Post by bennyp81 on Jun 15, 2005 12:21:05 GMT -8
Bart Reed
User ID: 8854703 Feb 16th 6:36 PM
San Jose Mercury News: Fri, Feb. 07, 2003
VTA to slash service 9%; buses will take huge hit
By Gary Richards
Staff Writer
Transit service will be cut 9 percent in April, affecting operations on light rail and on nearly every bus line in Santa Clara County.
The decision Thursday was the latest in a series of cutbacks that began two years ago as the agency began grappling with an unprecedented financial crisis threatening its very existence.
Valley Transportation Authority officials said the cuts will save the agency up to $20 million a year. Without them, the agency's current cash reserve of $35 million could metamorphose into a $177.8 million deficit in two years.
"To take small, incremental steps only delays the inevitable,'' said VTA board member Manny Valerio, "as ugly as it is.''
The VTA approved the cut by a 9-2 vote after nearly three hours of sometimes cantankerous debate.
The cuts will reduce service on 62 of the VTA's 72 bus routes, and curtail late-night light-rail operations. While light-rail service was cut heavily last summer -- a 33 percent reduction in hourly service -- bus operations took a big hit this time.
Board member Tom Springer of Gilroy said the agency should look at further curtailment of light-rail operations instead.
"We are cutting service to those most dependent upon our buses and who can least afford to lose it,'' he said. "If we shut down light rail, we don't have a problem.''
The cuts are just a precursor to what's ahead for the agency that oversees transit operations and highway planning in the South Bay. VTA General Manager Pete Cipolla said Thursday night that fares would almost certainly be increased in July and that perhaps even deeper cuts could take place in October or January.
That prospect drew gasps from the audience of more than 200, who included numerous drivers, mechanics and transit passengers.
"In effect, you've broken the trust of transit riders,'' said Eugene Bradley, head of a group of transit advocates.
Unions have been asked to make contract concessions and seem willing to talk. But layoffs are also likely if the economy doesn't rebound.
"I don't like the prospect of laying off additional employees,'' Cipolla said.
"But I do believe it is in the best interest of this organization to move ahead with these cuts to try and keep us afloat. I really believe if we just do a 3 percent cut now, we would have deeper cuts this fall.''
Dena Mossar of Palo Alto and John McLemore of Santa Clara voted against the service cuts, Mossar saying she was "disturbed'' that the cuts were three times greater than what the VTA proposed last month.
Cipolla warned a special VTA committee last week that a 9 percent reduction was likely, as sales tax revenues continue to fall and state and federal aid will likely be less than anticipated.
The recession, higher operating costs with an expanded transit system and a drop in ridership have combined to put the VTA in a precarious position.
Revenue from sales taxes that makes up nearly 80 percent of the agency's revenue dropped 21 percent last year and continues to slide -- down this year from an expected $155 million to $143 million.
Receipts from the third quarter of last year were 33 percent lower than two years ago -- the biggest one quarter decline ever in the VTA's history. Deficits are projected over the next several years.
"The deficits are so large that we have to take drastic action,'' said board member Ken Yeager of San Jose.
Last year, the VTA slashed $164 million in spending, cut service, and eliminated more than 300 jobs, 11 percent of its workforce. Many of these cuts are one-time measures.
The VTA also estimates it will need an extra $6 billion over the next 20 years to keep trains and buses running. That puts in jeopardy the BART-to-San Jose extension, a $4 billion project approved by voters three years ago.
Contact Gary Richards at mrroadshow@sjmercury.com or (408) 920-5335.
Þ--Þ--Þ
John
User ID: 9510053 Feb 16th 7:10 PM
I wholeheartedly agree with VTA Board member Springer: The light rail system should be shut down so that buses could continue to run normally! But of course this is something that the majority of people in Santa Clara County will have to decide, and I very much doubt that they will want to continue VTA bus service at the present level. I'm glad I don't live there!
Henry F.
User ID: 9614573 Feb 20th 4:45 AM
I actually agree. Unlike the Blue or even the Green Line, very few people ride VTA light rail. Also, much of the VTA light rail system runs in the middle of streets, which is constrained at the speed of autos, unlike the Blue Line which zooms at 55 mph for over half of its run. I think they should run the parts that are in the middle of the freeway, on its own right of way, and replace lightly ridden street running portions with bus service.
User ID: 8854703 Feb 16th 6:36 PM
San Jose Mercury News: Fri, Feb. 07, 2003
VTA to slash service 9%; buses will take huge hit
By Gary Richards
Staff Writer
Transit service will be cut 9 percent in April, affecting operations on light rail and on nearly every bus line in Santa Clara County.
The decision Thursday was the latest in a series of cutbacks that began two years ago as the agency began grappling with an unprecedented financial crisis threatening its very existence.
Valley Transportation Authority officials said the cuts will save the agency up to $20 million a year. Without them, the agency's current cash reserve of $35 million could metamorphose into a $177.8 million deficit in two years.
"To take small, incremental steps only delays the inevitable,'' said VTA board member Manny Valerio, "as ugly as it is.''
The VTA approved the cut by a 9-2 vote after nearly three hours of sometimes cantankerous debate.
The cuts will reduce service on 62 of the VTA's 72 bus routes, and curtail late-night light-rail operations. While light-rail service was cut heavily last summer -- a 33 percent reduction in hourly service -- bus operations took a big hit this time.
Board member Tom Springer of Gilroy said the agency should look at further curtailment of light-rail operations instead.
"We are cutting service to those most dependent upon our buses and who can least afford to lose it,'' he said. "If we shut down light rail, we don't have a problem.''
The cuts are just a precursor to what's ahead for the agency that oversees transit operations and highway planning in the South Bay. VTA General Manager Pete Cipolla said Thursday night that fares would almost certainly be increased in July and that perhaps even deeper cuts could take place in October or January.
That prospect drew gasps from the audience of more than 200, who included numerous drivers, mechanics and transit passengers.
"In effect, you've broken the trust of transit riders,'' said Eugene Bradley, head of a group of transit advocates.
Unions have been asked to make contract concessions and seem willing to talk. But layoffs are also likely if the economy doesn't rebound.
"I don't like the prospect of laying off additional employees,'' Cipolla said.
"But I do believe it is in the best interest of this organization to move ahead with these cuts to try and keep us afloat. I really believe if we just do a 3 percent cut now, we would have deeper cuts this fall.''
Dena Mossar of Palo Alto and John McLemore of Santa Clara voted against the service cuts, Mossar saying she was "disturbed'' that the cuts were three times greater than what the VTA proposed last month.
Cipolla warned a special VTA committee last week that a 9 percent reduction was likely, as sales tax revenues continue to fall and state and federal aid will likely be less than anticipated.
The recession, higher operating costs with an expanded transit system and a drop in ridership have combined to put the VTA in a precarious position.
Revenue from sales taxes that makes up nearly 80 percent of the agency's revenue dropped 21 percent last year and continues to slide -- down this year from an expected $155 million to $143 million.
Receipts from the third quarter of last year were 33 percent lower than two years ago -- the biggest one quarter decline ever in the VTA's history. Deficits are projected over the next several years.
"The deficits are so large that we have to take drastic action,'' said board member Ken Yeager of San Jose.
Last year, the VTA slashed $164 million in spending, cut service, and eliminated more than 300 jobs, 11 percent of its workforce. Many of these cuts are one-time measures.
The VTA also estimates it will need an extra $6 billion over the next 20 years to keep trains and buses running. That puts in jeopardy the BART-to-San Jose extension, a $4 billion project approved by voters three years ago.
Contact Gary Richards at mrroadshow@sjmercury.com or (408) 920-5335.
Þ--Þ--Þ
John
User ID: 9510053 Feb 16th 7:10 PM
I wholeheartedly agree with VTA Board member Springer: The light rail system should be shut down so that buses could continue to run normally! But of course this is something that the majority of people in Santa Clara County will have to decide, and I very much doubt that they will want to continue VTA bus service at the present level. I'm glad I don't live there!
Henry F.
User ID: 9614573 Feb 20th 4:45 AM
I actually agree. Unlike the Blue or even the Green Line, very few people ride VTA light rail. Also, much of the VTA light rail system runs in the middle of streets, which is constrained at the speed of autos, unlike the Blue Line which zooms at 55 mph for over half of its run. I think they should run the parts that are in the middle of the freeway, on its own right of way, and replace lightly ridden street running portions with bus service.