Aaron Antrim's dashboard

You can take the bus to the Casino. but you can't take backpacks or packages on the bus due to their regulations, which complicates a trip which involves shopping. I have used their bus! It runs on Sunday and the schedule is on their Casino website--I put a few quarters in a one-armed bandit, so I feel I paid my fare. – Carol Mone', on July 25, 2008 03:18

You can take the bus to the Casino. but you can't take backpacks or packages on the bus due to their regulations, which complicates a trip which involves shopping. I have used their bus! It runs on Sunday and the schedule is on their Casino website--I put a few quarters in a one-armed bandit, so I feel I paid my fare. – Carol Mone', on July 25, 2008 03:18

Maybe we don't need more service--since funds are limited, maybe we need instead a bus we can take to work (or school) and get home--in other words a change in time. For the morning bus, I would be delighted to get to Eureka before 7 AM from the north. And I have given a ride to at least one other person who would be on that bus, too! – Carol Mone', on July 25, 2008 03:04

I think creating a partnership to use the casino bus for transportation would be a fantastic idea. I don't have any contacts at the casino, but I hope you will contact them to see about making something happen. Get in touch and let us know what happens so we can mobilize some support and help! – Aaron Antrim, on July 24, 2008 01:49

I agree with these concerns, but would like to add my own on a similar note. Why doesn't RTS consider running the northbound #35 bus northward to Trinidad. That way, those of us to quit work at 5 p.m. (in Arcata) and live north could get home earlier than waiting for the current bus available if you get off work at 5 p.m. (#39) which gets me home in north McKinleyville (past the airport stop) at almost 7 p.m. That's a long time to wait for the one bus that will get those of us home who work in Arcata and live northward and are off work at 5 p.m. Likewise a few more southbound runs between Trinidad and beyond in the mornings would be a benefit to not only those who start work at 8 a.m., but for students riding the system, too.

As the previous e-mail suggested - hourly runs at prime time hours beyond the airport would be fantastic.

I agree with these concerns, but would like to add my own on a similar note. Why doesn't RTS consider running the northbound #35 bus northward to Trinidad. That way, those of us to quit work at 5 p.m. (in Arcata) and live north could get home earlier than waiting for the current bus available if you get off work at 5 p.m. (#39) which gets me home in north McKinleyville (past the airport stop) at almost 7 p.m. That's a long time to wait for the one bus that will get those of us home who work in Arcata and live northward and are off work at 5 p.m. Likewise a few more southbound runs between Trinidad and beyond in the mornings would be a benefit to not only those who start work at 8 a.m., but for students riding the system, too.

As the previous e-mail suggested - hourly runs at prime time hours beyond the airport would be fantastic.

Transit Sense:

I think I should clarify that my activities on this "user-powered customer service" forum do not represent a response from HTA in any way. First and foremost here, I act as an independent citizen, transit advocate, and volunteer for Green Wheels, and so my comments on service schedules and government regulations come from that perspective, not one from within HTA.

However, I do work as an independent contractor to develop and maintain some of Humboldt's online transit information resources, and so sometimes I may respond to comments on the websites in my role as an independent contractor. I am not authorized to speak on behalf of HTA, and nothing I say should be considered representative of the organization's positions.

This message aside, I wish to defend my response to Carol, as well as apologize for specific aspects of its tone.

First, my experience working with Green Wheels, and contributing to some of the changes that have led to an approximately 25% increase in scheduled Redwood Transit System service over the past year, has required that I learn about a lot of "obscure" numbers and government regulations. One of the realities, and challenges, for successful citizen advocacy in the transportation field is that its funding and decision-making is very complicated. Perhaps this can be simplified (I don't know if it can), but until then, successful transit advocates will be forced to understand all of this. Information empowers people to make change in our democracy.

If you look at this forum, there are many, many requests that HTA expand their service. Until people understand that HTA has no authority to increase their own funding on their own, these requests will (sadly) result in little or no change.

My comments on land use in Trinidad stem from the advocacy goals of Green Wheels. It is important that people understand the challenges of providing viable transit service in rural, spread out areas (like much of the Trinidad area), so that we can begin to build in a pattern that results in a fairer, more equitable world where people have access to healthcare, jobs, and food closer to their home, instead of incurring costly travel expenses.

Finally, I apologize for my somewhat snarky final paragraph about carpooling and rideshare. It was not necessary. Carol and I had an interesting and rewarding email conversation off of this forum about these issues. She, I, HTA, Green Wheels, and others are working together to create solutions. I believe we're entering a new age of grassroots citizen-based advocacy.

Great response! – Skippy56, on July 22, 2008 22:39

Henry, Those ith disabilities have always counted. A big problem with dealing with the disabled is the fact that those providing for the disabled are not asking the disabled what is wanted. But it is not always on the local level, but State and Federal government requires much, yet provides the extra funding needed to meet the demands.

Wow! it is funny how they use the ADA to not provide a service, yet when not meeting the ADA as with designated stops not having appropriate space, no one cares to address the subject. That's good use of the ADA- haha – Skippy56, on July 22, 2008 22:34

Since HTA is an authority rather than a county deparmentcouldn't it push a sales tax measure for better bus service? Couldn't Green Wheels design a ballot initative?
I hate hearing the "we just don't have the money" line. In honesty Priority=Money.
Why isn't HTA making that a "priority" I also feel that Neleen's answer sounds like the problem is Disabled People. People with a disability deserve bus service just as many days of the week and HTA should be reminded that public transit is a service for more than those who get the choice to live an "eco grove" life style...but is also there to provide a safety net and support system for those without transit options. The poor and under served in the county need attention not just the priviliged University kids.

Maybe the County should contract services for a ride share in a joint sharing agreement of some type. Obviously the Trinidad casino bus provides bus services to their Casino. The Casino may be a business but if the Tribes have an established government that provides services for tribe members could it be possible for the Tribe and the County to make an agreement for service to Downtown Trinidad...
It's depressing to hear a complaint answered the way Aaron did. Throwing Government numbers at someone and obscure regulations for funding doesn't empower people trying to make a difference at all.

Maybe the County should contract services for a ride share in a joint sharing agreement of some type. Obviously the Trinidad casino bus provides bus services to their Casino. The Casino may be a business but if the Tribes have an established government that provides services for tribe members could it be possible for the Tribe and the County to make an agreement for service to Downtown Trinidad...
It's depressing to hear a complaint answered the way Aaron did. Throwing Government numbers at someone and obscure regulations for funding doesn't empower people trying to make a difference at all.

The service to Trinidad did not change except that there is one additional bus leaving southbound at 7:51 p.m. This schedule change is a just band-aid anyway, until we can get some more money from somewhere. The City of Trinidad contributes about $3,900 to our $1,000,000+ budget for their bus service. That's $3,900 per year.

We have an awesome schedule waiting in the wings, however, we need an additional $450,000 - $500,000 to implement it. I am more aware than anyone that we need more frequent bus service but I can't do it without funds. I'm working on it. Nel

The service to Trinidad did not change except that there is one additional bus leaving southbound at 7:51 p.m. This schedule change is a just band-aid anyway, until we can get some more money from somewhere. The City of Trinidad contributes about $3,900 to our $1,000,000+ budget for their bus service. That's $3,900 per year.

We have an awesome schedule waiting in the wings, however, we need an additional $450,000 - $500,000 to implement it. I am more aware than anyone that we need more frequent bus service but I can't do it without funds. I'm working on it. Nel

Hello Henry,

You didn't mention which bus system you were referring to so I have to assume you are talking about the Eureka Transit since the Redwood Transit operates until 11:00 p.m. The City of Eureka spends all of it's transportation money on transit, and then some. They do not have the funds to run any later than they already do.

As far as Sunday service goes, and this is the case for all three of the regional transit systems, there is something called the American's with Disabilities Act which is currently preventing our transit systems from operating on Sundays. If the transit buses were to run on Sunday we would be obligated, by law, to also run the dial-a-ride/lift buses. Just to give you some idea of what that means, Sunday service would add another $400,000 to the Redwood Transit System's operating budget per year. The same is true for Arcata and Eureka. Niether the cities nor the county have that kind of money. Neleen Fregoso, HTA General Manager

Henry,

The "code images" you refer to are is the CAPTCHA form to make sure you are human when commenting on the Green Wheels site. Right now, you're at the feedback site for HTA. The Green Wheels and HTA sites are not connected other than the fact that I administer both of them.

As far as your question of why there is no evening or Sunday bus service (presumably in Eureka), I believe the answer is that this is not possible to do within HTA's current budget. In other words, this is a budget issue best taken up with the county and with HCAOG.

I also suggest writing letters to the editors for local papers.

Aaron