Comments on: Despite Setback, Advocates Claim Partial Win in MTC Discrimination Suit http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/02/despite-setback-advocates-claim-partial-win-in-mtc-discrimination-suit/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:16:44 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Wendy Alfsen http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/02/despite-setback-advocates-claim-partial-win-in-mtc-discrimination-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-6046 Wendy Alfsen Sun, 07 Jun 2009 04:38:52 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1874#comment-6046 Apples were compared to oranges when BART was compared to AC Transit instead of comparing BART to all bus transit (totalled together) in BART's service area. When BART totals are compared to the totals of ACT, Muni, CCTransit, SMTA, then the discrimination of $ vs passenger #s and communities of color would be clearer and the comparisons meaningful. ACT can not generate an equivalent # of passengers when it can only serve only a portion of the geographical area serviced by BART Apples were compared to oranges when BART was compared to AC Transit instead of comparing BART to all bus transit (totalled together) in BART's service area. When BART totals are compared to the totals of ACT, Muni, CCTransit, SMTA, then the discrimination of $ vs passenger #s and communities of color would be clearer and the comparisons meaningful.

ACT can not generate an equivalent # of passengers when it can only serve only a portion of the geographical area serviced by BART

]]> By: Adam http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/02/despite-setback-advocates-claim-partial-win-in-mtc-discrimination-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-4558 Adam Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:15:57 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1874#comment-4558 The comparison is misleading. For example, MTC funds 26 different transit agencies in the bay area, not just BART, Caltrain, and ACTransit. Golden Gate Transit--North Bay bus service provider--has by far the highest percentage of white riders of any bay area transit provider, yet faced greater hardship under MTC's funding programs (greater service cuts and rate hikes) than AC Transit. Also, although BART has a lower percentage of minority riders than AC Transit, it actually serves a much larger number of minorities than AC Transit. Finally, much of the funding that MTC provides gets directed to rail projects because the state and federal legislation states a preference for rail line development. This in turn is motivated by the desire to build sustainable, transit-oriented housing developments which cannot be built around bus lines that, unlike rail, change over time and still take up space on roads, emit carbon, etc.. I suspect we could accomplish more by working together to improve funding for public transportation, rather than pointing fingers. The comparison is misleading.

For example, MTC funds 26 different transit agencies in the bay area, not just BART, Caltrain, and ACTransit. Golden Gate Transit--North Bay bus service provider--has by far the highest percentage of white riders of any bay area transit provider, yet faced greater hardship under MTC's funding programs (greater service cuts and rate hikes) than AC Transit.

Also, although BART has a lower percentage of minority riders than AC Transit, it actually serves a much larger number of minorities than AC Transit.

Finally, much of the funding that MTC provides gets directed to rail projects because the state and federal legislation states a preference for rail line development. This in turn is motivated by the desire to build sustainable, transit-oriented housing developments which cannot be built around bus lines that, unlike rail, change over time and still take up space on roads, emit carbon, etc..

I suspect we could accomplish more by working together to improve funding for public transportation, rather than pointing fingers.

]]> By: mcas http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/02/despite-setback-advocates-claim-partial-win-in-mtc-discrimination-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-4525 mcas Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:13:37 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1874#comment-4525 National Transit Database, 1989-2003: Per-Rider Subsidies: AC Transit: $2.78 BART: $6.14 CalTrain: $13.79 Percentage of White Riders: AC Transit: 20.6% BART: 43.3% CalTrain: 60.0% ..coincidence? http://urbanhabitat.org/files/MTC-Where%20Are%20Our%20Buses12.20.pdf National Transit Database, 1989-2003:

Per-Rider Subsidies:
AC Transit: $2.78
BART: $6.14
CalTrain: $13.79

Percentage of White Riders:
AC Transit: 20.6%
BART: 43.3%
CalTrain: 60.0%

..coincidence?

http://urbanhabitat.org/files/MTC-Where%20Are%20Our%20Buses12.20.pdf

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