Did you realize that the Big Bear Valley has a bus service called Mountain Area Regional Transportation Authority (MARTA)? It has three parts:
- A "fixed route" that travels from the East Valley to Boulder Bay. It runs once an hour.
- An "off the mountain" route that goes from the Von's Shopping Center to points in San Bernardino. It runs 3 times per day; not on Sundays.
- A "dial-a-ride" van which takes riders from their home to specific places in Big Bear Valley.
Could a well-run and efficient bus system benefit more than just the "Transit-Dependent" of the Big Bear Valley? Could the "Transit-Dependent" be serviced more efficiently?
- If MARTA Buses ran more often, would you consider using them?
- If visitors to our Valley left their cars behind, do you think they would consider using a shuttle bus running in frequent intervals, taking them to all the popular Valley destinations?
- How about on-demand shuttle vans (ie. Dial-a-ride vans) for tourists on weekends and holidays?
- Would visitors park their cars "down the hill", in San Bernardino, Highland, Ontario or Redlands to take a MARTA (or franchise bus) to Big Bear if they knew they would have reliable transportation once they got here?
- Would visitors park-and-ride a comfortable and reliable franchise bus from LA or Orange County if they knew they had great transportation once they arrived in the Big Bear Valley?
- Would more people travel to Big Bear from other parts of the US if they could easily hop a bus from Ontario Airport, then be transported efficiently around the Valley?
Currently, MARTA is in a budget crisis. For the 2010/11 fiscal year, MARTA would have been $671,000 in the red if they had not filled-in the gap with funds intended for previous years. And government funding is projected to decrease for 2011 and beyond. Yet, MARTA management proposes no significant actions to bridge budget gaps going into the future. As a MARTA Board-member, I really cannot see how MARTA will even maintain the service they currently provide, let alone improve it so that additional people will find it of value. Perhaps expanding MARTA's ridership to include residents and tourists who could afford to pay full fare would pull MARTA out of its budget crisis or give it "new life."
What do you think:
- Take the easy survey to the right
- Put your thoughts and ideas into words by posting to this blog
Enjoy this beautiful weekend as our prosperous and powerful nation celebrates its independence! Freedom is to be cherished.
Sincerely,
Michael
14 comments:
I would imagine residents are avoiding using MARTA due to the "riffraff" image from who they see at the bus stops. Personally, when I have rode the bus, I end up having very interesting conversations. Sure, the folks are perhaps strange and colorful, but the situation lends a story to tell later. My only complaint was the bus driver would stop for a long smoke break at VONS during the travel...come on, I could have jogged faster to my destination! Visitors aren't using the bus because they probably don't use the bus at home. Same issues: it's seen as something a lower class citizen would do (have you ever see the Barbie bus pass accessory), plus it's slower and life is wham bam...gotta get there fastest! Maybe, if the bus was free like at Mammoth Lakes, tourists and locals would take it upon themselves to utilize it. As far as congestion, the only times when traffic is really that challenging are the holidays, and a few buses on the road aren't going to effect this "problem". Actually it is not so much a problem as it is the design of the city. Not much to do about that except put a traffic cop on Paine and 18 to motivate cars to keep moving...maybe.
Hi Anonymous,
My thinking is that we (as a Valley) could make a coordinated effort to get more people up here, leaving their cars behind. This might be accomplished by having efficient and attractive and well-marketed franchise bus service from OC and LA up to Big Bear. That's where MARTA would take over with efficient and fast-moving service. The congestion would be eliminated with less cars on the road up and down the hill and around town. After all, each franchise bus carries around 60 people = about 20 cars.
I'm from NYC and I've got plenty of stories to tell about late night subway trips......
Keep the brainstorming flowing....
Pass this on to anybody else you think would be interested.
Happy 4th!
Because MARTA seems to be a failure, especially with the majority of the funding from the government and minimal faire contribution, maybe it needs to just go away. MARTA has had its own internal problems in addition to financial problems and you want to keep throwing tax dollars at another government failure. There are very few people, when you consider the overall population up here, that use MARTA so what makes you think the vistors will, even if its easier to access. Mr. Karp, you are now in California not NYC. Haven't you learned, especially as a psychologist, that Californians LOVE their cars and don't typically use public transportation. In addition, when someone is on vacation they want to use their time efficiently and public transportation isn't efficient, especially when you have skis, bikes or other sporting equipment to carry. This has been talked about before with no good solution, so why keep bringing it up again. We already have too many tour buses that bug me when driving on the hill so why add more that probably won't be filled but with a few people.
Hello Again Anonymous,
I just think if we got some good and open minds together, something along the lines (or some other lines) could be done. Wishful or naive thinking, perhaps.
You've identified several obstacles (few that I haven't thought of myself, incidentally). I don't think of obstacles as things that should cause us to lay down and give-up. Rather, I think that obstacles should generate even more brainstorming to see if they can be overcome. Somehow it's in my nature to not give up until all options have been identified and explore. I don't think we've nearly begun looking for solutions with MARTA.
That being said, MARTA just might have to be allowed to go away. If nobody wants to sit down and make a concerted effort to renovate it into a much better form, it probably will. That much we certainly CAN agree upon.
One of the most seering points in your information about MARTA is the ratio of public funding versus funds from faires. To be very honest with you, the fact that 90% of this system is funded by some type of tax dollars, I think it needs to go. I and many other tax payers are fed up with catering to or propping up the riffraf type people who don't want to be responsible for their own life. I see minimal use of the bus service and because I often give people a ride who are waiting for the bus I can make this statement. If it's that important and valuable to the community then have a private company take it over and support it with faire, however, you won't find a company because this is a loosing battle.
Yes, a 10% farebox rate is not sustainable and not something to be proud of. And it's becoming even less sustainable as government funding dries up. Yet, I still see that we (as other areas) have a certain number of "transient dependent." I assume that many/most of these people are sincere.
That's why I'd like to see MARTA explore another "business model" so that it can receive a MUCH higher percentage of revenue from the fare-box. That would mean a higher percentage of riders who can afford to pay it: better-off Valley residents as well as tourists. This would take some doing and planning and expertise and co-operation, but I'm game to try.
Done well, perhaps this could BENEFIT the local economy rather than drain it.
Rather than 'riff-raff', I would use the term 'non-drivers'. We have many people in the valley who have but one car in the family, have no car, have no license, or are otherwise unable to drive. These situations can be caused by financial woes, health issues, beliefs, and/or other constraints. Now, can we attract other riders by offering 'Enjoy Big Bear' weekend passes. How about weekday commuter passes for local employees to reduce the 8-5 traffic spikes? Do our local employers acquant employees with public transit options?
I was thinking of my occasional trips to the Seattle area. With motel costs, meals, and gas; it is cheaper for me to fly. Should there be a family travelling together, it is cheaper to drive.
Applying the same logic to coming up the mountain, public transit is a cheap way to visit unless you are a family. How can we make public transit (from OC or LA) economically attractive to families, which are the bulk of our visitors?
LET'S REORGANIZE/RE-BRAND/REINVENT MARTA!!
1) Cancel all local fixed routes! - Use dial a ride more extensively to serve those in need.
2) Rename MARTA something like:
"Escape to Big Bear Shuttle" or "Big Bear FUN Shuttle"...
"Big Bear Express"
( realize BUS = unpleasant, SHUTTLE = convenience! )
3) Market "Big Bear Shuttle" through partnership with BBLRA (bigbear.com)
- Identify SOCAL cities where high numbers of people come to Big Bear from.
- Offer convenient escape weekend schedules from those SOCAL centers (San Diego, Orange County, LA), Riders can park their car Friday after work or Sat morning, near where they live, hop on "BIG BEAR EXPRESS" and get dropped off at their lodge of choice, cabin, or the slopes. Shuttle takes them home on Sunday afternoon or night, after ski resorts close.
4) Market convenient shuttle to international travelers to California who are more accustomed to public transport.
5) Have the dreary white / blue buses 'wrapped' in flashy pictures of Big Bear and our recreation opportunities.
BBLRA should drool at the thought of sponsoring a shuttle with BIGBEAR.com splashed all over it being seen by all the eyeballs of commuters stuck on the highways of SOCAL as the bus made its way down the carpool lanes every Friday night to pickup smart riders.
6) Buses leaving Big Bear for the weekend could carry locals who want to getaway to see friends or have a weekend at the beach. (Market both directions)
7) Provide FREE WIFI on the Shuttles so riders can "commute & compute!"
(This can now be done for very little cost through mobile hotspots from cell phone companies)
8) Sell advertising space on the side of the buses.
That's my simple idea. People like their cars, but they like the internet more!
--
James,
Like, wow! I love your ideas. You are truly a person who thinks outside of the box and BIG!! That's what's needed, not only for an enduring solution to keep MARTA alive, but to service other sectors of the population/tourists.
Realize that there are several legal restrictions and regulatory hurtles, but I'm confident that many of these can be worked-around. That's what optimistic and innovative people do.
Thanks for your creative input!
Sincerely,
Michael
Thanks MK!
Glad you liked my comment.
I thought of a couple more questions.
What is the annual budget of MARTA?
What is the average ridership per trip, route, day?
How about providing dial-a-ride trips (usually for 1 person?) in something more nimble/fuel efficient/cleaner than a huge diesel bus? Like a natural gas powered 15 passenger van or Toyota Corola or?
Annual MARTA budget is $2,561,521.00
Notice that the gap of $671,046.00 that was closed by "carry over" grants is over 25% of the budget!
For the statistics you want, go to the MARTA agenda for June at:
http://www.marta.cc/media/agenda.pdf
Scroll down to p.23 and beyond. Let me know what you figure out. I'm sure more detailed info can be obtained from staff if you'd find it useful.
As a new resident from out of state, I've been using MARTA routes 1 and 1a since last August. The simplest improvement would be improved route maps/schedules with all stops indicated. "Ask the driver" is the usual advice if calling MARTA for stops information. A supervisor lady recently emailed back to me that they need to input stop detail to improve the Google trip planner on their site. The drivers and often passengers are very helpful to all. We seniors were getting free passes until the County ran out of them in March. In April fares were increased. Dial-A-Ride for those with passes went from free to $2.50 one way. 2-3 seniors sharing a cab fare is a better deal
Hello Joe,
MARTA is trying to make their information technology more efficient. It is a work in progress. Please bear with that.
MARTA also must comply with a government requirement that they get at least 10% of their revenues from the fare-box. That is why they had to raise fares recently. They are now above 10% but not by much.
That being said, as a board-member, I am constantly trying to get MARTA to think more creatively so that they can better serve you. I'd like to see MARTA serve the tourists more and better. I think that tourist dollars can then be used to subsidize service for the Seniors and disabled, making it possibly even less expensive and certainly more efficient for them/ you.
Thanks for your input, Joe.
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