By: Diane Benjamin
I never got around to reporting May 2023 numbers. June is year-end so that loss isn’t available yet.
May report: https://www.connect-transit.com/file/1590/06%2027%202023_BoT%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf
$3,524,229 for more electric buses!
Operating deficit was $1,261,135. (new buses not included)
May 2023 Total Fixed Route Ridership: 146,647. Year to Date riders are up 18.36%
Don’t get excited. Compare that with pre-pandemic numbers – 2019.
May 2019: https://www.connect-transit.com/file/234/June%2025%202019%20Board%20Packet.pdf
Total Fixed Route Ridership was 184,443 AND the operating deficit was only $806,050.
Contract Transit has 20% fewer riders than it did in 2019 while operating deficits rose 36%.
June 2023: https://www.connect-transit.com/file/1641/07%2025%202023_BoT%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf
Fixed Route Ridership was 133,264.
In 2019 it was 153,952. https://www.connect-transit.com/file/238/July%2023%202019%20Board%20Packet%20FINAL.pdf
13.4% of riders disappeared.
All the elected officials who keep funding this clown show need to throw a party for us taxpayers who get stuck with the bills.
Now most of their buses have wraps on the windows preventing the public from seeing how few riders are on the huge busses. It is such a waste. It would cost less, be more convenient, and have a lower carbon footprint if they just paid for people to take cabs.
Thanks for keeping these numbers in front of us, however it is maddening to see this waste go on month after month. Like most government programs, this one just continues to grow out of control with no end in sight.
Why are the buses so BIG? It would seem to make more sense to have more buses half the size.
First, public transportation came about when the massive numbers of workers began to overwhelm the roadways and sidewalks. Vehicle traffic included engine and horse horse traffic. Pedestrians also had many bicyclists to contend with, causing a traffic nightmare until laws were written forcing the bicycle to follow vehicle rules for the road. All of this resulted in tremendous congestion on roads and sidewalks during the 19th and 20th century that were built before the Industrial Revolution, forcing local governments to find ways to cope.
So, bus routes were created to accommodate large groups of passengers, along with street trolleys, and rail car and eventually even subways were added.
Today, the “Bus” route of many cities has been found to be a leftover of that early era. With less need for the large buses in small towns and instead a more efficient and cost effective transportation network for the public has started to emerge.
Combining the use of modern technology through various Apps, users walk, bike to a location, and either ride-share in a large public transportation Shuttle, (https://www.driverge.com/product-innovation/minibus-ford-transit-bus-doors/), or (preferred method) use a private company/service contracted through the town to offset a portion of the fees.
Government is never as efficient as a private company, ie the huge buses here in Bloomington/Normal that are barely utilized, too big for the small streets, maybe used for longer arterial routes, then use Shuttles for the smaller feeders. Logistics 101.
In large cities many corporations will pay for public transportation, train, yearly tolls (I-pass), for workers that utilize it.
Sone corporations do pay, very few use buses. Meanwhile taxi service ended because government wanted it to
Bicyclists and motorcycles still don’t follow the rules of the road.
“Micro-transit” service through an app using a 8 person van is now being offered on the West Side with hopes to expand depending on the trial run.