Comments for Transit Action Network

Comment on It’s Time For Regional Discussion Of Transit by Janet

Janet — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:34:56 +0000

Hi Tom,
1. The ATA accepts the $67 Jo pass and they share the revenue. The Jo does not take the ATA $50 pass because of the price difference. The two passes aren’t equal.
2. The Jo (Johnson County Transit-JCT) contracts with a bus company called First Transit to operate the bus routes.
First Transit won the Independence contract to operate their local routes. The Jo is not going to run the Independence service. First Transit will operate bus service in both areas.
3. I haven’t heard anything about First Transit having difficulty getting drivers, but I will find out next week..

Comment on It’s Time For Regional Discussion Of Transit by tom

tom — Fri, 25 May 2012 22:22:04 +0000

the thing i dont understand about the ” The Jo ” is yes the ATA does accept the monthly passes from the “The Jo” but they DO NOT accept the monthly passes from the ATA WHY? and also the ” The Jo ” bid and got the City of Independence bus contract but the “The Jo ” does not have the drivers to take over the routes that was was suppose to take over back in April and now again they are suppose to take over the City of Independence in July but again they are not going to do so because they dont have the drivers if they did not have the drivers wonder why they even placed a bid to take over those routes?

Comment on It’s Time For Regional Discussion Of Transit by Rick Leidig

Rick Leidig — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:54:35 +0000

The most visionary definition of “seamless regional transit” I can think of would be a multi-modal, five-county network of public transportation alternatives with a zone-based fare structure that allows users to change from one zone to another and one mode to another, all managed by a single operating authority Modes could include light rail, commuter rail, express bus and bus rapid transit services as well as future expansion to include short-haul, single-trip subscription,2-3 passenger mini-electric road vehicles and charging stations and bike rentals.

On KCPT’s “Imagine KC” program this evening with its focus on the potential of the 2.5 mile starter streetcar line to promote economic development,Chrsitopher Leinberger from the Brookings Institution commented that Kansas City, Mo. has “already been lapped” by similar cities in planning or installing public transit corridors. His comment suggests that it is now more than ever prejudicial to this region’s economic future to invoke past history.

Comment on KCATA Comment Period on July Route Changes Closes April 23 by Kat T

Kat T — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:39:50 +0000

I ride the 471 every morning and afternoon from the IRS campus. There are so many poeple that do, some of them blind or with other handicaps…What are they supposed to do, walk to Crown Center?? This is rediculous!!! I am having knee surgery next month and will spend a long time on crutches then in rehab, there is NO way I can walk down there! What are people that rely on this stop supposed to do??? WHO came up with this stupid idea?

Comment on Great Bargain for JCT Commuters and A Step Forward for Seamless Transit by Diane Stewart

Diane Stewart — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:35:38 +0000

Excellent news!!!

Comment on Help Protect the Transit Budget in Johnson County by Diane Stewart

Diane Stewart — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:56:51 +0000

I just emailed and asked to be included in the focus group for Olathe, we’ll see what happens. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I hadn’t heard anything about it in the newspaper.

Comment on Independence Transit Committee Recommends First Transit by Mike

Mike — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:02:07 +0000

See the unfortunate part about this is that 30% increase in service hours isn’t really an increase, so why that’s being said who knows. An increase in service hours would mean it would extend past 6PM. However this “increase” is just putting back all the hours during the daytime that’s been cut (the 9 – 11AM break and the Yellow/Red mess). Infact the only true increase is the Silver Route which is going all week long as opposed to two days a week.

What the city should have said is: “with this new system, we will be able to take out the cutbacks that are currently in place”. They really should choose their words carefully. Besides what is so bad about buses running after 6PM?

Comment on KCATA – Public Forums On Route Recommendations November 2011 by Ron McLinden

Ron McLinden — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:37:31 +0000

These forums consist of a formal presentation near the beginning of the session, followed by an opportunity to talk with KCATA staff one-to-one. The formal presentation is made by the consultant who managed the study, and I found it to be highly informative. I encourage you to attend.

In response to a criticism I heard from a fellow bus rider yesterday — that KCATA has already decided what it wants to do and these forums are just for show — I believe they are definitely in listening mode, and that they will be responsive to concerns raised by riders.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that KCATA won’t be able to respond to every single rider concern. Part of the purpose of the Comprehensive Service Analysis is to enable the transit system to serve more riders without increasing cost.

Comment on KCATA – Public Forums On Route Recommendations November 2011 by Rose A. Rhodes

Rose A. Rhodes — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:11:00 +0000

I am writing in response to the notification that the Route 55 Rockhill bus line will be eliminated the fisrt of the next year, due to low ridership. While this may be the case during the spring and summer, fall and winter increases because myself and many others ride instead of driving. One of the main reasons I moved to Holmes was because of the bus line, years back the Troost Express was eliminated and we made the transition to the Rockhill bus, now the Rockhill bus is in jeopardy of going away and causing a lot of us to have to walk over to Troost in the winter. Which by the way is dangerous when coming home in the evenings or walking in the winter and trying to avoid slipping and falling.

Please reconside having the smaller bus operating in the summer and a normal size bus in the winter, because this route is sorely needed.

Thank you,

Comment on Missouri State Rail Plan – Open House Nov. 2 by Ron McLinden

Ron McLinden — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:18:43 +0000

This is important. Rail is inherently more energy efficient than highway transportation (think less reliance on foreign oil and fewer greenhouse gas emissions), and Missouri is playing an increasingly important role in prioritizing and funding public investment in passenger and freight rail service. The Missouri State Rail Plan will help guide that investment.

High-speed rail across Missouri is appealing as an alternative to driving or flying, but it could be a long time coming. In the interim, we need to increase service and build demand (i.e., ridership).

Here are some of my suggestions for what to ask for as you attend the public meetings or participate online:
+ Increase state and federal investment in rail because rail is more energy-efficient
Continue state and federal support for passenger rail (Amtrak) because it is growing in popularity
+ Add a third daily round trip between Kansas City and St. Louis via Amtrak Missouri River Runner trains
+ Increase speed of passenger rail service between Kansas City and St. Louis
+ Improve connections between urban and rural transit service and passenger rail
+ Improve connections and coordination between Amtrak and inter-city motor coach services (Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, Megabus, etc)
+ Require involvement of the railroads in regional transportation planning (e.g., MARC long-range transportaton plan) as a condition for state and/or federal funding

Link to the online survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LMQV3GR

The local meeting is 5:30 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 2, at Sermon Center, 201 North Dodgion Street, just southeast of Truman Road and Noland Road and a short walk from the Independence MetroCenter. Last KCATA Route 24 bus back to Kansas City leaves at 6:05 pm.