[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Use it or lose it

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Use it or lose it
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1248052684.shtml


   Any seasoned bureaucrat - public or private - knows that you never run
   a surplus if you can help it. Another bureaucrat will see it and steal
   it. That's what's happening to [1]Southwest Transit and the Minnesota
   Valley Transit Authority. These are outlier public transit providers
   that work with Metro Transit but are otherwise distinct agencies. They
   largely run service to the two downtowns plus some local shuttle
   service.
   These agencies run modest schedules, targeting rush hour commuters,
   luring them with more luxurious buses and large Park and Ride
   facilities. If your job has regular hours downtown, it's a great way
   to commute, especially given the cost of downtown parking. It's
   therefore probably as successful as public transit can probably be.
   That and the fact that they have no commuter rail to heavily subsidize
   has allowed them to build some significant cash reserves.
   Meanwhile, Metro Transit is quadrupling down on Light Rail, starting
   work on the completely unneeded Central Corridor line, as if the
   current deficits aren't enough. Where or where to get more money to
   cover those deficits? Oh look! Those rich suburban systems have lots
   of money, several months, maybe even a year's worth of operating
   expenses in the bank.
   Think of all the junkets, seminars, dinners, office furniture,
   conferences, and so on that those responsible agencies could have rung
   up. Frankly, had we all known the money would have been stolen from
   them anyway, even I would have looked the other way.

References

   1. http://tinyurl.com/nwjax5