BlueGo funding not coming through as budgeted
By Kathryn Reed
STATELINE — An ambitious budget to fund transit on the South Shore is proving to be unattainable.
“All the revenue sources are not materializing,” Carl Hasty, executive director of the Tahoe Transportation District, told his board Jan. 21. “The lawsuit is not helping.”
He was referring to MV Transportation suing the entities and individuals who made up the now bankrupt South Tahoe Area Transit Authority. A hearing on the case is scheduled for Feb. 23 in Reno.
TTD took over operation of BlueGo, the bus system on the South Shore that has routes into the Carson Valley, after STATA filed bankruptcy.
It was outlined in staff reports prepared by TTD for Friday’s meeting that:
• Anticipated transit contributions will be reduced by $156,500 without the participation of Harrahs/Harveys;
• The district has not yet secured agreements with Lakeside Inn and MontBleu;
• Monthly fare box revenue is tracking approximately $20,000 less than anticipated;
• Legal fees will be more than originally forecasted, mainly due to the litigation with MV Transportation.
Steve Teshara, TTD board member, recognizes the lawsuit has a chilling effect on what transit partners might want to do, but he also said it’s time to get out there to tell them why they should be part of BlueGo.
“What I’m trying to avoid is BlueGo goes to TTD and BlueGo goes into the crapper,” Teshara said. “We need to put this back on the right track.”
Norma Santiago, El Dorado County’s representative to the board, said, “There also has to be the perception by the public that TTD can deliver.”
The county has been a holdout on providing funding.
Bruce Grego, South Lake Tahoe’s rep on the board, had thought a subcommittee with former STATA board members was going to be formed. His concern Friday was “it seems like everyone is on their own since the litigation.”
A committee of TTD will be convened of representatives of South Shore entities to talk about operations of BlueGo.
Curtis Garner, general manager of BlueGo, told the board his big issue is with the on-call service. He would like to do away with same day reservations. He anticipates better customer service and a cost savings.
Garner also questions not having a penalty for canceling a call on the same day.
The operations committee will address the on-call issues.
Shouldn’t BlueGo decide if it is running an inter-State bus company or a taxi company? What is the cost to provide on call sevice to every private residence? Is is only a ride from the residence to the nearest bus stop? If not it is a government funded competitor to the commercial companies already here. I know everyone says the taxis fares are too high but that only indicates to me that the cost is high. Perhaps BlueGo should charge what it costs them for the service and not try to subsidize it.
Just curious if anyone is checking into other areas similar to Lake Tahoe for ideas. You’ll never get anywhere with Santiago and Grego on the board. Maybe Kubby has some ideas he wants to share after having a few hits of that weed. The people in charge sound clueless – and to top it off they get paid for this mess. To many cooks spoil the broth and evidently there are way too many involved in this fiasco because it doesn’t seem anyone knows what’s going on. Fire them all, clear the palette, start over before the attorney’s run this town into the ground – further.
Take a number, the Judge get to you when he can!
One thing about it, gives all the unemployed something to do,jury duty,too bad they don’t even pay minimum wage for the gas,time,lunch, it cost to be there, the self employed really take a hosing in the pocket book.
This is what you get when you pay big bucks to outside consultants to fix what ain’t broken. Originally a Handi-van was operated during transit operations hours. The On Call was separate (Bus Plus) and addressed the needs of those more than 3/4 a mile from existing transit. Not competing with anybody. Who can afford taxi fare to and from work everyday? Compel those in charge to study the old numbers and the needs of Tahoe public, use all those consultant fees to support what worked for decades, we’ve already seen what the consultants can do!