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Council weighs cuts against StarTran route changes

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BY DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007 - 12:10:52 am CDT

The City Council is questioning whether to proceed with an overhaul of the bus system when some council members are interested in significantly reducing its budget.

The council was briefed Monday on proposed StarTran route and service changes crafted with the help of consultants and approved by a StarTran Advisory Board earlier this summer.

The changes were the result of the first comprehensive review of the bus system in 20 years — a review more commonly done every five years.

Story Photo
(LJS File)

The council will hold a public hearing Monday on a revenue-neutral proposal that would concentrate service to areas where people use buses most and eliminate service in little-used areas. StarTran now serves about 88 percent of the city.

The buses would still run for the same number of hours, but routes would change beginning in June.

Council members Jon Camp, John Spatz, Ken Svoboda and Robin Eschliman have talked about reducing the bus budget and creating “base” or “core” routes the city would essentially promise to continue serving for 10 to 15 years to aid future development.

During budget deliberations this summer, the Lincoln Independent Business Association urged the council to cut StarTran’s budget by $1 million, and Eschliman proposed about a quarter-million cut that failed.

City Transportation Planner David Cary, project manager for the study, said it would likely take a few months to identify core routes.

Former Councilwoman Patte Newman, who was on an advisory committee during the route study, said the new plan has not provoked a public outcry, but having to create “core routes” could restart the whole process.

Camp pressed Cary and StarTran employees for an estimate of the cost per StarTran rider, excluding university and Husker game shuttle riders, which he said “masks underperforming routes.”

Among the changes contained in the StarTran overhaul:

*  Bus service would be extended to the Haymarket, Wal-Mart in southeast Lincoln, the Regional Center and Kawasaki plant.

* A free downtown shuttle service would begin running during weekday lunch hours and Thursday through Saturday evenings.

* Buses would hit major stops at 30-minute intervals (during peak hours) to 60-minute intervals (off-peak hours), rather than the longer schedules now.

* New neighborhood routes would run for 10 hours on weekdays from Westfield Gateway Mall to northeast and southwest neighborhoods.

The proposal also identifies long-term goals that would cost money, including expanded evening service, increased service on key routes and a downtown streetcar. Among proposed long-term capital improvements are bike racks on buses.

Svoboda questioned why the downtown shuttle would be free.

“Even 50 cents would be appropriate,” he said.

But Cary said free downtown shuttles are more successful.

“Even if you put a quarter cost on it, it’s enough of a deterrent,” Cary said.

The council decided to proceed with the StarTran public hearing on Monday, but to delay voting on the proposal until Oct. 29.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.


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FREE?? wrote on October 2, 2007 5:47 am:
" I agree with Svboda. Why are we helping to pay for these StarTran user? I don't see them assisting with my gas or car insurance.Everyone needs to pay their fair share and these freeloaders are no different. If you want to use it, you should pay for it.We don't OWE you transportation. "
cut the fat, life is fatal wrote on October 2, 2007 5:55 am:
" Why is it that the Republicans are always about themselves? I could never figure out that one, but I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth either. My guess is that LIBA and the Republicans will cut the bus service and place the money in the road’s honey-pot so that we can build more tax exempt churches and have tax exclusionary blighted areas so the developers can build with their undocumented, UN-insured labor. If they really want to make changes and save the city from a boondoggle they should pass an ordinance prohibiting county taxes. The biggest waste of money on my property tax bill. "
Michelle wrote on October 2, 2007 6:50 am:
" I am so excited to see a downtown shuttle that is free. I was just in Seattle and the they had the same thing. As a business traveler I appreciated the ease of getting around downtown. I did alot more exploring then if I had to pay for the bus. the same concept would apply in a smaller city like Lincoln. It will get people more mobile downtown and put money in our economy. Alot more then a quarter would! Keep it free. That is the best idea I have heard in a long time!! "
Rider wrote on October 2, 2007 7:03 am:
" Once again, the baby boomers running the board only make cuts to programs that don't affect them. Let's take away or make it much harder for those that depend on public transportation and then spend that money on building roads for the wealthy new neighborhoods. "
Meh wrote on October 2, 2007 7:50 am:
" Ya wanna go after fat and waste? Check out the Health Department. Seriously. Whole layers of waste that most people don't realize. Leave the buses alone. You've messes up the city enough. "
Dale D wrote on October 2, 2007 9:24 am:
" I got a great Republican idea, let's cut the bus service across the city except let's extend service to the Haymarket. Smells like Camp to me. "
JK wrote on October 2, 2007 9:42 am:
" Nothings free these days. Can't imagine where anybody would ride the bus just downtown. The heighth of laziness! Should at least charge 50 cents. Kinda like putting a fleet of buses in my barnyard!! "
Bus user wrote on October 2, 2007 10:27 am:
" I ride the bus everyday because I can't afford to have a car. Cutting the budget means severly cutting my way of getting around town. This cut only disenfranchises the poor working class that needs Star Tran! I guess I better look at carpooling with friends now. "
Scott wrote on October 2, 2007 11:13 am:
" The reality is that you almost have to have a car to get around Lincoln, especially if you're too out of shape to use a bike. This reflects oil boom city planning over the last 70 years, but shouldn't be our planning now. Lincoln should change course and push public transit to more areas, better routes serving all neighborhoods, and longer service times (how about 9 p.m.?), and restrict car usage downtown. To go with that, no more garages please, and let's sensibly restrict street parking to one side of the street, to favor bike and bus traffic! "
just me wrote on October 2, 2007 11:40 am:
" I think that maybe we could think of future generations who may not want to live in a city filled with smog and soot. Just because you want to drive a huge suv and complain about those who ride the bus, doesn't make you better! get over yourselves. "
WHY wrote on October 2, 2007 12:04 pm:
" Why cant the city council accept the fact people don't go downtown to shop times have changed thats why Walmart is not downtown and so sucessful. Take Notice not one big box store has moved into downtown city council is so preasured from up downtowners its costing tax payers ACCEPT IT QUIT WASTING MY MONEY YOU DID NOT EARN IT "
Eliminate it wrote on October 2, 2007 12:48 pm:
" Star Tran should be completely eliminated. Every bus I ever see is almost COMPLETELY EMPTY! What a waste of taxpayer money, it would save the City lots to get rid of this. Yes, carpool, move closer to work, or get a real job and a car. Quit freeloading off of my tax dollars. "
Daily Bus Rider wrote on October 2, 2007 1:39 pm:
" How about if they improved the routes to make it feasible for more people to ride the bus. The City of Lincoln should be forward looking enough to figure out that encouraging people to ride the bus is a "green" issue. "
hmmm... wrote on October 2, 2007 3:36 pm:
" I think they should get smaller bus's on not so busy routes. Woulden't that save money and gas? I live on a bus route and see an average of 3 people riding the bus when it drives by. Guess that would make too much sense.. "
Patrick wrote on October 2, 2007 4:48 pm:
" I would agree that on some days and routes smaller buses would be useful, but as a person that has consistantly rode the East Vine bus for over a year, you always have those days when the bus is completely full. There are never empty buses leaving the downtown area after 5pm, and you also have routes like Eastridge that fill up after school is out. I would gladly pay a larger fee if the bus ran later during the week and on sundays, since it would still beat owning a car and paying for parking downtown. "
yoshiki wrote on October 2, 2007 6:34 pm:
" You can always tell when the Scrooges of Lincoln come out. Cut 'em down, move 'em closer to their work, they're heavy - they ain't my brother, etc. etc. How about we turn the tables. We're takin' away your cars, you freeloaders of clean/polluted air. Now find a place closer to your work. How to find a good place without a car? How to move your stuff? Limited budget? Get kids to school? Go to the nearest grocery store? Too bad, you're on your own. Geez Lincoln, have some compassion!!! "
Haymarket Residence wrote on October 2, 2007 8:55 pm:
" Please don't bring the busses into the Haymarket. They are too big to be lumbering through here. 11th street is close enough. They also should close 8th street just south of "O" street so it isn't a thoroughfare. "
No Need wrote on October 3, 2007 5:10 am:
" Lincoln is a really easy place to commute in by car for the overwhelming majority of the population, which isn't the case in many crowded metros. Cars give a lot of personal freedom to go where you want when you want. If you don't like Lincoln, then pack your stuff and go elsewhere. "
peb wrote on October 3, 2007 12:54 pm:
" Yes, Lincoln is easy to commute in by car in IF you have a car. I live in South Lincoln and work downtown and don't want to pay $80/month for parking. My work subsidizes bus passes so it costs me $17.50 per month to get to work vs. $80/month and gas. Plus riding the bus to and from work gives me a few minutes to sit and relax. "

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