Missing the last bus

$2.4M for accident cams?

"Under the plan, DriveCam Inc. would install the equipment for $2 million and then monitor and analyze the videos for $400,000 a year. Although Muni faces a $129 million deficit in the next fiscal year, officials hope the system ultimately would save money by reducing accidents."

I understand the logic here, make an up front and reoccurring investment to pinpoint, refute, and reduce accidents, but is this really the fiscal year to do this? Cutting this program would put a 2% dent in the budget deficit, is Muni management expecting to get at least 10% of that claim money they have budgeted back?

"Additionally, videos could be used to verify or refute legal claims connected to Muni-related collisions. The agency has budgeted about $20 million in the upcoming fiscal year to pay out such claims."

Note that all of the daily run reports that I post are available to the public in pdf format on SFMTA’s website.

AM missed runs:

1×38 4×9X 4×14 2×10

1×2 1×16X 1×30X 1×44

1×6 2×24 1×22 2×30

2×41 2×49 2xM

Note that the most runs missed come from the Potrero Division.

PM missed runs:

5×9X 2×14L 2×38 1×19

1×10 1×108 1×18 1×26

1×29 1×30X 1×36 1×37

3×48 1×53 1×71 1×88X

1×6 3×14 2×22 2×30

2×41 3×49 1xJ 2xKT

3xN

Note that both Woods and Potrero tied for most runs missed at 13 each.

The current Muni driver absentee rate, which includes vacation and sick leave, is 23.9%.

For April 12th PM, the Potrero had 18 out of 39 missing runs:

6 x 14 1 x 49 5 x 22 5 x 30

April 13th AM, the Potrero branch was missing 7 runs out of 18 missed runs.

The following Muni runs were missing for April 10th, 2009

3 x 14L

4 x 14

5 x 49

Note that historically most missing runs are on the 14 line, Mission Street’s busiest Muni route.

Service cuts are coming to Muni, and don’t let them catch you by surprise. The MTA is having a series of meetings to discuss the issue, and if the attendance over 100 people is any indication, people are interested in finding a solution to this problem.

Transit is at the heart of the city’s commerce, and if service is cut even from it’s current levels, the city will be impacting it’s own source of revenues: the tax base. If the bus doesn’t arrive, that’s 100 people that are late for work, that could be fired, or just give up and decide not to do that shopping trip today. A missed run means missed opportunuties, so the MTA needs to be reasonable and cut excess, not runs, and raise revenue where reasonable.

If the MTA goes with fare increases, then they also have to increase service. Value has to match price, otherwise ridership will drop off. Cleaner buses, friendlier drivers, and more a more visable security presence are examples of how to expand service for price without more wheels and irons on the road.