EDITOR: The editorial page cartoon published in the April 22
edition depicting the VTA transit schedule was appropriate.
EDITOR:
The editorial page cartoon published in the April 22 edition depicting the VTA transit schedule was appropriate.
The elderly couple attempting to use a VTA schedule noticing fares on the rise, no service, and more money (right on time), to feed the insatiable appetite of VTA’s bureaucracy is right on target with what I see as a Transit Authority employee.
Without pointing fingers and getting right to the bottom line, the Transit Riders of Santa Clara County, and especially South Valley residents, are not getting what they pay for. What they should be getting, (and deserve), is available transit service that makes getting out of their cars easy, not difficult.
Most transit workers feel our job is to get the transit riding public to their destinations … bottom line. VTA does have a huge bureaucracy, and the latest fiscal crisis is the result of over-zealous and poorly planned growth, without foresight of any glitches or dips in sales tax revenues.
The existing light rail system, which is full of engineering foul-ups and cost overruns, is pressing on … once again ignoring the needs of the REAL riding public. New light rail cars are being delivered, but cannot be used because of platform heights mis-calculated.
Bus divisions are being expanded, yet the newest division in the northern most tip of the county may be mothballed. Yes, the VTA is dropping service to 1981 levels to try and prove a point.
Recently, New York City Transit has been accused of causing false budget shortfalls with two sets of books, (public and internal), to justify a fare hike, (Modesto Bee, April 24, 2003). Could this also be the case with the VTA? Where is the money?
Where’s the Beef? It’s all aimed at BART. Exactly where Ron Gonzales and the VTA board want it to be, (sorry, couldn’t resist). Whatever does happen at the VTA, I hope the riding public get what they deserve, a good transit system, not a white elephant.
Kim Wayne,
Morgan Hill
