Unreliable Transit Authorities

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Unreliable Transit Authorities
Topic Started: Jun 22 2009, 07:52 AM (419 Views)
Nabi60SFW9620	Jun 22 2009, 07:52 AM Post #1
Foamer Posts: 2,086 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	I just read on Wikipedia that Metropolitan Atlanta RapidTrainsit Authority has been criticized as unreliable. I did read the same thing about Hampton Roads Transit. And since I first started riding the Baltimore MTA they have been known for being unreliable. And Im sure there are other TAs in the US that are unreliable as well. And hopefully MARTA and Hampton Roads Transit do not have issues of drivers talking on cell phones while operating their vehicles. Baltimore MTA does. Luckily. DART First State isnt criticized as unreliable.



septa105R5	Jun 22 2009, 08:10 AM Post #2
Super Transit Expert from Wayne (Main Line) to King of Prussia Posts: 321 Group: Members Member #304 Joined: February 8, 2007	Like how?



Nabi60SFW9620	Jun 30 2009, 08:35 AM Post #3
Foamer Posts: 2,086 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	Lets see. Buses always behind schedule. Buses not showing up. Rude operators. Operators who use their cell phones for personal calls while operating their vehicle. Customer service ignoring passenger complaints on operators or about the service. Technical difficulties on many vehicles. Either malfunctioned destination signs. voice announcement systems or even HVACs. And especially the surveillance system. As well as drivers who speed. Run red lights. And many other things. Baltimore. Behaviors such as drivers horsing around, skipping runs dumping passengers on followers or behind schedule they dont always respond to and I do hope they take driver cell phone complaints serious since that can result in a serious accident. Which is why I report operators who use their cell phones while operating a transit vehicle. DART. The only issues Ive experienced with them is the fact they dont overhaul their equipment. As well as drivers using cell phones while operating their vehicles. And they should put up signs under the no eating drinking smoking or playing radios without headphones signs stating that operators are not to be using cell phones while operating DART vehicles. Baltimore MTA put those up on new buses starting in 2006. Edited by Nabi60SFW9620, Jun 30 2009, 08:42 AM.



Septa_kid	Jun 30 2009, 02:29 PM Post #4
flxie!!!! Posts: 2,006 Group: Members Member #2,467 Joined: March 31, 2008	From your description, the whole world is an "Unreliable Transit Athority"! That's common anywhere, people will run red lights. People will talk on phones while driving. There's really much that can be done. And with everything being automated, there is bound to be a technical problem or two with announcement systems or HVACs or displays. This is one of the reasons why I think those roll signs were the best (with the colorful displays comming in second since they look nice)



Nabi60SFW9620	Jun 30 2009, 02:54 PM Post #5
Foamer Posts: 2,086 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	Baltimore MTA has even been known to leave just about every run on a particular route missing. Some cases every run on a particular route. No matter how busy the line is there are days that there have been at least 90% of runs on that line missing. And with the light rail. There were 3 incidents of wheel safety concerns causing them to be short of LRVs. And each incident was handled worse then before. The truck concerns only left most departures operating as single car trains as 2-3 ran double car. The wheel crack incident. They told the public trains were running upto 30-40 minutes late due to longer boarding and what really happened is only 1-2 single car trains ran as majority of service was no shows. And people waited hours for a train and by the time it comes theres no room to board anyone. Then to make that matter worse someone was raging angry to a point that they stabbed someone for no reason. Then there comes the slippery track season. They started off 2 days with all single car trains. Then after that 2 days service ran as single car from Timonium South and shuttle buses from Timonium North. Then the second week service north of North Ave was suspended with shuttle buses. And during that time. 4-5 runs out of Bush, Eastern, and NW were missing because of a shortage in buses. But hopefully not an entire route.



Septa_kid	Jun 30 2009, 03:37 PM Post #6
flxie!!!! Posts: 2,006 Group: Members Member #2,467 Joined: March 31, 2008	Nabi60SFW9620 Jun 30 2009, 02:54 PM Baltimore MTA has even been known to leave just about every run on a particular route missing. Some cases every run on a particular route. No matter how busy the line is there are days that there have been at least 90% of runs on that line missing. And with the light rail. There were 3 incidents of wheel safety concerns causing them to be short of LRVs. And each incident was handled worse then before. The truck concerns only left most departures operating as single car trains as 2-3 ran double car. The wheel crack incident. They told the public trains were running upto 30-40 minutes late due to longer boarding and what really happened is only 1-2 single car trains ran as majority of service was no shows. And people waited hours for a train and by the time it comes theres no room to board anyone. Then to make that matter worse someone was raging angry to a point that they stabbed someone for no reason. Then there comes the slippery track season. They started off 2 days with all single car trains. Then after that 2 days service ran as single car from Timonium South and shuttle buses from Timonium North. Then the second week service north of North Ave was suspended with shuttle buses. And during that time. 4-5 runs out of Bush, Eastern, and NW were missing because of a shortage in buses. But hopefully not an entire route. :o



Nabi60SFW9620	Jun 30 2009, 08:09 PM Post #7
Foamer Posts: 2,086 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	Almost Every TA experiences HVAC malfunctions. Headsign and voice announcement system malfunctions. And even fare box malfunctions. But from what Ive seen Baltimore MTA does or did assign buses into service when one of those isnt working properly. But they are slowly improving. I just cant wait until all routes have enough running time on them so drivers are not speeding and running red lights to be caught up on schedule. Or cutting part of the route to get back on schedule. I dont know which routes right now do not have enough running time. But I believe many routes now days to have enough running time. Like the 64. The 9 I think now has more running time to it then before. I dont know about the 19 and the 11. Has plenty or running time.



Nabi60SFW9620	Jul 1 2009, 07:16 AM Post #8
Foamer Posts: 2,086 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	I know some MTA operators requested a fully enclosed operator shield but luckily thats impossible. And one reason im glad of that not just because it would be harder to talk to the operator but some operators wanted a operator shield so they can talk on their cell phones without being overheard or interrupted. Since they know they are not to be using cell phones while operating their vehicle and many who do are holding the phone with one hand and driving with the other and that is not only something passengers will report. People who watch the bus pass by and see the operator on a cell phone will report it. Thats how I observe operators who are using cell phones while driving. They drive past and I see them holding the phone with one hand while driving with the other.



Nabi60SFW9620	Jul 2 2009, 11:15 AM Post #9
Foamer Posts: 2,086 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	Baltimore does have routes that do not have enough running time on them. I heard the 44 was one but I dont know if it still is and I suspect the 19 still does not have enough running time. The 9. It looks like that has changed. I know the 19 drivers used to get to the end of the route around 10 minutes after they were scheduled to depart. Which is not good. And then drivers speed to catch up on time. Which is unsafe. Plus most layovers are no more then 5 minutes. Including on routes that dont have enough running time. And I do wish routes had 15-20 minute layovers. Especially so drivers can catch up on cell phone calls during layover and not while driving. MTA has stationed supervisors in Lutherville since more likely thats where most cell phone complaints are observed at. Since I dont know who else besides myself reports bus operators for using cell phones while driving MTA vehicles.



Septa_kid	Jul 2 2009, 11:29 AM Post #10
flxie!!!! Posts: 2,006 Group: Members Member #2,467 Joined: March 31, 2008	Wow. someone should re-do those routes, and then fire the person that originally made them. The schedules aren't right and the routes are longer than the schedule allows, I understand why the drivers do that then, it's too much pressure on them. You already know that if you're late, angry passengers will yell at you, and then when you call in, the guy who scheduled the routes will yell at you... B'more MTA should just stop what it's doing right now and start over



buswizard	Jul 2 2009, 02:52 PM Post #11
The Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With The First Fare Payment Posts: 1,586 Group: Members Member #2,659 Joined: September 22, 2008	I didn't complain today when I sat at Westlakes Corp Ctr because my 92 was 12 minutes late, costing me a 123 at KOP. But I wanted to.



Septa_kid	Jul 2 2009, 02:57 PM Post #12
flxie!!!! Posts: 2,006 Group: Members Member #2,467 Joined: March 31, 2008	buswizard Jul 2 2009, 02:52 PM I didn't complain today when I sat at Westlakes Corp Ctr because my 92 was 12 minutes late, costing me a 123 at KOP. But I wanted to. you just did :D :P ;)



Nabi60SFW9620	Jul 2 2009, 10:00 PM Post #13
Foamer Posts: 2,086 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	MTA has slowly been improving. Before destination signs were blank commonly. Voice announcenemt systems didnt always work. Back windows on the Flxibles were sealed shut. And even rear doors were not working even though they are fully passenger operated. Then they used to always salvage parts to fix parts on existing buses but thats starting to get banned more and more as time moves on.



Nabi60SFW9620	Jul 5 2009, 09:00 AM Post #14
Foamer Posts: 2,086 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	I think the reason MTA changed from Mass Transit Administration to Maryland Transit Administration is so people can stop calling them the Ass Transit Administration over their unreliability. I know a meteorologist in Baltimore whos name is Marty Bass and many call him Marty Ass or Farty Ass because he commonly gets the weather wrong.



Septa_kid	Jul 5 2009, 09:39 AM Post #15
flxie!!!! Posts: 2,006 Group: Members Member #2,467 Joined: March 31, 2008	Nabi60SFW9620 Jul 5 2009, 09:00 AM I think the reason MTA changed from Mass Transit Administration to Maryland Transit Administration is so people can stop calling them the Ass Transit Administration over their unreliability. I know a meteorologist in Baltimore whos name is Marty Bass and many call him Marty Ass or Farty Ass because he commonly gets the weather wrong. phtttt hahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahaha Maryland is smart, lol



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