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You can't just throw out numbers and assume that people are going to find them outrageous because they are higher than what Joe Blow makes. You have to compare them, at best to a similar municipal bus agency, or at least to a private bus operator.
Seanx4's post does indicate that VA pays less in salary overall, but how do individual positions stack up? IIRC, the comparable example was teachers - and they weren't making too much less in VA, it was more a matter of eliminating waste and duplication, which could be done because the system was built from scratch in the modern era instead of being dragged kicking and screaming out of the 1950s.
Seems like of a moot point however, since we now have a private operator that just signed a union conract that will basically keep the status quo. Ergo, my original point - what we will likely see is service cuts and fare increases.
Okay, compare it to Suffolk County Transit. If you're going to compare it though, make sure usage and size are at least comparable. How are teachers relevant or comparable to a bus company's employees??
I think what we'll most likely see is maybe slight fare increases, less waste -- like storekeepers, mechanics, dispatchers, line supervisors, et al, doubling their salaries through overtime, no pension costs and less healthcare costs. What we won't see is $30+ Million in additional taxes demanded from the MTA, for the same service that exists today.
Again, the new private operator just signed a multi-year contract with the union that guarantees yearly raises, with the only compromise being a larger employee contribution to benefits, basically a wash in terms of expenses. If their labor costs are going to be about the same, how are they going to make up that $30m?
You can't just throw out numbers and assume that people are going to find them outrageous because they are higher than what Joe Blow makes. You have to compare them, at best to a similar municipal bus agency, or at least to a private bus operator.
Seanx4's post does indicate that VA pays less in salary overall, but how do individual positions stack up? IIRC, the comparable example was teachers - and they weren't making too much less in VA, it was more a matter of eliminating waste and duplication, which could be done because the system was built from scratch in the modern era instead of being dragged kicking and screaming out of the 1950s.
Seems like of a moot point however, since we now have a private operator that just signed a union conract that will basically keep the status quo. Ergo, my original point - what we will likely see is service cuts and fare increases.
I did not expect them to stay with the union as they are a new employer and a private company. But the union carried over anyway. So it's like the MTA all over again. I suppose they had to do it this way because it was the only way to retain/get experienced employees fast as they were under serious time constraints. How can you train a lot of new people that fast? Now that Veolia announced they are getting out of the transportation sector, that's another thing to wonder about ....
Anyone else notice that google maps transit no longer has info on Long Island buses. If you put in the option to use public transportation it just shows you via car to lirr. I hope this is temporary because I'm moving to LI probably soon and was going to relay on google maps transportation feature to help me gauge the best way into city without a car for about a year as we only have one care in family at the moment so I have to hump it.
Anyone else notice that google maps transit no longer has info on Long Island buses. If you put in the option to use public transportation it just shows you via car to lirr. I hope this is temporary because I'm moving to LI probably soon and was going to relay on google maps transportation feature to help me gauge the best way into city without a car for about a year as we only have one care in family at the moment so I have to hump it.
I've tried hopstop before. Not always the fastest route and they look to not always include all the LIRR schedule. Google maps transit just seemed to give more information.
I've tried hopstop before. Not always the fastest route and they look to not always include all the LIRR schedule. Google maps transit just seemed to give more information.
I suggest you send an email to Google asking what's up. And if you find out, please update us.
Okay, compare it to Suffolk County Transit. If you're going to compare it though, make sure usage and size are at least comparable. How are teachers relevant or comparable to a bus company's employees??
I don't have the ridership figures, but I know offhand that SCT's routes are more expensive to operate per-passenger. I think I remember hearing the figure of $7.48 per passenger for SCT, and I know Nassau's routes cost around $2.50 per passenger. Plus, the average fare paid on Nassau's routes is around $1.50 (with people transferring from other routes), whereas it's around $1.10 for SCT.
So no, an Nassau-Suffolk comparison is no good.
The cheapest routes to operate are generally high-frequency routes that go in a straight line. Nassau has way more routes that Suffolk: The routes generally don't meander too much and just stick to the main roads. By contrast, out in Suffolk, because of the pedestrian-unfriendlyness of the areas (in general), you have more routes having to make detours to bring them closer to the residential neighborhoods.
Plus, the most frequent route in Nassau is the N6, coming every 10 minutes for most of the day (and during rush hour, there's a limited that runs every 10 minutes also), and there are other corridors with frequent service (N4, N15, N20/N21, N70/N71/N72, etc)
Out in Suffolk, the most frequent route is the S1 along Route 110, which runs every 15 minutes during rush hour and 30 minutes other times. A couple of other routes have 30 minute headways for most of the day, but most run every hour or more.
So basically, the average Nassau County route probably performs as well as the best of the best SCT routes.
So you're saying that the people working at the McDonald's in that fancy, expensive neighborhood can somehow afford to live light next store to the place?
No, I'm not saying that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by checkmatechamp13
But in the case of public services (as Interlude correctly calls public transportation), they generally can't be run at a profit.
Why not?
Quote:
Originally Posted by checkmatechamp13
Everybody would be packed into inner-city slums (or expensive, crowded places in the inner city) because they couldn't afford to travel further out.
My ancestors started in inner-city slums, and by hard work, including learning a new language, moved up and out in 10 years or so.
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