Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Home | News | Site Map
Frequently asked about links:

Active Topics Around the Forums

Current SEPTA's Bus & Light Rail Assignments by Depot (includes Norristown High Speed Line)
Push Pull Assignments
Vehicle Overhaul Status Page
We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest.

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Detroit's Transit Issue; Think SEPTA is bad?
Topic Started: Sep 20 2011, 11:36 AM (792 Views)
Tritransit Area
Member Avatar
Transit Enthusiast
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Whenever you get mad at SEPTA for raising fares or being late, just think of Detroit. I just read that out of 449, only 108-200 are working! That makes the problems with SEPTA's trackless trolleys and PCC IIs seem like a minor inconvenience.

Here is a link to the article: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/council-holds-hearing-on-ddot-bus-problems-20110916-mr

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Van2006ko
Foamer
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Break their union and subcontract the work out to people who can obtain the parts and have the experience to do the job. If a subcontractor does not do the job, then subcontract it to someone else. It's a simple solution, of course someone on here will disagree, but DDOT will save money because they do not have to worry about insurance costs, employment match, and no more union bickering.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ken S.
Member Avatar
P&W Silverliner Anyone?
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Paging David Gunn, you're wanted in Detroit.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Trainwizard
Member Avatar
You must have rabies because you foam too much!ˇ!ˇ!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
What a shame. I'm headed to that city next month.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tritransit Area
Member Avatar
Transit Enthusiast
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Van2006ko
Sep 20 2011, 08:06 PM
Break their union and subcontract the work out to people who can obtain the parts and have the experience to do the job. If a subcontractor does not do the job, then subcontract it to someone else. It's a simple solution, of course someone on here will disagree, but DDOT will save money because they do not have to worry about insurance costs, employment match, and no more union bickering.
This isn't a case of the union demanding more in wages and benefits as we typically hear from certain unions. The problems run very deep. Here's more details about the council meeting that I was pointed to earlier today.

http://voiceofdetroit.net/2011/09/20/bus-workers-riders-blast-bing/

Apparently, even "subcontracting the maintenance" lead to buses being in horrible shape and the mechanics having to dedicate time to "fix them". I've heard this from some SEPTA fans/workers as well.

Quote:
 

“Bus service has been bad for over a year even when we had unlimited overtime,” Wilson said. “Management got this body to approve massive vendoring contracts, some of them worth up to $18 million. In the last 18 months, there have been more contracts than ever before, even when we had 600 buses. Vendoring does not work. Check the records, see how long bus 3930 was out of service and how long the vendor had it. It took us two months to fix what they did because they butchered the frame so bad. One vendor had a bus for a full year, and we had to tear it down and re-build it all over again.”


Trainwizard: Rent a car if you go out there (and of course, grab pics if you see a bus running!).

Ken S: Don't think David Gunn would want to deal with that mess, not would he be able to do much with the apparently lack of interest from the Mayor. It's fairly obvious that they need to work with the union on work rules/work environment, having the right amount of people available (maybe even temporary benefit-free part-timers) to help fix the buses. Like one person said in the article, there are a number of "going green" grants available that the city could potentially use.

They have a lot to think about...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tritransit Area
Member Avatar
Transit Enthusiast
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Also, quite frankly, it may be time for a private operator that knows what it is doing to manage the system. At least the private organization would have a vested interest in making sure things are working properly as it would hurt them in the pocket if things don't work.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ken S.
Member Avatar
P&W Silverliner Anyone?
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Tritransit Area
Sep 21 2011, 09:31 AM
Also, quite frankly, it may be time for a private operator that knows what it is doing to manage the system. At least the private organization would have a vested interest in making sure things are working properly as it would hurt them in the pocket if things don't work.
Provided that the city holds it accountable. Unlike how NJT handles its contractors (of which Veolia is one).
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Transit Outside of the Tri-State Area · Next Topic »
Add Reply