Xpress Bus System to Run Out of Money Next Year (Atlanta: sales, how much)

[wxjay]

Yep, this state is getting its comeuppance for not acting earlier and swifter on major transportation issues in this state:

Xpress Bus System Could Run Out Of Money Next Year - Video - WSB Atlanta (http://www.wsbtv.com/video/22415466/index.html - broken link)

[PKCorey]

Perfect storm...smh...

This is a service heavily used in the Lburbs (my stop is #1 or 2 for the whole system). Alot of folks will be pissed.

[atlantagreg30127]

Barnes helped set up the Xpress system back when, and Perdue was pretty vocal in the beginning of his terms about not caring about it, and helped to divert funds away from the system even back then. But it proved to be more popular overall than they thought and they were able to float with more of their own money than they thought they would be able to, especially when gas prices went up and they had to scramble to add even more buses to the routes to handle the "standing room only" crowds that rode it then.

The route that goes to West Cobb/Paulding is also a popular route. They could of course raise prices a bit, but their best bet is to beg DC for more funding. They'll get further than trying to deal with the State.

That's one of the disadvantages of moving to the X-urbs in metro Atlanta: The suburban and Xpress services are about as stable as the stock market. People will actually make the decision to buy a home based on the availability of any type of public transit in these areas, than a few months to a year or so later, poof, that route near them is discontinued. It further emphasizes that unless you're going to live in the city core, you NEED a car here, even if you are able for a time to take advantage of other options.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

They could of course raise prices a bit, but their best bet is to beg DC for more funding. They'll get further than trying to deal with the State.

If the true cost of delivering the service is way above what is being charged, then the fare should rise.

As for getting money from the state....from where? The budget is so squeezed and cuts are being made throughout the budget. Where would this money come from that the evil Gov and his evil henchmen are deliberately keeping from the poor commuting public? Tax increases? How much more are you willing to pony up?

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by neil0311

If the true cost of delivering the service is way above what is being charged, then the fare should rise.

As for getting money from the state....from where? The budget is so squeezed and cuts are being made throughout the budget. Where would this money come from that the evil Gov and his evil henchmen are deliberately keeping from the poor commuting public? Tax increases? How much more are you willing to pony up?

I'm not at all opposed to a few cents being added per gallon of gas to fund these things, provided the money is distributed properly and not into anyone's pockets. You can also add 1% to hotel fees, among other things which do include the proposal to allow people to vote to add a 1% sales tax addition in their area (though given the option, most will vote no).

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

I'm not at all opposed to a few cents being added per gallon of gas to fund these things, provided the money is distributed properly and not into anyone's pockets. You can also add 1% to hotel fees, among other things which do include the proposal to allow people to vote to add a 1% sales tax addition in their area (though given the option, most will vote no).

I would support the local option for transportation. I don't oppose the hotel fees either, but we have to set priorities and goals. Furloughing teachers and State Troopers is more of a concern to me than Xpresss buses.

Everyone wants everything, and the answer at the federal level is just keep borrowing. At some point, we have to realize that gov't can and should only do so many things, and the rest of this stuff should be left to private business. If the Xpress bus lines could make money, then maybe a private company should take them over and run them?

Look at transit in Britain as an example. Except for the London Underground, it's completely privatized. Let's get the gov't out of the bus business.

[SAAN]

Kinda saw this coming sooner or later. As much as i ride GRTA, ive never seen more than 30 people on a certain bus and ive seen many buses leave civic center with less than 10 people on it. So they have to people loosing money running so many buses near empty.

[cityrover]

state troopers need to be reduced. too many and serve no particular function other than to enforce legislative whims.

the judicial system needs to be cut too. a judge costs 1mil. every county in ga has like 10 different courts, mostly staffed by incompetent bozos (read up on counties under 90k pop, which is most of ga) sucking in local and state funds.

regroup the judiciary and you will have enough funds to build TGV lines..... but guess what, aint going to happen.

so do us all a favor and consider that every time you want more services, *I* have to pay for them. Stop pressing for them to implode the budgets more and to subsidize more and more useless failures.

Xpress needs to be limited to routes that make profit. If no such exist, well, kill the system. Simple. Xpress has been buying land and building car parks (C A R P A R K S ) at prime locations for a while now. No wonder they are out of money! A bus depot building car parking on land @ 100k+ an acre. That's logical

[johnatl]

^Please let us know when the Interstate/Freeway network turns a profit.