Thursday, September 15, 2011

Transit in the news

Hey folks,

Didn't get it into the last post, but I thought it would be interesting for you to see what's been happening with public transit in the news lately. Below are links to some news stories that point out how implementation in theory doesn't always work quite the same way in practice.

"Phoenix Transit Union Says Bus Strike Now 'Very Probable'"
The Phoenix Public Transit Department contracts with private companies to provide transit service. In part, this means that bus operators and other transit employees have the ability to strike.

"Phoenix Homeless Transit Passes at Issue"
The Valley Metro regional agency provides transit passes for nonprofit organizations that serve the homeless, at a 50 percent discount. These passes are intended to help individuals pursue work, attend medical appointments, and meet other needs that can improve their situation. The current program is being taken back over by the City of Phoenix to provide additional oversight.

"Judge Slams Arizona For Raiding Transit Fund"
An example of how the implementation of any service that involves multiple levels of government can be complicated; here, a lawsuit has forced the State of Arizona to basically refund money swept from a transportation fund to balance the previous year's budget.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts on these stories!

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