Comments on: Absenteeism and Maintence Concerns Could Spell Trouble for Muni http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bennyinsf http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-62921 bennyinsf Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:50:36 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-62921 I agree with AKIT. We need to revolt against MUNI! We've been forced to accept mediocrity for way too long. How is it that one agency has been able to hold hundreds of thousands of daily commuters hostage? MUNI is bad for the economy of SF (think of how much accumulated lost time and productivity can be blamed on MUNI because it can't move people efficiently and on time to work). It's also bad for our collective psyche -- we need peace of mind knowing that we can depend upon our mass transit system to actually work MOST of the time without the constant frustration and uncertainty we encounter everyday with this system. I agree with AKIT. We need to revolt against MUNI! We’ve been forced to accept mediocrity for way too long. How is it that one agency has been able to hold hundreds of thousands of daily commuters hostage? MUNI is bad for the economy of SF (think of how much accumulated lost time and productivity can be blamed on MUNI because it can’t move people efficiently and on time to work). It’s also bad for our collective psyche — we need peace of mind knowing that we can depend upon our mass transit system to actually work MOST of the time without the constant frustration and uncertainty we encounter everyday with this system.

]]> By: the greasybear http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60511 the greasybear Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:50:15 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60511 Griping about Muni is a longstanding San Francisco treat--think decades. That said, Muni really is unacceptably unreliable. Not so the similar surface/subway rail and bus systems in cities like Boston, LA, and Philadelphia--why can't Muni do better? Griping about Muni is a longstanding San Francisco treat–think decades. That said, Muni really is unacceptably unreliable. Not so the similar surface/subway rail and bus systems in cities like Boston, LA, and Philadelphia–why can’t Muni do better?

]]> By: Nick http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60451 Nick Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:14:28 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60451 Does anyone know what year it became part of the civic culture to complain about MUNI? It couldn't have always been mismanged and late. There must have been a time when the transist system in this city ran like it does it other cities. I remember Mayor Brown proclaiming he could fix MUNI in 100 days (circa 1995?). Then later when the press came after him for MUNI being so slow, he challenged an LRV to a footrace from Castro Street to the Embarcadero Station during a highly publicized morning commute. The LRV won, but just barely Does anyone know what year it became part of the civic culture to complain about MUNI? It couldn’t have always been mismanged and late. There must have been a time when the transist system in this city ran like it does it other cities.

I remember Mayor Brown proclaiming he could fix MUNI in 100 days (circa 1995?). Then later when the press came after him for MUNI being so slow, he challenged an LRV to a footrace from Castro Street to the Embarcadero Station during a highly publicized morning commute. The LRV won, but just barely

]]> By: Akit http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60441 Akit Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:12:17 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60441 One of my former co-workers was on that N-Judah that was stuck today. It turned out the steps broke. Everyone knows, but it seems that it doesn't get into the SFMTA Board of Director's minds, the agency is hitting new lows every single day. It is almost a daily ritual to read my twitter feeds and notice at least one metro delay show-up. 311 for Muni is a practical insult for people who need to complain about something so serious that it can't be addressed tomorrow or be looked at hours later (i.e. running stop signs, driving without headlights). The public must REVOLT! And you wondered why I made my "20 demands to fix Muni" on my blog, the public is fed-up! One of my former co-workers was on that N-Judah that was stuck today. It turned out the steps broke.

Everyone knows, but it seems that it doesn’t get into the SFMTA Board of Director’s minds, the agency is hitting new lows every single day.

It is almost a daily ritual to read my twitter feeds and notice at least one metro delay show-up. 311 for Muni is a practical insult for people who need to complain about something so serious that it can’t be addressed tomorrow or be looked at hours later (i.e. running stop signs, driving without headlights).

The public must REVOLT!

And you wondered why I made my “20 demands to fix Muni” on my blog, the public is fed-up!

]]> By: Greg http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60381 Greg Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:25:09 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60381 This is no surprise. Continue to loot Muni and allow slipshod management and oh noes! the system falls apart. People are getting pissed, and when Muni management engages in double talk and Mayor "Football Bat" talks about massive cuts as an improvement, it's clear nothing will change unless we change how Muni is run. Absenteeism is unacceptable and it's time to tell the unions to shape the fuck up, or ship out. Same goes to bloated management with perks but who are unaccountable. And finally this bullshit way we appoint MTA commissioners is a failure and needs changes. Why the HELL am I asked to vote on civil rights, but apparently told that I and everyone else in SF is apparently too stupid to have a say and demand the people's railway run for the benefit of us, not overpaid hacks. This is no surprise. Continue to loot Muni and allow slipshod management and oh noes! the system falls apart.

People are getting pissed, and when Muni management engages in double talk and Mayor “Football Bat” talks about massive cuts as an improvement, it’s clear nothing will change unless we change how Muni is run. Absenteeism is unacceptable and it’s time to tell the unions to shape the fuck up, or ship out. Same goes to bloated management with perks but who are unaccountable. And finally this bullshit way we appoint MTA commissioners is a failure and needs changes. Why the HELL am I asked to vote on civil rights, but apparently told that I and everyone else in SF is apparently too stupid to have a say and demand the people’s railway run for the benefit of us, not overpaid hacks.

]]> By: jackmayhofferr http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60321 jackmayhofferr Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:01:11 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60321 How is it that NYC can run a subway system 10 - 20 x the size of muni and not have nearly as many issues? I have been on trains that stop 3x in the embarcadero station before letting anyone off? At the station -- open the F*n doors. Muni needs to be over hauled from the top down. The CEO was absent. Nat Ford should be fired. Muni is getting worse, not better under his lead. How is it that NYC can run a subway system 10 – 20 x the size of muni and not have nearly as many issues? I have been on trains that stop 3x in the embarcadero station before letting anyone off? At the station — open the F*n doors.

Muni needs to be over hauled from the top down. The CEO was absent. Nat Ford should be fired. Muni is getting worse, not better under his lead.

]]> By: Jamie Whitaker http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60261 Jamie Whitaker Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:31:16 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60261 I forget to state the obvious ... I believe the whole Chief Gascon's implementation of Compstat is to help target the problem areas using data ... if MUNI can't figure out statistics, call the Chief of Police who apparently understands data analysis in addition to cleaning up the Tenderloin. I forget to state the obvious … I believe the whole Chief Gascon’s implementation of Compstat is to help target the problem areas using data … if MUNI can’t figure out statistics, call the Chief of Police who apparently understands data analysis in addition to cleaning up the Tenderloin.

]]> By: Jamie Whitaker http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60251 Jamie Whitaker Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:29:30 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60251 They need Chief Gascon to teach them how to figure out the biggest abusers of absenteeism among operators, and just plan (start training replacements) to fire the worst 10% or so .... hopefully, the ones that aren't the worst will get the message that we ain't screwin' around no more when we're looking at a $500 million budget deficit next fiscal year and residents are tired of getting squeezed to pay for MUNI's inefficiencies. They need Chief Gascon to teach them how to figure out the biggest abusers of absenteeism among operators, and just plan (start training replacements) to fire the worst 10% or so …. hopefully, the ones that aren’t the worst will get the message that we ain’t screwin’ around no more when we’re looking at a $500 million budget deficit next fiscal year and residents are tired of getting squeezed to pay for MUNI’s inefficiencies.

]]> By: Erik http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60191 Erik Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:50:19 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60191 How the hell can the head of an organization be absent at its annual performance review? Assuming he's not in the hospital or something, shouldn't this literally be more important than everything else on his schedule? How the hell can the head of an organization be absent at its annual performance review? Assuming he’s not in the hospital or something, shouldn’t this literally be more important than everything else on his schedule?

]]> By: Richard Mlynarik http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60161 Richard Mlynarik Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:16:37 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60161 So when exactly do the morons responsible for "designing" and specifying Muni's heaviest-in-the-world, two-decades-obsolete, high-platform, less-reliable-when-new-than-the-awful-old-Boeings-they-replaced "light" rail vehicles get to serve the long prison sentences they richly deserve rather than continuing to hold senior Muni planner positions, shill the Central Subway (eg Peter Strauss of the MTA), and continue to suck down huge consulting contracts (ie pretty much all of Muni's contractor mafia, especially BAH and PBQD)? Actions are supposed to have consequences when Muni's admittedly hostile and unmotivated front-line workforce calls in AWOL, but there are no consequences at all when their white collar criminal counterparts waste billions of dollars and condemn us to inappropriate, poorly-designed and unreliable equipment for decades to come. Next stop! Central Subway! So when exactly do the morons responsible for “designing” and specifying Muni’s heaviest-in-the-world, two-decades-obsolete, high-platform, less-reliable-when-new-than-the-awful-old-Boeings-they-replaced “light” rail vehicles get to serve the long prison sentences they richly deserve rather than continuing to hold senior Muni planner positions, shill the Central Subway (eg Peter Strauss of the MTA), and continue to suck down huge consulting contracts (ie pretty much all of Muni’s contractor mafia, especially BAH and PBQD)?

Actions are supposed to have consequences when Muni’s admittedly hostile and unmotivated front-line workforce calls in AWOL, but there are no consequences at all when their white collar criminal counterparts waste billions of dollars and condemn us to inappropriate, poorly-designed and unreliable equipment for decades to come.

Next stop! Central Subway!

]]> By: tommy http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60081 tommy Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:03:29 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60081 he said trolleys are the backbone of the muni METRO system, people. he said trolleys are the backbone of the muni METRO system, people.

]]> By: megan allison http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-60001 megan allison Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:24:13 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-60001 What a hilarious and ironic day to publish this crisply written article! There was some "stress on the operating side" of Muni Metro this morning; it took our inbound N-Judah a full 30 minutes to go from 9th & Irving to Van Ness Station. Our operator drove approximately 3mph the entire way, yelling on the intercom for passengers to step behind the yellow line, and passing up waiting passengers at Stanyan and Cole, claiming over the PA that we were "at capacity" (the second car definitely wasn't) and complaining about stoppages but never explaining any technical problems. At Van Ness, we were stopped for another 10 minutes with no explanation, except the operator telling us there was a "problem with the train's stairs." (Which she'd neglected to raise until most of the way through the tunnel between Church & Van Ness.) A few minutes later, she asked anyone with a cell phone to "call 311 and ask for some help, because central command isn't responding." A bunch of us did, and the operators at 311 were nice but a little confused and basically unable to do anything but thank us for the call. A few minutes after that, the operator herself came to our back car and motioned for a passenger to pull the emergency door opening lever. As we exited, she explained she was letting us out because "central command told me there are just too many emergencies happening at once." There were trains stacked up behind us going inbound, and as we left Van Ness station they started making announcements about "inbound delays at Van Ness," and some other outbound delays too. Communication between central command, operators and riders has never been Muni's forte, but I'm prepared for things to get pretty tense as we increasingly "see the impact of the reduction of the operating budget on some of the performance criteria." I'm someone who understands and has a great deal of sympathy for the system, and I was thisclose to pushing the emergency talk button and letting loose with a string of expletives. What a hilarious and ironic day to publish this crisply written article!

There was some “stress on the operating side” of Muni Metro this morning; it took our inbound N-Judah a full 30 minutes to go from 9th & Irving to Van Ness Station. Our operator drove approximately 3mph the entire way, yelling on the intercom for passengers to step behind the yellow line, and passing up waiting passengers at Stanyan and Cole, claiming over the PA that we were “at capacity” (the second car definitely wasn’t) and complaining about stoppages but never explaining any technical problems.

At Van Ness, we were stopped for another 10 minutes with no explanation, except the operator telling us there was a “problem with the train’s stairs.” (Which she’d neglected to raise until most of the way through the tunnel between Church & Van Ness.)

A few minutes later, she asked anyone with a cell phone to “call 311 and ask for some help, because central command isn’t responding.” A bunch of us did, and the operators at 311 were nice but a little confused and basically unable to do anything but thank us for the call. A few minutes after that, the operator herself came to our back car and motioned for a passenger to pull the emergency door opening lever. As we exited, she explained she was letting us out because “central command told me there are just too many emergencies happening at once.”

There were trains stacked up behind us going inbound, and as we left Van Ness station they started making announcements about “inbound delays at Van Ness,” and some other outbound delays too.

Communication between central command, operators and riders has never been Muni’s forte, but I’m prepared for things to get pretty tense as we increasingly “see the impact of the reduction of the operating budget on some of the performance criteria.”

I’m someone who understands and has a great deal of sympathy for the system, and I was thisclose to pushing the emergency talk button and letting loose with a string of expletives.

]]> By: Akit http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-59981 Akit Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:19:53 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-59981 Muni Metro, the backbone? Yeah right, they are more like the broken neck of the agency. As for Nat Ford, uh huh, absent aye? He's showing that he's a proud example of a city employee. Muni Metro, the backbone? Yeah right, they are more like the broken neck of the agency.

As for Nat Ford, uh huh, absent aye? He’s showing that he’s a proud example of a city employee.

]]> By: sfsmskater http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-59961 sfsmskater Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:03:52 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-59961 Motorcoaches are the backbone of Muni! Motorcoaches are the backbone of Muni!

]]> By: zsolt http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/absenteeism-and-maintence-concerns-could-spell-trouble-for-muni/comment-page-1/#comment-59951 zsolt Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:55:20 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=95441#comment-59951 "Absenteeism and Maintence Concerns Could Spell Trouble for Muni" "MTA Director of Capital Programs Carter Rohan, who was sitting in for ***absent*** MTA CEO Nathaniel Ford" LOL. Muni operators need to start live in the real world. If you don't show up for work, you're out of a job real soon. “Absenteeism and Maintence Concerns Could Spell Trouble for Muni”

“MTA Director of Capital Programs Carter Rohan, who was sitting in for ***absent*** MTA CEO Nathaniel Ford”

LOL.

Muni operators need to start live in the real world. If you don’t show up for work, you’re out of a job real soon.

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