By: Diane Benjamin
November is a new record loss. See wages and stay tuned. This is going to take more than one story. I have proof the Proterra Electric buses are junk. Connect has 12. One might still be operating, the count of working electric buses changed weekly. It never went up – only down.
Many millions of your tax dollars were thrown away. Thank Chris Koos and Mboka Mwilambwe for who they appointed to the Connect Transit Board. The same people get appointed over and over so the fleece of your tax dollars continues. The electric buses fiasco should make the entire board resign. Of course it won’t because nobody is demanding it. Plenty of evidence existed Proterra had problems before Connect bought any of their buses, they failed you by buying them.
In case you didn’t know, both Pam Reece and Tim Gleason sit in on Board meetings. They allowed this to happen too.
Since the Board did not meet in December, these two months are presented together.
I’m no math wiz, but it appears that even with the subsidies they still have an operating deficit in the tens of thousands of dollars.
I can’t remember the number but when you figure in the operating cost, and losses I think the cost per mile for riders very high. ($50-$80?? my calculations)
Reports are in the packet: https://connect-transit.com/file/2156/01%2023%202024_BoT%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf
Renner was Mayor at the time the busses were purchased. Some Council Members spoke against the purchases. CT Board doesn’t listen to the community.
Councils can recall appointments!
Connect Transit is continuing to buy them, Renner has nothing to do with them now.