Comments on: MTA Board Approves 10 Percent Muni Service Cut; Discount Fast Pass Spared http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/ 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: patrick http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-168751 patrick Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:57:09 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-168751 "because there were no guarantees that service would not be cut and fares would not be raised for the seniors, disabled and youth" That is complete BS. “because there were no guarantees that service would not be cut and fares would not be raised for the seniors, disabled and youth”

That is complete BS.

]]> By: Rona http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-166661 Rona Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:05:25 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-166661 There should be focus on work orders and Downtown business paying their fair share. Nolan was wrong in his attempt to formulate tension between the riders and the Operator. This transit system is one of the toughest in the country. Chop from the top is the way to go, most speakers expressed this viewpoint. This whole squeeze the operator plot is a farce. Operators turned down the proposal because there were no guarantees that service would not be cut and fares would not be raised for the seniors, disabled and youth. Additionally, Elsbernd was a sponsor the the last Charter Amendment in which he and Peskin took the ceiling off the Operators wage formula (Prop A), now here he comes again. Elsbernd is a very nasty politician. When this story first broke, Elsbernd countinued to make dishonest statements regarding an Operator Christmas Bonus that never was and repetitously quoted Transit Operator's wages in excess of 2.00 above what the rate actually is. MTA and Elsbernd continue to scapegoat the Transit Operator for the problems of MUNI. The real truth would make MTA shame. In the midst of it all, Ford hired another executive salary in excess of $200,000.00 as he presses operators to make concession. Chop from the top! There should be focus on work orders and Downtown business paying their fair share. Nolan was wrong in his attempt to formulate tension between the riders and the Operator. This transit system is one of the toughest in the country. Chop from the top is the way to go, most speakers expressed this viewpoint. This whole squeeze the operator plot is a farce. Operators turned down the proposal because there were no guarantees that service would not be cut and fares would not be raised for the seniors, disabled and youth.

Additionally, Elsbernd was a sponsor the the last Charter Amendment in which he and Peskin took the ceiling off the Operators wage formula (Prop A), now here he comes again. Elsbernd is a very nasty politician. When this story first broke, Elsbernd countinued to make dishonest statements regarding an Operator Christmas Bonus that never was and repetitously quoted Transit Operator’s wages in excess of 2.00 above what the rate actually is. MTA and Elsbernd continue to scapegoat the Transit Operator for the problems of MUNI. The real truth would make MTA shame. In the midst of it all, Ford hired another executive salary in excess of $200,000.00 as he presses operators to make concession. Chop from the top!

]]> By: MG http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-165871 MG Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:19:12 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-165871 Like jass said, Muni definitely isn't alone when it comes to budget cuts. Not that it makes this situation any better, but at least we have company, I guess. The DC Metro is facing a similar crisis right now. In fact, if you read the comments section of this article from the Washington Post, you could almost substitute "Metro" with "Muni" and you would never know the difference! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/20/AR2010022003730.html Like jass said, Muni definitely isn’t alone when it comes to budget cuts. Not that it makes this situation any better, but at least we have company, I guess. The DC Metro is facing a similar crisis right now. In fact, if you read the comments section of this article from the Washington Post, you could almost substitute “Metro” with “Muni” and you would never know the difference!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/20/AR2010022003730.html

]]> By: patrick http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-165791 patrick Sat, 27 Feb 2010 06:30:05 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-165791 So here are the issues that I'm seeing: MTA cuts service 10% for a 3.6% annual budget savings. Work orders are still being charged to Muni. Monthly passes are further complicated & confused. Operators union refuses to make concessions that most other unions agreed to. Still no real progress on increasing meter rates where appropriate or extending hours. In addition, from what I understand the TEP was endorsed about a year and a half ago, but instead of implementing it they cut service across the board Also, some other ideas (some may be good, some may be bad): 1) congestion charging for driving downtown. 2) congestion charging on muni during rush hour 3) discounting fares during non-rush hour 4) increasing cash fares, but keeping prepaid fares lower 3) extending transfer validity from 90 minutes to 4-6 hours 4) requiring businesses that validate parking to also give discounts for customers taking Muni I think we should remember the issues that we are dealing with and talk about what the focus of the riders coalition should be. I'm sure others have some great ideas as well. SPUR released a document for suggestions to fix the budget issues: https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByRBwpOn4HP6YTFkYWYzOTktMzZiMS00ZDQ0LWFlYjItOWM5YjE5YjdjYTQ0&hl=en So here are the issues that I’m seeing:

MTA cuts service 10% for a 3.6% annual budget savings.
Work orders are still being charged to Muni.
Monthly passes are further complicated & confused.
Operators union refuses to make concessions that most other unions agreed to.
Still no real progress on increasing meter rates where appropriate or extending hours.

In addition, from what I understand the TEP was endorsed about a year and a half ago, but instead of implementing it they cut service across the board

Also, some other ideas (some may be good, some may be bad):

1) congestion charging for driving downtown.
2) congestion charging on muni during rush hour
3) discounting fares during non-rush hour
4) increasing cash fares, but keeping prepaid fares lower
3) extending transfer validity from 90 minutes to 4-6 hours
4) requiring businesses that validate parking to also give discounts for customers taking Muni

I think we should remember the issues that we are dealing with and talk about what the focus of the riders coalition should be. I’m sure others have some great ideas as well.

SPUR released a document for suggestions to fix the budget issues:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByRBwpOn4HP6YTFkYWYzOTktMzZiMS00ZDQ0LWFlYjItOWM5YjE5YjdjYTQ0&hl=en

]]> By: jass http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-165541 jass Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:44:59 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-165541 2010: Transit agencies enter a race to the bottom! Who can cut the most service and increase the fares to the highest point? 2009 was the junior competition, as smaller agencies around the country cut service. But now the big boys are in play. Will DC add another 30 cents to the highest fares in the country? How many bus routes can SF cut? Will NYC eliminate some night routes? Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion, coming this summer, when yet another layer of deficits are found! 2010: Transit agencies enter a race to the bottom! Who can cut the most service and increase the fares to the highest point?

2009 was the junior competition, as smaller agencies around the country cut service. But now the big boys are in play. Will DC add another 30 cents to the highest fares in the country? How many bus routes can SF cut? Will NYC eliminate some night routes?

Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion, coming this summer, when yet another layer of deficits are found!

]]> By: Josh Borroughs http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-165471 Josh Borroughs Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:06:09 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-165471 i wish more people had focused on TWU's refusal to make concessions. Every other employee union did. Still looking forward to that charter amendment.... And, I'm disappointed by Oka's vote too, but he is a notorious flip flopper. i wish more people had focused on TWU’s refusal to make concessions. Every other employee union did. Still looking forward to that charter amendment….
And, I’m disappointed by Oka’s vote too, but he is a notorious flip flopper.

]]> By: Alex http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-165451 Alex Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:01:52 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-165451 BTW, the discount passes were not spared. They're now multi-tiered like the adult passes. If you use a discount pass and want to use BART, a cable car, or an "express" bus you need to pony up for a $25 pass. BTW, the discount passes were not spared. They’re now multi-tiered like the adult passes. If you use a discount pass and want to use BART, a cable car, or an “express” bus you need to pony up for a $25 pass.

]]> By: mikesonn http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-165421 mikesonn Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:40:08 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-165421 Why did Oka vote for the 10% service cuts? Why did Oka vote for the 10% service cuts?

]]> By: SFResident http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-165361 SFResident Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:18:18 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-165361 Why aren't more people talking about the work order problem? That's a major issue that seems to have been swept under the table. . . Why aren’t more people talking about the work order problem? That’s a major issue that seems to have been swept under the table. . .

]]> By: Michael Smith http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/26/mta-board-approves-10-percent-muni-service-cut-discount-fast-pass-spared/comment-page-1/#comment-165341 Michael Smith Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:04:42 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=152351#comment-165341 For you wonks: Muni's budget is $783.0 million/year. Cutting service by 10% will provide a cost savings of $4.8 million or just 0.6% for the rest of this fiscal year and $28.5 million or just 3.6% annually in the future. So instead of coming up with the necessary money by increasing parking revenues (they are already increasing transit fares) they are making major cuts and getting a very low return. For you wonks: Muni’s budget is $783.0 million/year. Cutting service by 10% will provide a cost savings of $4.8 million or just 0.6% for the rest of this fiscal year and $28.5 million or just 3.6% annually in the future. So instead of coming up with the necessary money by increasing parking revenues (they are already increasing transit fares) they are making major cuts and getting a very low return.

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