The November 11, 2014 Mass Transit Board (Sun Metro) had another example of spending for spending’s sake.
Our new Brio system has problems with it’s mechanized ticketing system. The ticket readers on the busses are not used. Maybe they don’t work. The result is that traveling on the Brio is based on the honor system.
Sun Metro tells us that from time to time they will have a monitor ride a Brio bus and check to see that the passengers have purchased tickets. Sun Metro calls these folks “ambassadors”.
The penalty for not buying a ticket? Right now you might get a stern verbal warning.
Ticket machines
Each Brio stop features a ticket vending machine. These machines are supposed to accept cash and credit cards, but of course the credit card readers are not functioning.
At the November 11, 2014 meeting the board was asked to spend $117,000 for two new machines. That works out to $58,500 each.
The reason? They feel that they need a spare just in case of “catastrophic” damage to one of the existing units. They will also use the spare as a training machine for their staff. Keep in mind that members of the public don’t get training on how to use the machines but evidently their staff needs extra help.
They claim that they will eventually get the credit card portion working. Remember that the regular fare is $1.50 and the fare for seniors is 30 cents. We have to wonder how much Sun Metro will have to pay the credit card processors and what will be left to put tires on the busses.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
Just like the Obamcare, I mean the ACA, ez on line get healthcare fiasco….which also few people can use or afford 😦
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I just watched the movie “Scarface” for the millionth time. I got a chuckle when Tony and his crew were making a delivery to the bank. It was by the duffle bag/sea bag.
Why the chuckle ? Because it’s the same way with a select few that sell these money making schemes to city council.
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In our cutlure, an honor system is a free ride, both literally and figurately. Hell, we can’t even get people to appear in court and pay their fines. If riding the Brio is now basically free and Sun Metro still can’t get people to take the Brio, this is a dismal, expensive failure that has a considerable ongoing cost to taxpayers.
Why bother to have monitors if they are not there to check payment when people get on the bus? Why aren’t freeloaders asked to exit the bus? What is the cost of the monitors?
Chicago is on the verge of bankruptcy. I don’t know why we think it cannot and will not happen to us. Chicago has considered doubling property taxes as a way of delaying a bankruptcy. If we think our property taxes are high now, wait until all these bills come due while revenue projections are not realized.
Our self-proclaimed visionary leaders continue to ignore the fact that we have a large number of people who are using our services and infrastructure, but not contributing to the tax base. Meanwhile, the city is also providing tax breaks to many of those who can and should pay more.
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Looking forward to reading the profit and loss statements for the Brio and/or Sun Metro, if they ever release them.
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Seeing how the City cannot properly manage the bus system . . . . HOW can the stupid trolley fiasco be stopped?
They KNOW they cant do it right or for it to pay for itself
so WHY are they even heading down this road?
STOP the Trolley/ Streetcar project. STOP IT. STOP IT !
Just because its a deal does not mean its a GOOD DEAL.
They REALLY need to take a re-look at this thing.
The maintenance alone on antique /restored trollies must be
Out-Of-This-World !
(and by the way MY street has NEVER been repaved since it was built 35 years ago and sounds like the background sound on the Bridge of the Enterprise when driven upon. No more asphalt . . .. just gravel glued to the ground.)
Seeing how this city government is now incompetent, I wish we could call the Texas Governor and have all of City Council arristed for mismanagement of public funds and not upholding their DUTY to the City Taxpayers.
. . . As well as the prior City Council that voted for projects that cause mismanagement of public funds.
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Haiduc, you often have valuable information to impart, but this time you missed the mark. First of all, this thread is dealing with BRIO and the City of El Paso. And, secondly, not only does that have nothing to do with the ACA, but you are wrong in what the ACA is and what is has accomplished. It is not a fiasco, and it has allowed millions of people who previously had no insurance to now be covered. Haven’t you been following the news?
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Thanks, John. My sentiments exactly. There are now more than 16 million people covered by the Affordable Care Act who did not have healthcare insurance previously. The total number of people covered is even greater.
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According to the El Paso Times, the City of El Paso has confirmed that we provide more than 300 city employees with take-home city vehicles.
Why are we paying for this? Why don’t they take the bus?
What they didn’t say is that we are also paying the fuel cost, which is significant. This practice also has a lot of liability.
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