BusTalk

RailBus63 · Moderator Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 1063

New Bus Service Coming To Clayton County

WSBTV.com - New Bus Service Coming To Clayton County

July 30, 2010

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Bus service is coming back to Clayton County, but this time it will be privately run.

It's called "Quick Transit" and the service starts Monday morning along the same routes of the former C-Tran buses. Channel 2 Action News reporter Jovita Moore met with the new company's owner who said she just wants to help. Tywanna Albro said she got the idea once C-Tran went out of service back in March, leaving thousands across the county stranded.

Bus Service Coming To Clayton County

“So I said we should open up a bus service to help Clayton County residents," said Albro. "Businesses are suffering. They're closing down and the residents on C-Tran have lost their jobs. They're paying so much money to get to work," said Albro.

Albro has purchased 11 buses. They'll cover the former C-Tran routes 501, 502, 503 and 504, picking up once again at places like the county justice building.

"They’re taking taxis and we know how expensive taxis can be," said Albro. She's hoping word will spread about the service.

"We're doing the same stops, so all the residents of Clayton County need to do is go out to the same stop that they used to go to and then we will pick them up," said Albro.

Riverdale Mayor Evelyn Dixon said the service is so necessary.

“It helps the city and the county economically for economic growth. You can't grow without public transportation, period," said Dixon.

Like C-Tran, the buses will drop off passengers at the College Park MARTA station. Fares are a bit higher at $3.50, but transfers to other routes will be provided.

© 2010, WSBTV

timecruncher · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject:

I wish her the best. There isn't much on their website about who is running the service and who is financing it.

I doubt that they will be able to operate the service at break-even, with all of the ridiculous government regulations in place. It won't be long before disabled riders want to know when they'll get their door-to-door paratransit service, and EPA will come along and insist that the vehicles meet 2025 emission standards that are still unattainable, etc.

Plus, Clayton County leaders obviously do not want public transit service - it brings too many of 'those people' out to their little suburban domain.

I liken the loss of urban transit in southern metropolitan Atlanta to the ongoing situation in Birmingham, Alabama. Those in charge never used transit and figure that those who do are not part of the voting public.

They're probably right about transit riders not voting in great numbers, but its the wrong reason to NOT provide service that is desperately needed to low-income residents.

And really -- wouldn't it be great to see a private transit provider succeed without the bureaucracy and waste that is so commonplace at the typical transit system funded with tax dollars?

timecruncher

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

RailBus63 · Moderator Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 1063

It seems to me that if the folks running Clayton County are smart, they’ll work out a subsidy agreement with Quick Transit to provide a basic level of weekday service at fares comparable to MARTA – it would still be a significant savings over what they had been previously paying. I’m not sure if this will open them up to lawsuits from the transit unions that lost jobs, though, even though MARTA was only the subcontractor.

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

RailBus63 -

What is not explicitly stated: Clayton County appears to be dodging the budget line item altogether. The Unions, who
believe they may be aggrieved can do whatever they want. With a private operator, though, always the option to simply
shut the doors...

This storm has been brewing for a long, long time. The various Union websites have had regular news items for years
about still another small town bailing on all of it. On balance, it is largely unsustainable, when the goin' gets tough!

.......................Vern......................

timecruncher · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 12:27 pm Post subject:

Clayton County could have contracted out the service beforehand. There is/was no reason why they should go strictly with MARTA except that they already had personnel trained and ready to go.

I find the lack of any corporate information on the Quick Bus wesbsite a little troubling.

Who are these people?
What kind of equipment are they operating?
How about a pdf of the two initial route schedules so that they are readible to the public?

This bears watching just to see if the company can make a go of it. I doubt it primarily because government regulations make operating a bus on a highway at a profit almost impossible. And, as mentioned above, they may be playing to get Clayton County to cough up some $$ to help subsidize the service anyway.

Thing is, unless this was done intentionally by the county just to get out from under the MARTA contract, it is likely that the money saved has already been spent in other areas or on other projects. Politicians, even at the county level, cannot abide any funds in the treasury that haven't been spent on something that could possibly provide re-election votes!

timecruncher