The reality is most people will expect everyone else to take transit. That’s why ridership is so dismal and will always be dismal.

Might they consider a second bus of paying riders? It’s still not the bus I need, but I could offer ValleyRide a three months advance on my fares just to start a route. Unfortunately ValleyRide.org has no rider outreach and the rest of the rider data base is at ACHD Commuterride. Compare Valley Rides’ effort to that of a real non profit, Channel 4 Public television, that has a large citizen and business membership. So, sadly, get ready to spend another $111 million to add a third interstate lane and bring more Meridian cars to downtown.

The New York City Subway System has the MTA Police because the system itself has a DAILY population/ridership of 7.2 MILLION (Thats about 35 times the population of Boise), and annual population/ridership of 1.5 BILLION (7,212 times the population of Boise).

And that’s just the Subways!

Fact: Per Capita, the New York City Mass Transit System is often safer than Boise-Angeles.

I am really disappointed that the Guardian would spout such a tired old cliché as “…because there are so many muggings”.

Oy Vey!

EDITOR NOTE–You don’t think we can get that many riders? Boise is on more “best places to live” lists than NYC will ever see. Our football team also won the Fiesta Bowl last year. Gotta a problem with that?

Compass in charge – great. That gives one a lot of confidence that any scheme is doomed to failure.

And by the way the city already tried this with bicycles a couple of years ago. They painted a bunch of them bright yellow and had them available downtown for people to use. Guess what? They all were stolen.

EDITOR NOTE–You should not sign up as a van driver. PLEASE offer a solution or come out against buses, trains, light rail, etc. (you may have to sit next to a creep) If you want more roads and NO transit, just say so! New York has an entire police force of “TRANSIT POLICE” because there are so many muggings on the subway. EVERY proposal has some sort of problem.

I would like to see from either Valley Ride, Bieter’s office or Compass an analysis of how much a bus system would cost that would REALLY work in this two county area. It would involve a vast increase in the number and frequency of busses, a vast increase in routes, a change in routes perhaps from a spoke and wheel where everything ends up in downtown Boise to one where there is connectivity from and to various major points. Juxtaposed with the new information would be the details of what is being spent now, by whom, how many riders there are per route and how big the subsidy per rider is.

The above information will pale in comparison to what light rail will cost.

I don’t see how we can have any rational discussion of a local option tax for transit without knowing how much it will cost to develop transit. I know that there will be those sheeple who will go along with any taxing scheme because it’s for “transit” or “the children”, but with the increase in property tax valuations coupled with the decline in home values along with the increase in local government spending, I would hope that the majority of voters will want and need to see hard numbers before falling for another tax increase.

EDITOR NOTE–We have not heard the results of the COMPASS meeting with VALLEY RIDE today to discuss a merger—read that COMPASS will be the new boss of the any local option tax.

Because the polluted air, as well as the workforce commutes in this valley cross political boundaries, I think we need a solution that does the same. I haven’t yet developed the necessary website skills, though, to share my thoughts to the degree needed, nor may I ever, as I’ve been refining the plan for many years now. Basically, though, I think a solution that doesn’t rely on taxes and appeals to even just 15% of commuters that flow through our 6000 vehicle per hour intersections, while not politically feasible, would have sufficient ridership to succeed and make a difference. Conflicting political realities make mass transportation a poor candidate for a government solution. There is no magic to the funding that government brings to transportation, it ultimately comes from the same source that we would need if we organize without government… us.

EDITOR NOTE–Boise gave away its bus system to the regional VALLEY RIDE–if tht is the name today. It has proven useless. YOU have a city council in Meridian. Perhaps yellow and red stripes would work on your vans?

Without an auditor does anyone really know how many use and abuse this program? Who tracks usage and costs? Are there any established guidelines for vehicle use or are there so few governing rules that abuse is unheard of?

What would Pinkey do? I propose that Boise closely monitor its significant fleet of taxpayer provided personal vehicles. They could then have an annual employee appreciation and awards banquet at the train depot.
First blush categories for recognition could be: Longest daily commute. Most average miles traveled weekly, monthly, annually. Highest and lowest maintenance expenditure. Furthest distance traveled on a single business/vacation trip. Furthest cumulative mileage on business/vacation trips. Most fuel consumed and conversely, least fuel consumed during current fiscal year. Most expensive liability settlement due to operator negligence. And a special award, perhaps monetary, for most passengers normally hauled. I’m certain many other categories could be added.

The only thing with regard to mass transit that came from the current mayor was the overwhelming and critical need for light rail. He even imported “experts” from his two favorite cities, Salt Lake City and Portland, to tell us how important it was for us to have a choo-choo. Then he traveled to the great city by the Great Salt Lake to “study” what a great system they have.

In fact, his only reference to buses was a silly little song that he enjoyed singing to his daughter. “The wheels of the bus go round and round!” Get it? Funny Huh?

And don’t forget the city council. The closest any of them came was “Yep! Our bus system is broke and we need to fix it!”

Except for that one afternoon at a neighborhood association picnic when two of the ones seeking re-election actually got up and said that transportation was their #1 priority! Some of us started looking for a hole to hide in because we were certain there was a lightening bolt forthcoming! So, I am afraid that our illustrious mayor only has one solution and, sadly, it’s not the one we need.