Posted October 3, 200717 yr TRANSPORTATION RTA director: Budget cuts needed Trustees also learn that the agency lacks funds for a light-rail system By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Wednesday, October 03, 2007 DAYTON — Trustees got their first look Tuesday at the 2008 Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority budget, and it wasn't pretty. Executive Director Mark Donaghy outlined preliminary numbers and said trustees will need to carve nearly $2.4 million out of the $58.9 million budget unless they want to use reserves. ........ Find this article at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/10/02/ddn100307rta.html
November 6, 200717 yr Got this recently from the Greater Dayton RTA regarding "streetcar" plans for Dayton. November 1, 2007 Dear Community Leader: I would like to personally invite you to a community discussion regarding the proposal for a Heritage Streetcar system for Dayton. As you are aware, several studies have been completed over the past few years that have identified the benefits of such a system. The meeting is intended to be a candid discussion of the facts regarding the benefits and costs associated with the proposals and development of a consensus of the stakeholders. We have asked Kathy Hollingsworth to act as facilitator for the event. The meeting information is presented below: Heritage Streetcar Stakeholder Meeting Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:30 PM Dayton Convention Center, Room 302 Main Street at 5th Dayton Ohio Copies of the studies, as well as other relevant documents can be accessed through RTA’s website, “greaterdaytonrta.org” and I encourage you to take time to review this material prior to the meeting. Printed copies will also be made available upon request. It is our desire to move the discussion forward at this point from “whether there is support for the project” to “how can we responsively fund the capital and operating costs” of the heritage streetcar project and want you to be a part of that process. I hope you can join us for this meeting. Please RSVP at 425.8392 or by e-mail at [email protected]. You may contact me directly at 425.8390 or [email protected] if you need for additional information. Sincerely; Mark Donaghy Executive Director
December 5, 200717 yr RTA may raise fares, cut service Trustees look to deal with a $1.7 million deficit in their 2008 operating budget; a hearing is slated Dec. 13. Listen to this article or download audio file.Click-2-Listen By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Wednesday, December 05, 2007 DAYTON — Greater Dayton RTA trustees must carve $1.7 million out of next year's operating budget, and it's pretty clearly going to come at the expense of riders. Under consideration: increasing the current $1.25 adult bus fare to as much as $1.50; eliminating free transfers; and raising the Project Mobility fare to $3, which is a $1 increase. ....... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/12/04/ddn120507rta.html
December 13, 200717 yr Hearings on proposed RTA fare hikes today Dayton Daily News Thursday, December 13, 2007 DAYTON — The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority will hold two public hearings today about fare increases and service reductions proposed for implementation in January. ...... Find this article at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/12/13/ddn121307rta.html
December 20, 200717 yr RTA to seek 25-cent fare increase Rising fuel costs, increasing employee health costs and reductions in sales tax receipts cited by officials. By Tom Beyerlein Staff Writer Wednesday, December 19, 2007 DAYTON — The finance committee of the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority on Tuesday recommended that the bus service bump up its fares by 25 cents per ride in hopes of erasing a projected $1.7 million budget shortfall in 2008. The proposal includes no reductions in services. ...... Find this article at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/12/18/ddn121907rta.html
January 21, 200817 yr RTA to raise fares in FebruaryJanuary 16, 2008 | DAYTON BUSINESS JOURNAL DAYTON - The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority will increase adult fares by 25 cents starting Feb. 1, but there will be no reductions in transit services. RTA's board voted to increase fares on Jan. 3 and is facing a $1.7 million deficit in RTA's 2008 budget, prompting it to either cut service or increase fares, according to a Tuesday announcement. ......... The standard bus cost for adult riders will be: Cash fare up 25 cents to $1.50; 10 Tokens up $1.50 to $11; Weekly pass up $5.50 to $15 and Monthly pass up $10 to $45.
May 7, 200817 yr Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority buses will have a whole new look this fall, starting with the arrival of 13 buses. The RTA Board of Trustees on Tuesday gave the nod to the new design a green bus with a gold and green swoosh. It is part of an overall redesign of RTA's logo and buses design done by Nova Creative, a local marketing firm. The new buses cost about $320,000 each and RTA has the option to buy up to 60 of them by 2011. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/index/news/local/050608rtabuses.html
November 6, 200816 yr Greater Dayton RTA rolls out new buses Staff Report Dayton Daily News Thursday, November 06, 2008 DAYTON — The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority in the last week rolled out three new 40-foot green buses sporting bright new colors, a redesigned logo, and improved amenities. The Gillig coaches are the first of 13 buses received from the manufacturer. All will be ready for service within a couple of weeks, according to Tom Hodge, lead maintenance supervisor. ...... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/11/06/ddn110608rta.html
November 8, 200816 yr Ride for free on new buses Wednesday http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/11/08/ddn110808rtafreeride.html If you're interested in getting a free ride, the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority wants you to keep your eyes peeled on Wednesday, Nov. 12. That day, if you spot a new RTA green bus on any route you may board and ride to your destination for free. ........
January 7, 200916 yr Major changes coming to downtown RTA bus stops Wright Stop Plaza is set to open in May and would centralize stops, eliminating 11 current stops and adding 3. By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Tuesday, January 06, 2009 DAYTON — Downtown's congestion at Third and Main streets will take on a whole new look when the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority opens a new facility that will eliminate roadway bus queues. Eleven bus stops will be eliminated, including all of those around Wright Stop Plaza, and three will be added, including one serving the Sinclair Community College area. Officials hope this will resolve chronic problems with crowds gathering at Third and Main streets. ......... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/01/06/ddn010609rtaweb.html
January 7, 200916 yr See the action alert from the American Public Transportation Association posted at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14971.msg357239.html#msg357239 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 27, 200916 yr Are these Electric Trolley buses? :? no, the green buses are diesels; RTA staff said they would have to "see if the new paint scheme would work" on the trolleys, translated meaning they are still evaluating the future of the trolley system. See my posts about Dayton's trolleybuses at the end of the threads on Dayton transit history and rising oil prices, there is some indication they may be using economic stimulus money to do some route extensions on 3,4 & 7. Also, they recently went out for bid for overhead trolley parts for the wright stop plaza.
May 6, 200916 yr Bus fare hikes, cuts on RTA's agenda RTA is struggling with dramatic drop in sale tax revenue. By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Updated 1:16 AM Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Bus fare increases and service cuts will be discussed at a June 1 public hearing at the Dayton Convention Center, the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority announced Tuesday, May 5. The hearings at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. will give citizens a chance to comment on proposals that are being developed to offset a projected $3.1 million 2009 deficit. RTA is struggling with a dramatic drop in sales tax revenue, which makes up ............ http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/bus-fare-hikes-cuts-on-rtas-agenda-108509.html
May 25, 200916 yr RTA chief blasts hub contractor Construction of the downtown plaza is far behind schedule; agency is charging damage By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Updated 10:14 AM Sunday, May 24, 2009 DAYTON — Construction of the Wright Stop Plaza Transit Center downtown is far behind schedule and disagreements over blame have the general contractor demanding more money and the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority charging liquidated damages.
May 25, 200916 yr Myers said construction problems relate directly to the unique circumstances of the site, a narrow space between buildings formerly called Market Street. Underground issues included foundations that were not known to be there, existing utilities that had to be rerouted or modified, electrical problems, basements and vaults, and a gas line that was supposed to be there but could not be found Whoops! No soil boring? Might not have picked up on foundations , though. Myers said construction problems relate directly to the unique circumstances of the site, a narrow space between buildings formerly called Market Street. Underground issues included foundations that were not known to be there, existing utilities that had to be rerouted or modified, electrical problems, basements and vaults, and a gas line that was supposed to be there but could not be found. This is a good example of how RTA's project manager and their engineering firm did really poor site investigation or didn't build in a contingency for latent site conditions. Those of you who follow the Dayton threads here at Urban Ohio would have known better, because the history of the site was well documented at this thread From Market House to Bus Hub
May 25, 200916 yr One of the comments to the DDN article said this: Let the truth be know. When the Admiral Benbow building was torn down by RTA the foundation was mostly left untouched. This was under the supervision of RTA's Binh Dinh. He has since left RTA. The remaining foundation created havoc for the re-routing of electrical utilities and other underground services. Funny how RTA isn't pleased with a contractor when they created the problem themselves. Shame! ...if true and the foundation removal wasn't in the bid, big "oops".
July 8, 200915 yr Ohio transit system raising fares again Wednesday, July 8, 2009 8:08 AM DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - To help close a budget gap, one of Ohio's largest transit systems is raising bus fares for the third time since 2005. The board of the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority voted Tuesday to raise adult fares by 25 cents to $1.75, beginning Aug. 1. ........ http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/08/adayton.html?sid=101
August 28, 200915 yr And once again, suburban NIMBYism rears its ugly head: http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=9435 Heaven forbid the RTA might want to engage in a business deal that makes beneficial use of one of their facilities and provides for easy intermodal tranfer to local Dayton bus service. What EVER were they thinking?
November 19, 200915 yr OK, I'm not yelling here. I'm just using really large, red letters to make this flier easier for you to find in the future...... SAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT! Download the flier from: http://members.cox.net/corridorscampaign/Save%20public%20transit%20flier.pdf I need your help! Please print out this flier in large quantities and post them legally in visible places. Or just hand them out to people on your bus or train each day. If the driver asks you to stop, please comply. Thanks! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 2, 200915 yr I realize many of you don't read the Lorain County Transit thread. I encourage you to do so today as some news there is likely a harbinger of things to come for all Ohio counties: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=16502.msg444095#msg444095 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 12, 201015 yr Would free bus rides boost Dayton’s economy? By Joanne Huist Smith, Staff Writer Updated 1:14 AM Friday, March 12, 2010 DAYTON — Mayor Gary Leitzell is looking at the feasibility of providing free bus service to attract businesses and tourists to the Dayton region. “I’m looking at it as a economic development driver,” he said. “We can start by having a discussion.” Leitzell said the idea for free bus service sprang from a discussion with Steve Johnson, president of Sinclair Community College, focusing on ways to get more people — under 30 years old — to live and spend time downtown. READ MORE AT: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/would-free-bus-rides-boost-daytons-economy-594439.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 26, 201015 yr Instead, they're getting hybrid buses..... Thursday, March 25, 2010, 1:39pm EDT Dayton RTA to roll out hybrid buses Dayton Business Journal A new fleet of eco-friendly buses will soon hit Dayton streets. The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority is rolling out 10 new hybrid buses within the next two weeks. The hybrids, which cost about $525,000 each, are expected to save 10 percent in fuel costs. They were paid for by a combination of stimulus money and air quality grant funding from the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, said Mark Donaghy, executive director of RTA. READ MORE AT: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2010/03/22/daily36.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 16, 201015 yr This has become an interesting story: Churches want bus stops at two area malls DAYTON — A coalition of 18 churches wants the owner of the Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons to boost bus service to those retail centers. “What we want is to have (bus) stops that are closer to the mall entrances, providing better accessibility for workers as well as elderly and handicapped riders,” the Rev. Earl Hudson, pastor of Harris Memorial CME Church, said. “This is a serious health and safety issue.” The story is followed by 276 comments. One of the reasons is that the preachers want busses into Greene County, to the Fairfield Commons mall in Beavercreek, a place that has no bus service (aside from one line to Wright State). The scurrilous nature of the comments provoked an additional string at Esrati, who made this blog post: How Racist is Dayton Today That our local leadership doesn’t respond to these crackers is an even more sorry state of affairs. There is no reason we should allow the racism- or the kind of behavior that these people rail against- in our community. It’s time to learn to live together. However, comments like these- make me think that maybe Dayton isn’t the kind of place I should live in. The issue and comments even made it to the usually dry City-Data Forum: The Age-Old Question of Public Transit to Daytons Malls Looks like someone opened up a can of worms this morning. Churches want bus stops at 2 area malls Personally, I find churches who meddle in politics to be silly and one-sided in there agenda. IMHO, churches should be providing community services to its folks, not advocating for busing to malls. Again, it seems silly to me. Obviously, there is a lot of pent up anger and drama over this, as noted in the articles comment section. Maybe we can have a more civil discussion on the topic of buses running to the Fairfield and Dayton Malls. On a side note, I find it interesting they are discriminating against the malls here, as The Greene is never mentioned, not once.
April 20, 201015 yr The real issue is why Dayton isn't leading the way with fixed rail and TOD. Buses are far inferior.
April 22, 201015 yr You gotta give Dayton some credit for maintaining an electric trolleybus system long after they disappeared from most of the rest of the country. They may not have the appeal of streetcars, but they don't get as much love as they deserve. I've always been thoroughly dismayed by how horrible the engine noise is inside even brand new diesel buses. Trolleybuses don't have that problem, and while not totally silent, they're very very quiet. They also tackle hills much better than diesel buses, which is why they're still used in San Francisco and Seattle. I don't think that's a factor in Dayton, but it's worth noting. Of course, they also don't pollute the air where they run, with fumes or noise. It's a very valuable bit of green infrastructure that they should be touting much more.
June 11, 201015 yr RTA's hybrid bus fleet jumps to 20 by fall Greater Dayton RTA among systems getting state funding to increase alternative fuel use. By Joanne Huist Smith, Staff Writer Updated 9:46 PM Thursday, June 10, 2010 DAYTON — The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority will double the size of its hybrid bus fleet this fall for a total of 20, including four new coaches funded by a $2.3 million Clean and Green grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT on Wednesday, June 9, announced grants totalling $15 million for 11 urban or rural transit systems aimed at increasing use of alternative fuels and decreasing operational costs. Miami County Public Transit will also be adding two fuel efficient buses to its fleet through a $150,000 grant. “Never before has ODOT made this type of direct investment in our state’s transit agencies to bolster our commitment to promoting travel choice and cleaning the air we breathe,” agency Director Jolen M. Molitoris said. READ MORE AT: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/rtas-hybrid-bus-fleet-jumps-to-20-by-fall-756714.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 28, 201114 yr RTA bus stop proposal up for vote todayBy Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer Updated 12:50 AM Monday, March 28, 2011 BEAVERCREEK — If the Greater Dayton RTA precisely followed the list of issues and options requested by the Beavercreek city council, the proposed bus stops near the Mall at Fairfield Commons would be unlike any others, possibly anywhere. The council is expected to vote Monday night on the RTA’s application for three bus stops along Pentagon Boulevard near the mall. The topic has been controversial due to strong stances against the stops by many Beavercreek citizens and passionate pleas for the stops by individuals and area government, school and religious groups. The latest twist is a one-page list of issues and options presented to the RTA last week. The list — beyond the 21-page design criteria for public transit stops and ordinances governing the application — would, if followed exactly, create utopian bus shelters. Read more at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/rta-bus-stop-proposal-up-for-vote-today-1119697.html
March 29, 201114 yr Not sure how that vote went, but they do have a legit concern with maintenance issues, particularly trash and litter. That is an issue with RTA stops. But interesting how things work here in Dayton, how they manage the denial, how "Oh its not really about race, or class, or , or, or...its about other, more neutral things".
March 29, 201114 yr They voted No on it. It is classic racism and classism. I don't buy the trash/litter schtick one bit. Kettering has wonderfully maintained bus stops. Centerville does. Englewood does. Oakwood does. Miamisburg does. Sure, Dayton's got some trashy bus stops but it's a much larger (and poorer) city than the others. Somebody made the point about downtown Oakwood, Centerville, and Englewood along with Town & Country having multiple bus stops yet NONE of those places seem to be dealing with "crime" or "the element" nor complaining about transit. Hell, Washington Township goes all out with their bus stops (the gazeebos) and seems to be doing just fine. Beavercreek is just showing their backwards reputation in full spotlight. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 29, 201114 yr Before they put up the stop and trash can next to my apartment there was litter at the stop. But that was addressable by simply putting up a trash can an emptying it. Too bad about BC not supporting this. Though its doubtful Id take the bus to Fairfield commons I did use Route 1 to WSU, and probably will again.
March 30, 201114 yr Editorial: B-creek vote against RTA embarrassing By the Dayton Daily News | Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 06:00 AM Beavercreek’s City Council has no good reasons to keep the Greater Dayton RTA from having three bus stops on Pentagon Boulevard near the Mall at Fairfield Commons and Kettering Health Network’s new hospital. But it voted 6-0 against the stops anyway. The council’s demands of RTA would be comical if the situation weren’t so sad. Full editorial at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/03/30/editorial_bcreek_vote_against.html?cxtype=feedbot
March 30, 201114 yr The comments at the DDN facebook page are a hoot. Fear of the Bus! But yeah, I do think the issue is more the "aesthetics" of RTA ridership vs the reality of the bus system as a "ghetto delivery system". No necessarily racial as just that RTA riders are too icky for Beavercreek sensibilities. Classic NIMBY attitude. Oh well, its just anothe Miami Valley dysfucntion.
April 2, 201114 yr Another good op-ed on the issue by Marvin Gottlieb, the DDN editor Non-Drivers Losses in 3-C, Beavercreek, show a pattern The bus-to-the-mall opponents can’t believe there are many who are law-abiding, non-troublesome and affluent enough to shop at Fairfield Commons. Search around the Internet a little and you’ll find words for people who are afraid of driving in a car (amazophobia), afraid of automobiles (motorphobia) and, for that matter, afraid of trains (siderodromophobia). What’s needed is a word for fear of people who don’t drive. The non-drivers are out there. They’re regular people, or there wouldn’t be so many of them. They’re keeping alive modes of transportation the rest of us only turn to in emergencies. They’re more numerous in bad economic times, it stands to reason. And they apparently need a public relations rep.
April 4, 201114 yr Ellen Belcher: B-creek may face RTA riders in court By the Dayton Daily News | Sunday, April 3, 2011, 06:03 AM I don’t mean to pick on Beavercreek. I do mean to criticize Beavercreek City Council. Its meeting last week — when it voted 6-0 not to allow Greater Dayton RTA to put three bus stops on Pentagon Boulevard near the Mall at Fairfield Commons — was not a proud moment. An editorial here March 30 (“Beavercreek vote against RTA embarrassing”) explained why the council’s objections are bogus. I won’t repeat them all here, but if you missed the coverage, among the council’s demands was that the shelters be heated and air-conditioned. Read full editorial at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/04/03/ellen_belcher_bcreek_may_face.html?cxtype=feedbot
April 18, 201114 yr The Dayton Daily News has an op-ed that talks about the implications on the regionalism issue (which I think is a dead issue). Is Regionalism Still Possible After Beavercreek? "....The controversy dealt a blow to the cause of a united region, to the notion that the people of the Dayton area need to see themselves as in the same boat, need to identify with one another, need to focus on what unites them rather than wallow in division, fear and competitiveness...." Comments at the DDN facebook page are excellent, as usual: "...Dayton has become the cancer of the Miami Valley, unfortunately. Few will touch it with a ten-foot pole. The City of Dayton has become the proverbial red headed stepchild in regards to the rest of the Miami Valley. Only the CoD can change that..." Opinion Page Comments
May 12, 201114 yr Dayton ranks No. 27 (out of 100) in transit study :clap: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/05/12/dayton-ranks-no-27-in-transit-study.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 12, 201114 yr And for the map: http://www.brookings.edu/metro/jobs_and_transit/Map.aspx "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 12, 201113 yr The Beavercreek rejection of RTA is the basis for a civil rights complaint. But its being filed by a church coalition, not RTA Group Alleges Beavercreek Violated Civil Rights Act An attorney for Leaders for Equality and Action in Dayton Inc., or LEAD, held a press conference on the steps of the Tony Hall Federal Building in Dayton to announce that the council’s March 28 vote to reject the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority’s request for the bus stops near the mall constituted discrimination. The group is calling on the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Civil Rights and the United States Department of Transportation to conduct a Title VI compliance investigation into the denial and Beavercreek’s actions. Good! I hope they are sucessfull! Beavercreek is the heart of hypocrisy of the Miami Valley. The place exists because of defnese spending yet they are the most rabid righty anti-government tea-party Sarah Palin lovin' conservos in the region. Though this sounds implausible there was a sucessfull suit (out of court settlement, though) in Milwaukee over the very same issue. From an article on the politics around the proposed Milwaukee streetcar.... Synposing: Due to suburban political opposition the state opposed constructing a busway out to the suburbs, and , later, a regional light rail system, which resulted in the following: In frustration, Milwaukee community activists filed two civil rights complaints against the state with the U.S. Department of Transportation in late 1998. The complaints noted that many of the central city's African-American residents didn't have cars, but nearly all white suburbanites did. Therefore, activists argued, the state was discriminating against minorities by favoring freeways over public transit.... ...A year later, attorneys for the state and the activists quietly settled the complaints, with the state's promise to "fully cooperate" with the connector study and to ensure its recommendations "are fairly considered" for inclusion in state and regional transportation plans. Transportation projects must be included in such plans to qualify for federal funding. The settlement also called for the state Transportation Department to "use its best efforts to assist the Milwaukee County Transit System to expand and improve transit service within the Milwaukee metropolitan area to enable transit-dependent residents of Milwaukee to better access areas of job growth." ...which sounds a lot like the sitaution in Beavecreek, except its not a state highway department involved.
August 26, 201113 yr Beavercreeks' excessive bus stop design issue is now screwing up Greene Counties CATS (sort of an on-demand system that has one fixed-route service) attempt to open a stop at a shopping center off US 35 Bus Stop Embargo Stalls Shuttle BEAVERCREEK — Beavercreek’s six-month moratorium on permits for public transit stops will delay plans by Greene CATS for a park-and-ride stop at Lofino Plaza at U.S. 35 and North Fairfield Road. Beavercreek city attorney Stephen McHugh confirmed that all public transit stops — whether on private or public land — are covered by the resolution. ...if you read the article to the end it seems that both Xenia and Fairborn are OK with normal bus stop amenties supporting CATS, and that Beaverceek Council (reading between the lines) didnt realize that this was going to screw up a Greene County based bus service.
January 17, 201213 yr Dayton RTA fans, anybody out there know why GDRTA isn't running their electric trolley buses, despite recently spending funds on filling in gaps in the overhead wire system. The most trolleys you see running currently are 2--thats two buses not two routes--in the AM rush hour and 2 in the PM rush hour. They say it's because of construction detours but that's not true with respect to routes 3 and 4. UPDATE: They just brought trolley routes 3 and 4 back on-line this week. :-D See my post under Ohio urban photos/Dayton Trolley thread.
July 24, 201212 yr Beavercreek vs the Bus....the tale continues.... The Feds started an investigation earlier this year in response to the civil rights complaint. Agency examining Beavercreek’s denial of RTA request DAYTON — A federal agency has launched an investigation into allegations that the Beavercreek City Council discriminated against minorities when it unanimously voted against adding three bus stops near the Mall at Fairfield Commons. A civil rights specialist with the Federal Highway Administration will lead the investigation and meet with Leaders for Equality and Action (LEAD) in Dayton during a public meeting at 7 p.m. April 9 at College Hill Community Church, according to organization officials. Then Beavercreek city govt. decided to revist the issue, passed another ordnance, but not much changed....and the Feds continue to investigate.... The latest: Revised Beavercreek bus stop criteria approved The Federal Highway Administration continues to investigate a civil rights complaint against Beavercreek filed by Leaders of Equality and Action (LEAD), a coalition of 16 congregations in the Dayton area, said administration spokesman Doug Hecox. LEAD claimed in its complaint that the vote rejecting the bus stops discriminated against minorities..... .......Mark Donaghy, executive director of RTA, said his agency will decide how to proceed after the federal investigation is complete. He called changes council has made to the 28 page criteria minor and requirements like surveillance cameras, traffic studies and vehicle turnouts in high traffic area burdensome and overly expensive.
July 25, 201212 yr More troubling to me is that as a Montgomery County taxpayer, that extra 0.5% sales tax the 500000 people in Montgomery County pay to run the RTA will now be subsidizing travel outside the county to spend money.
July 25, 201212 yr This already exists in that RTA runs to WSU. So they turn the WSU line (Route 1) into a loop on Pentagon Blvd. Since most of the cost of operating transit is in personnell...the drivers....this wouldnt be adding a personnell cost since they already have drivers on the route. The only additional cost would be the fuel/wear n tear cost for the extra leg on Pentagon Blvd, and maybe the stop improvments (one-time capital cost). That this is a fairly low-cost service enhancment is probably why RTA is even considering this.
July 25, 201212 yr I was annoyed as a taxpayer when the Wright State connector bus stopped running to Murray Loop, and Rt 13 came into being. But it wasn't too bad in 1986 (?) -- there wasn't a whole lot out Airway in Greene County except WSU. And I comprehend the idea that a line to WSU is a convenience for Montgomery County residents in order to access WSU. As such, Rt 1 should run express to WSU within Greene County, or people who want to get on or get off anywhere other than WSU should contribute to their eroding of the tax base and pay a surcharge. It is utter lunacy that Montgomery County taxpayers (in response to whomever is driving this) would choose to subsidize anyone to shop and do business in Greene County. What businesses are out there which are *not* available in Montgomery County?
Create an account or sign in to comment