In Brio Blues we talked about the expensive kiosks that are at each Brio stop. While passengers are asked to purchase a ticket before boarding a bus, we learned that the toll box on the bus is not used to read the tickets.
Ridership is based upon the honor system.
In Another giveaway we learned that each of the outdoor ticket kiosks costs us $58,500. We never have learned how much each of the solar powered trash cans that are at some of the Brio stops cost us.
I took the Brio from downtown back out to the west side the other day. The ticket kiosk was not working so I could not buy my ticket. I boarded the bus through the front doors and told the driver that the machine was not working.
His response was to tell me to pay the toll box onboard the bus.
Evidently the toll boxes do work. Yet passengers are not required to produce their fare tickets when boarding the bus.
If Sun Metro wants people to ride for free why have they spent so much money on the ticket kiosks and the toll boxes?
And while we’re at it, could someone explain the economics of solar powered trash cans?
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
The solar powered trash cans are El Paso’s first bold step towards establishing a thriving solar economy in this region. It’s part of the regional economic development plan that Cortney Niland often refers to. That’s why we don’t have to worry about paying to ride the Brio bus. Pretty soon solar will pay for everything.
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Plus, Sun Metro most likely keeps track of passenger counts using these machines. How much do you want to bet ridership on Brio is a success?
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The old saying “if you build it (plus spend loads of money) they will ride… “Rome was not built in a day”
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Wheels of Dreams
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Should we ask transportation manager Jane Shaung to explain? Oh, that ‘s right, our leadership bought her off with eleven months of paid vacation and a pension.
Niland’s opponent nails it in the Times today:
‘Thanks for what?’
In an op-ed in this newspaper, city Rep. Cortney Niland proudly stated, “We need to thank our city leaders … for their leadership to get us past hurdles at this point.”
She was referring to efforts to improve quality of life in El Paso and revitalize Downtown.
But Rep. Niland’s statements belie essential facts. Because of mismanagement by the city government, our budget is predicted to increase; several quality of life projects are over budget or stalled; the efforts to bring a Triple-A baseball stadium have been sullied by backroom deals, revenue shortfalls, and court costs in an ongoing open records case, now before the Texas Supreme Court, for which the taxpayers of this city are paying.
A recent El Paso Times headline read: “El Paso City Council begins to grapple with budget increases.”
Some of the reasons? Capital projects, debt on bond issues, subsidies for the new baseball stadium, and the operating and maintenance costs for the 2012 quality of life bond projects.
Niland stated at a recent debate, “You the voter approved these bonds.”
This is true. What we didn’t approve were stalled projects, projects that are over budget, or projects that threaten the financial stability of the city.
So when Rep. Niland asks for thanks, you should ask, “Thanks for what?”
Josh Dagda City Council candidate District 8
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The councils last act to avoid accountibility for their mess will be to blame it on the voters.
Don’t you just love it.
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I have used a similar “honor” system in other countries. They have roving inspectors riding along and can ask to see your ticket. This is suposed to deter people from riding for free and if they catch you without a ticket you can be fined. This also prevents the bottleneck situation of forcing everyone to enter at the front of the bus and scan their ticket. I am a fan of this system.
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In our case money was spent to put collection machines at each stop. The rider was supposed to buy a ticket and present it to the toll box at the front of the bus thus reducing time spent paying on the bus.
Brutus
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A synonym for “supposed” is “assumed”. We all know what happens when people make assumptions. The city makes a lot of them.
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