 |
Re: SMART exceeding projected ridership Not so Fast
Author: Ridership Expert
Date: 09-23-2017 - 09:52
Mike Pechner ought to actually read the so-called ridership report posted to SMART's website. It's not at all consistent with the advertising.
What he doesn't see is any information regarding the numerous trains with very few riders. And since SMART's GM averaged much of the data over 3 weeks, mixing the initial high weekend ridership figures what was not shown is the following:
1) Weekend ridership the first few weekends was extraordinary,
but it is diminishing. To what level, we'll only find out in the
future.
2) Weekday ridership is relatively stable averaging between 2,000-2,500
per day, which is lower than Farhad forecasted.
3) Not a mention of the operating costs of running many of the 34 scheduled
trains per day that had very few riders. At some time in the future, the Board will be
forced to cut into these services due to budget constraints. Are any
of the Board members paying attention? Sure some of the trains are getting
a reasonable number of riders. But as expected, these are the peak hour trains
(and one midday train). What about the others? Should taxpayers really be subsidizing
a train that departs Airport Blvd at 4:20am?
4) Not a word about the delays. How frequent are they? Which trains
are being delayed about what about the transmission of delays? Nope, not
a word, nor the implications.
It should be obvious to this forum if they can't keep 4 train sets operating
on schedule relatively consistently, they'll have a much larger challenge
operating six train sets on schedule. That is, if they ever come up with
the dollars to hire the additional crews necessary to operate the trains they've
already paid for.
So, those of you interested, go check out the # of parked cars at the few parking
lots SMART actually built. Post them for all to see. Which parking lots are full?
Which are near empty like Hamilton's?
SMART's GM is known to cook the books, presenting only part of the story. But
readers on this forum are far more knowledgeable and know, by definition, a lot
of the trains operating have only a handful of riders and trains don't operate
for free.
RE
What he doesn't see is any information regarding the numerous trains with very few riders. And since SMART's GM averaged much of the data over 3 weeks, mixing the initial high weekend ridership figures what was not shown is the following:
1) Weekend ridership the first few weekends was extraordinary,
but it is diminishing. To what level, we'll only find out in the
future.
2) Weekday ridership is relatively stable averaging between 2,000-2,500
per day, which is lower than Farhad forecasted.
3) Not a mention of the operating costs of running many of the 34 scheduled
trains per day that had very few riders. At some time in the future, the Board will be
forced to cut into these services due to budget constraints. Are any
of the Board members paying attention? Sure some of the trains are getting
a reasonable number of riders. But as expected, these are the peak hour trains
(and one midday train). What about the others? Should taxpayers really be subsidizing
a train that departs Airport Blvd at 4:20am?
4) Not a word about the delays. How frequent are they? Which trains
are being delayed about what about the transmission of delays? Nope, not
a word, nor the implications.
It should be obvious to this forum if they can't keep 4 train sets operating
on schedule relatively consistently, they'll have a much larger challenge
operating six train sets on schedule. That is, if they ever come up with
the dollars to hire the additional crews necessary to operate the trains they've
already paid for.
So, those of you interested, go check out the # of parked cars at the few parking
lots SMART actually built. Post them for all to see. Which parking lots are full?
Which are near empty like Hamilton's?
SMART's GM is known to cook the books, presenting only part of the story. But
readers on this forum are far more knowledgeable and know, by definition, a lot
of the trains operating have only a handful of riders and trains don't operate
for free.
RE
