http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567 A Rare Bird, A Strange Duck, One Funky Blog Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:08:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-35783 An Information Science Solution to Pittsburgh Public Transit Woes @ Ales Rarus Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:30:24 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-35783 [...] Bob Firth, Informing Design "The Long Squiggly Line That's Killing Our Transit System and an Information Science Solution" February 21, 2007, 3:30 pm Room 501, 135 N. Bellefield Ave School of Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh The recent proposed cuts to funding of the Pittsburgh Authority Transit system have led Bob Firth and his company, Informing Design, to consider a radical redesign of bus routes based on efficient transportation systems that are being used in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Cleveland and even Curitiba, Brazil. In this talk, Bob Firth will present his ideas for developing a cost-effective and efficient bus system, based on years of experience in studying transportation flows in Pittsburgh and applying basic information science principles to solving problems of navigation and wayfinding. [...] http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33317 Mark Rauterkus Mon, 08 Jan 2007 12:28:09 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33317 Great ideas need to be implemented. Don't freeze and do nothing -- or way worse, do the wrong thing -- because a great idea is NOT a silver bullet. But more to the point that I want to make, the route to a better transit system includes an A-B-C pathway. Things get done, first, second, third, etc. The electronic bus pass deployment should come NEXT. It provides real data. Then with real data, the cuts can be made in a smarter manner. And, trust comes back into the system -- even with the unions. And live for passengers gets much better too. The mismanagement at the root of the problem is hit against with electronic bus passes. That's a big problem -- so attack it. Now we'll have mismanagement doing more mismanagement by cutting the wrong things. Finally, with electronic bus passes, you can talk about raising fares in appropriate ways. Perhaps the express ride from Crannberry is worth $7.00. That is easily managed on a fare card / debit system. The supply and demand can be watched and prices can be adjusted as needed -- system wide.
Don't freeze and do nothing — or way worse, do the wrong thing — because a great idea is NOT a silver bullet.

But more to the point that I want to make, the route to a better transit system includes an A-B-C pathway. Things get done, first, second, third, etc.

The electronic bus pass deployment should come NEXT. It provides real data. Then with real data, the cuts can be made in a smarter manner. And, trust comes back into the system — even with the unions. And live for passengers gets much better too.

The mismanagement at the root of the problem is hit against with electronic bus passes. That's a big problem — so attack it.

Now we'll have mismanagement doing more mismanagement by cutting the wrong things.

Finally, with electronic bus passes, you can talk about raising fares in appropriate ways. Perhaps the express ride from Crannberry is worth $7.00. That is easily managed on a fare card / debit system. The supply and demand can be watched and prices can be adjusted as needed — system wide.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33302 Jim Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:53:22 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33302 This looks really awful, but railing against undefined mismanagement only lets everyone not face up to the problems. Labor costs in Pittsburgh are higher than a lot of cities, but driving these hills is not an easy job. It would be nice if labor voluntered to give up its wages, but I wouldn't hold my breath that too many people would be willing to do that in their own respective sectors. Farebox revenue contributes about 25% of operating costs, much less than Philly but about average for the US. Electronic passes may be great ideas, but hardly silver bullets. The question is whether there is any enthusiasm to pay more in either fares or in taxes.
Labor costs in Pittsburgh are higher than a lot of cities, but driving these hills is not an easy job. It would be nice if labor voluntered to give up its wages, but I wouldn't hold my breath that too many people would be willing to do that in their own respective sectors.

Farebox revenue contributes about 25% of operating costs, much less than Philly but about average for the US.

Electronic passes may be great ideas, but hardly silver bullets.

The question is whether there is any enthusiasm to pay more in either fares or in taxes.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33216 Mark Rauterkus Sat, 06 Jan 2007 01:17:06 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33216 Union could decide to re-open the contract. But, there isn't much -- if any -- trust now. They would NOT want to make the cuts unless there is a real upside. That is another reason to interject the electronic bus pass system. Then the union and public will be able to see the data too. Decisions are not a 'trust us' basis -- but -- real ridership, real capacity, real costs, real segment performances, etc.
But, there isn't much — if any — trust now. They would NOT want to make the cuts unless there is a real upside.

That is another reason to interject the electronic bus pass system. Then the union and public will be able to see the data too. Decisions are not a 'trust us' basis — but — real ridership, real capacity, real costs, real segment performances, etc.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33208 Lightwave Fri, 05 Jan 2007 21:17:43 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33208 Too bad about that pesky contract law. Makes it a bit hard to get those 20% cuts from the union while they have a contract. Besides, why cut any wages when they can cry "the sky is falling" and get the state to keep giving them cash every time they run out?
Besides, why cut any wages when they can cry "the sky is falling" and get the state to keep giving them cash every time they run out?]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33193 Mark Rauterkus Fri, 05 Jan 2007 17:18:57 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2567#comment-33193 Thanks for the pointers. YES. Suggest alternatives to PAT's plan. PAT needs to do its homework and think again -- and use real data this time. But, PAT doesn't have data as we've got this old-fashioned way of doing business. Squeeky wheels get oil -- and everyone else gets a ripped slip of paper for a bus transfer. We need electronic bus passes that are debit cards and monitor TRIP SEGMENTS, as well as zillions of other factors. The benefits would be HUGE. And, this needs to happen BEFORE an overhaul occurs. Their SCORECARD is a joke. I hate it. I told them so last month as they started to shove this down our throats. But, that's what a hatchet man aims for -- the blood supply to the head. Think again PAT. We should not settle for anything other than a cross-the-board 20-percent pay and benefits cut for everyone -- until AFTER we've deployed this E-Z Pass (like) bus pass and make decisions based on reality with open-data.
YES. Suggest alternatives to PAT's plan. PAT needs to do its homework and think again — and use real data this time.

But, PAT doesn't have data as we've got this old-fashioned way of doing business. Squeeky wheels get oil — and everyone else gets a ripped slip of paper for a bus transfer.

We need electronic bus passes that are debit cards and monitor TRIP SEGMENTS, as well as zillions of other factors. The benefits would be HUGE. And, this needs to happen BEFORE an overhaul occurs.

Their SCORECARD is a joke. I hate it. I told them so last month as they started to shove this down our throats. But, that's what a hatchet man aims for — the blood supply to the head.

Think again PAT. We should not settle for anything other than a cross-the-board 20-percent pay and benefits cut for everyone — until AFTER we've deployed this E-Z Pass (like) bus pass and make decisions based on reality with open-data.]]>