[PRCo] Re: New Orleans Update

[Fred Schneider]

A very close friend of mine has suggested that Nawlins RTA should  
just go ahead and raise the fare to $3.00, which today is probably  
not unrealistic.

He points out that, "those who need cheap transportation can then  
steal a gun, and use the gun to steal cars when they need them.    
Once they have the gun all rides after that will be free."    
Considering that six people were put down last week and the National  
Guard is being brought in to help the police, I guess his thoughts  
were not too far out of line.   His thoughts sort of reminded me of  
reading "A Modest Proposal" some 50 years ago in high school.

It does show what happens when you have an transit infrastructure for  
a  metro area of close to a million people and fewer than 400,000  
have come back.

On Jun 19, 2006, at 10:38 PM, Bill Robb wrote:

> New Orleans looses it's FEMA funding June 30 and the RTA has posted  
> three one page service plans for public comment.
> The three scenairos posted on the RTA web site include Scenairo 1  
> with only M-F service on all but one line. There would be no  
> transit service in New Orleans on Saturday or Sunday. On weekdays  
> only 2 streetcars would be in operation--on Canal from French  
> Market to Crozat, 10 AM to 6 PM only, and no service on Riverfront.  
> Under Scenairo 1 the whole system would only have 481 vehicle hours  
> on a
> weekday. Fares would be raised to "at least $3" to reduce ridership.
>
> Under Scenairo 3, the best plan, only calls for 4 cars on Canal and
> one on Riverfront.
>
> Scenairo 1
>
> http://www.norta.com/files/Scenario%20I%20Service%20Plan_Revised.pdf
>
> Scenairo 2
>
> http://www.norta.com/files/Scenario%20II%20Service%20Plan.pdf
>
> Scenairo 3
>
> http://www.norta.com/files/Scenario%20III%20Service%20Plan.pdf
>
> My understanding is that most RTA employees have received layoff  
> notices.
>
>   None of the service plans include streetcar service on St.  
> Charles until the line is rebuilt.
>
>   If we are lucky the system will return to it's former self.
>
>   Bill Robb
>
>
>  		
> ---------------------------------
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