Comments on: Dramatic Shift http://o.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/ Mass Transit's editor, Leah Harnack, speaks weekly on critical issues facing the public transportation industry. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:57:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ted Vigodsky http://o.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/#comment-5743 Ted Vigodsky Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:00:18 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/#comment-5743 Hi Fred, I always look forward to your editorials but this one is particularly well focussed and germane. So to-the-point that transit riders(aka tax payers)around the country should copy, paste and forward this to each member of their Congressional delegation. Hi Fred,
I always look forward to your editorials but this one is particularly well focussed and germane. So to-the-point that transit riders(aka tax payers)around the country should copy, paste and forward this to each member of their Congressional delegation.

]]> By: Gunnar Henrioulle http://o.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/#comment-5741 Gunnar Henrioulle Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:24:46 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/#comment-5741 Instead of the usual wimpy Transit Industry "hopefully... someone in Government will magically snap out of their ignorance of transit..." -Try this: Transit operators, as a collective, begin understanding how the market works. Maybe organization and co-operation with local shippers is a quicker way to the public's (the MARKET) heart, not waiting for a transit epiphany in DC. Shippers are concerned with trucking energy costs, even rationing of diesel. Following this is easy if management looks at the circa 1950 & previous transport model in the USA. Interurban Electric Railways and shortlines, and branch service of the big mainline RRs. The "Retail Railroad", a local fixture in America until rubber tire mentality and cheap oil got together. Forget about much help from Washington; individual TMA's and local operations need to find out where the rails used to run, rehab what can be, add capacity & extend existing rail plant. National Guard must re-commission Railroad operations & maintenance battallions, here is source of new generation of rr staff. DC can help with corridor reservation, stockpiling steel scrap for rail & hardware, lighting up a closed rail rolling mill. Hopefully this: a number of transit employees, even a manager here & there; exhibits the initiative to obtain the USA Rail Map Atlas for their locale (spv.co.uk) and goes to the Obama or McCain rep, and help them become rail savvy. And the Post Office, and WalMart, other big shippers hooked on trucks. The buses must keep running; they have their lobby. Missing is the freight component necessary to keep victuals & necessities of life on the shelves. And "Retail Railroad"? See "ELECTRIC WATER" by Christopher C. Swan. Candidate staff, call me at (530-543-1259) or if the transit people stay hunkered down waiting for the money angel from DC... Instead of the usual wimpy Transit Industry “hopefully… someone in Government will magically snap out of their ignorance of transit…” -Try this:

Transit operators, as a collective, begin understanding how the market works. Maybe organization and co-operation with local shippers is a quicker way to the public’s (the MARKET) heart, not waiting for a transit epiphany in DC. Shippers are concerned with trucking energy costs, even rationing of diesel.

Following this is easy if management looks at the circa 1950 & previous transport model in the USA. Interurban Electric Railways and shortlines, and branch service of the big mainline RRs. The “Retail Railroad”, a local fixture in America until rubber tire mentality and cheap oil got together.

Forget about much help from Washington; individual TMA’s and local operations need to find out where the rails used to run, rehab what can be, add capacity & extend existing rail plant. National Guard must re-commission Railroad operations & maintenance battallions, here is source of new generation of rr staff. DC can help with corridor reservation, stockpiling steel scrap for rail & hardware, lighting up a closed rail rolling mill.

Hopefully this: a number of transit employees, even a manager here & there; exhibits the initiative to obtain the USA Rail Map Atlas for their locale (spv.co.uk) and goes to the Obama or McCain rep, and help them become rail savvy. And the Post Office, and WalMart, other big shippers hooked on trucks.

The buses must keep running; they have their lobby. Missing is the freight component necessary to keep victuals & necessities of life on the shelves.

And “Retail Railroad”? See “ELECTRIC WATER” by Christopher C. Swan. Candidate staff, call me at (530-543-1259) or if the transit people stay hunkered down waiting for the money angel from DC…

]]> By: J Drake http://o.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/#comment-5735 J Drake Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:06:14 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/#comment-5735 Wow Dave, what do you know that others don't?? Hey, did anyone see in pre- pre- Apta EXPO materials that both Presidential candidates were invited to the EXPO in San Diego? Will either or both show one-month out to an International show on transportation? I and other readers here, I'm sure, would be interested to hear predictions and reasons why they'd attend or not. Talk about your security nightmare... please provide your input on this Friday.... Have a great weekend all! Wow Dave, what do you know that others don’t??

Hey, did anyone see in pre- pre- Apta EXPO materials that both Presidential candidates were invited to the EXPO in San Diego? Will either or both show one-month out to an International show on transportation? I and other readers here, I’m sure, would be interested to hear predictions and reasons why they’d attend or not. Talk about your security nightmare… please provide your input on this Friday….
Have a great weekend all!

]]> By: Dave Reid http://o.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/#comment-5722 Dave Reid Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:01:04 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2008/07/31/dramatic-shift/#comment-5722 The good news is that Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, will be looking for work next year. Hopefully we'll get someone who understands transit. The good news is that Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, will be looking for work next year. Hopefully we’ll get someone who understands transit.

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