Comments on: More Than Money Needed For Buses

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 22:48:52 +0000

Elected public servant’s Dave Bieter and the Master Bieters have spent close to $5 million for the continued study of a downtown streetcar to shuttle folks from one CCDC parking garage to another.
I believe the group just allocated another $350,000 from the “GENERAL FUND” Same fund the group free-up the $9.2 million!
Why did our elected public servants WASTE our money to build the “garage terminal” for VRT, beneath the US Bank building in the downtown core? For Gardner Company? Probably.
TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

By: western guy

western guy — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 23:41:24 +0000

Bus maintenance: why isn’t Valleyride able to maintain its rolling stock on a regular basis, like any other competent fleet?

And of course the City of Boise is playing with budget numbers if they are able to ‘come up’ with $9 million at the last minute.

EDITOR NOTE–Ironic that they have cut a deal with GREYHOUND to use the Boise garage to maintain the big dog buses on a contract basis.

By: $800,000 More For VRT

$800,000 More For VRT — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 03:37:29 +0000

The April 23 City Council Agenda Packet shows that the City has just been able to “free-up” $9.2 million of funds, of which $800,000 will be used to clean up the backlog of maintenance with VRT. This maintenance issue and expenditure was not mentioned at last week’s City Council hearing on increasing annual budget funds for VRT- of which $500k per year was approved. Text below is direct from the Interim Budget Changes document.

“Valley Regional Transit (VRT) operates the public transportation system in Boise and the Treasure Valley. The system fills a vital transportation need and is a tool that can help alleviate traffic congestion as the City and surrounding areas continue to grow. Over the years, VRT has deferred various maintenance needs to grow and enhance the system into a larger, more capable public transportation network. Deferred needs include replacing aged rolling stock as well as facility and technology needs.

Given Boise City is the primary local funding source for VRT, and benefits from a majority of VRT’s services, the City has an interest in VRT assets being properly maintained. Proposed FY 2019 funding is $800,000 in additional capital funding to support VRT in addressing some key deferred maintenance items. In years going forward, it is anticipated that a higher level of VRT capital funding will be needed to address other transportation system deferred maintenance needs and prevent this issue from reoccurring.”

By: Easterner

Easterner — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 16:18:22 +0000

.
Let’s not forgot VRT is also the administration for the Boise Greenbikes.

lots of money to get a few tourists on bikes.

By: Boise Guy

Boise Guy — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 17:03:19 +0000

I have never understood why huge buses travel the city completely or almost empty. Does the transit authority feel they are doing God’s work by providing a service that no one uses?
I understand that buses have higher occupancy during the travel hours for getting to work. After that, use ACHD shuttle vans that are parked from 8 am to 5 pm, give or take a half hour. Why pollute and waste so much fuel?

By: western guy

western guy — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 03:40:18 +0000

Valleyride had a big PR blast a couple of months ago regarding promotional discounts for using Uber within 2 miles of certain bus routes.

But the promo codes only work for one month.

Anymore advertising on this deal from Valleyride?

By: Cost for the drivers

Cost for the drivers — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 23:36:03 +0000

Can anyone tell us what the actual “hourly wage” is for a driver to start? I’ve heard complaints from drivers because it is so low.

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 18:04:04 +0000

Hey, that might work. ValleyRide contracts with Uber/Lyft, puts the VRT wrap on the Uber/Lyft vehicles, sells annual passes to their 5000 to 10,000 riders (making up the 1.5 million trips per year), pre-pays Uber/Lyft for those annual pass holders, sells all the big, empty busses, lays off drivers and maintenance staff, and reducing their admin costs to a minimum.

By: Create the Problem

Create the Problem — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 15:35:35 +0000

Yes the bus system is crap but be careful that we do not fall for the process of government “creating a problem” so they can “create a solution”.

Don’t fall for the “If the bus system is broken than that must mean we need to spend a gajjilion dollars on a trolley or light rail system.”

Don’t get rope-a-doped!

By: Forced Air

Forced Air — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 14:45:09 +0000

The big problem here is that in order to build the big bus system they want, it will require density to attract more $$ to get it. But more density means more crime, more poverty, more taxes and less freedoms. It’s the plan to alter the political landscape to socialism. They need to import more voters for their causes. They pretend to solve the problems that their own policies create. Just look at Commifornia. More and more people jammed in cities create the very blight they complain about. The streets of LA are brimming with homeless. There is feces and needles all over the place. There’s already needles here in Boise. I see them here and there. How long til the feces come next?