The city is required to have independent auditors examine the report that Sun Metro sends to the feral government to make certain that it is accurate.
The auditor’s August 13, 2014 report evaluates Sun Metro’s 2013 submission. It contains the following surprise:
Motor bus passenger miles traveled were 84,062,995 in 2012 and 62,584,492 in 2013, a decrease of 25.55%.
Because of the large decrease, the auditors were required to interview Sun Metro management to seek explanation. According to the report the difference “is primarily related to the following factor: Operating days decreased in FY 2013 to 208 from 252 in FY 2012”.
Huh? They evidently can’t keep the equipment they have busy now. Their solution? They are adding a new rapid transit system along Mesa and are going to spend $97 million on a trolley system covering part of the same area.
The bus service actually travels on Oregon street (parallel to and beside Mesa) rather than interfere with traffic on Mesa from UTEP to downtown.
With the existing bus service, the new rapid transit system, the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) bike share program, and the trolley system all serving the same area they should be able to flood the area with obstructions to automobile and emergency service vehicle traffic.
Just for the record, I am not against bicycles, walking, street cars, buses, or rapid transit systems. Having all of them serving the same area when our bus service does not see the need to operate every day as it is now just does not make sense to me. Maybe someone will enlighten us.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
208 operating days reported……well that’s just incorrect, a big mistake! How many other big mistakes has First Transit reported to the federal government. …? I know on the paratransit side of the service, management instructed clerks to make reports look good and not worry about the feds because reviews are only done every three years. But don’t worry contracted management will keep their jobs. ..it will all be swept under the rug.
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During the last of the 25 years at Sun Metro I was required to respond to some federal inquiries about statistics that were incorrect. I determined what the numbers should have been and asked who reported the false information, never got an answer. Instead the City deleted my position.
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You have an obligation to file a whistle-blower complaint if you think there was misappropriation of federal funds or that federal funds were obtained fraudulently.
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I went to at least four local lawyers and no one wanted to take on the City.
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Since you described a federal offense, it’s not necessary to hire locally. Any lawyer with privileges to argue in federal court can take your case. Seek one from out of town/state.
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In this particular case, I am pretty sure most of the evidence is hidden by top management. Without this evidence you cannot file a quitam lawsuit. The government has made it very difficult for whistle-blowers to win quitam lawsuits.
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You know that no one will enlighten us, ever. And, this will keep on as long as we have a Council as devoted to downtown and the west side as the present is. Or, until El Pasoans wake up and realize how all of our money is getting poured into one tiny part of the city, while the rest of us learn to make do. Personally, I think it is disgraceful, not to mention undoubtedly illegal, but no one will ever go to jail, while people like James lose their jobs.
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were being scammed but no one really cares as long as brio contracts are given to basiq idiq and other low bidders. they get the grant money while we pay
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208 days? We’re paying a fortune for a service that operates only four days a week or slightly more than 50% of the days in the year? What’s wrong with this picture? Think of the overhead costs alone for this half time operation.
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