cmu pres hasn't thought this through

[Aske]

http://www.post-gazette.c...m/pg/07004/751189-147.stm

ignore the fact that 90% of the student base at the university is from out of the state   and will no longer have an option to get to/from the airport.


 

[Uisce Beatha]

Hardy, we're out of our patrol zone.

[Aske]

LOL,  what a bad movie that was.

[Aske]

anyways, the entire city should strike the 1st week this is implemented.


also, i'd like to see results of cmu's prestigious process modeling/optimization  groups  analysis of this 'solution'  vs. the 'optimal' solution .

[Clive]

I'm guessing that the typical CMU student can probably afford a cab ride to the airport twice a year.

I didn't see it in the article: did PA cut ALL routes to the airport or merely reduce them?  Do they even run routes to PIT from town or Oakland?  They didn't when I lived and went to college there.

[Aske]

I'm guessing that the typical CMU student can probably afford a cab ride to the airport twice a year.

I didn't see it in the article: did PA cut ALL routes to the airport or merely reduce them?  Do they even run routes to PIT from town or Oakland?  They didn't when I lived and went to college there.

no routes to the airport.  and there (since at least 2001) had been a route from squirrel hill/oakland to the airport. 


finally,  ok, assume people can afford (on top of their already huge) college debts an extra 200-300 a year in taxis...  that assumes that all of a sudden the taxi companies are going to have surplus capacity for 5-10k rides during the holidays/ spring break/ etc   ?

[Aske]

another factor I didn't mention... 

the port authority should have two 'counts'  on the bus.  one paid fares,  one pass fares.   would greatly help them set prices to more accurately reflect the #  of trips.
(as it is now, anyone who gets on  is a click,  whether they're paying $2 or effectively  $.25  - whatever their pass price / # of uses is)

[Aske]

another factor I didn't mention... 

the port authority should have two 'counts'  on the bus.  one paid fares,  one pass fares.   would greatly help them set prices to more accurately reflect the #  of trips.
(as it is now, anyone who gets on  is a click,  whether they're paying $2 or effectively  $.25  - whatever their pass price / # of uses is)

i'm making some graphics of their proposed  service changes (via map)  it's preposterous.  it cuts off service to major workforce commute areas, the airport, the 2 biggest new shopping complexes.....   etc...

[Clive]

finally,  ok, assume people can afford (on top of their already huge) college debts an extra 200-300 a year in taxis...  that assumes that all of a sudden the taxi companies are going to have surplus capacity for 5-10k rides during the holidays/ spring break/ etc   ?

"Some"?

And is there some reason that students can't share a cab or privately-run airport shuttle?  They're already all at Point A and all headed to Point B.

(FWIW, private airport shuttle service in Portland ran about $16 each way.  I lived on the opposite side of town from PDX.  Exactly how many times per year are CMU students flying home?)

And yet one more: does the average CMU student take a spring break trip anywhere?  I trust you know where I'm headed with that question.

[Clive]

the port authority should have two 'counts'  on the bus.  one paid fares,  one pass fares.   would greatly help them set prices to more accurately reflect the #  of trips.
(as it is now, anyone who gets on  is a click,  whether they're paying $2 or effectively  $.25  - whatever their pass price / # of uses is)

How would this matter?  Their concern seems to be operating costs, with those routes having the fewest "clicks" aboard being the likeliest targets for deletion.  Did they announce a different selection strategy?

[Art Vandelay]

I'm guessing that the typical CMU student can probably afford a cab ride to the airport twice a year.

I didn't see it in the article: did PA cut ALL routes to the airport or merely reduce them?  Do they even run routes to PIT from town or Oakland?  They didn't when I lived and went to college there.

no routes to the airport.  and there (since at least 2001) had been a route from squirrel hill/oakland to the airport. 


finally,  ok, assume people can afford (on top of their already huge) college debts an extra 200-300 a year in taxis...  that assumes that all of a sudden the taxi companies are going to have surplus capacity for 5-10k rides during the holidays/ spring break/ etc   ?

I thought the 28X ran from town to the airport.  If so, there's always a bus to be caught from Oakland to town, then catch the 28.

[Aske]

finally,  ok, assume people can afford (on top of their already huge) college debts an extra 200-300 a year in taxis...  that assumes that all of a sudden the taxi companies are going to have surplus capacity for 5-10k rides during the holidays/ spring break/ etc   ?

"Some"?

And is there some reason that students can't share a cab or privately-run airport shuttle?  They're already all at Point A and all headed to Point B.

(FWIW, private airport shuttle service in Portland ran about $16 each way.  I lived on the opposite side of town from PDX.  Exactly how many times per year are CMU students flying home?)

And yet one more: does the average CMU student take a spring break trip anywhere?  I trust you know where I'm headed with that question.

from campus to the airport is a $55 / direction trip.  i would guess the average student takes at least 2 trips a year, since they aren't allowed to stay on campus in the winter / and spring breaks.

and yes, the humor is appreciated.. 





art vandelay- that's what i meant,  i've been here since 2001 and there has been the 28x  ...  it's on the cut list...

[Aske]

the port authority should have two 'counts'  on the bus.  one paid fares,  one pass fares.   would greatly help them set prices to more accurately reflect the #  of trips.
(as it is now, anyone who gets on  is a click,  whether they're paying $2 or effectively  $.25  - whatever their pass price / # of uses is)

How would this matter?  Their concern seems to be operating costs, with those routes having the fewest "clicks" aboard being the likeliest targets for deletion.  Did they announce a different selection strategy?

no, they are deleting routes that go outside the city, by and large.  this is their decision to cope with having a 75$M  deficit that is largely due to retirement/benefit  /health costs for retirees (age 55+)   its not so much that they lose it all on running the routes...

the clicks comment simply related to more accurate pricing strategies for those who pay as they go versus those who pay monthly (prepay).   $80 pass = unlimited (theoretical rides) ...   $2 a trip each direction otherwise.   what does 1000 clicks really mean?

[Aske]

here's a side by side of the

(5 M download, will remove after 12 hours  due to bandwidth issues)