% thereby increasing revenue. The backlash from dropping certain routes is ending up costing the system more money. Add to that the cost of the oversized buses that are usually empty. Providing public transportation is appropriate if it is properly managed.
See this post, they list it separately now: https://blnnews.com/2016/09/29/connect-transit-only-lost-812117/
Not to mention Bloomington renting the decrepit bus barn.
That subsidy is for 1% of Bloomington’s population if you count each “boarding” as a separate “individual rider”–there is a difference between # of boardings and ridership.
The more the planners plan the more they get things wrong. At least if they shut down the buses people can ride bikes this winter.
I know of people who get a ride from their neighbors or pastor to/from work especially late when the busses don’t run. I don’t see HOW either mayor can use the “sustainable” argument on this matter! It’s a pure waste from every angle.
The individuals who ride and use and want these buses need to speak up now. The RIDERS should demand that the system become more efficient and demand cost-cutting measures. If the riders insist to keep it running as-is, then it is their own risk in losing it entirely once the mainstream taxpayers become more aware of the waste going on. The bus riders should demand that the waste stop immediately so they don’t lose this “good thing” they’ve got going.
Well said!