Get on the Bus
The nice thing about being back from vacation means you get to dive in all the issues that you missed while tanning on the beach with a cocktail and cigar. Ok, I’m just kidding about the cigar part.
But seriously folks, one of the big issues right now involves school districts and theirtransportation programs. There is talk that because of property tax caps, several school districts may have to cut transportation funding because there won’t be enough money in the budget.
For example, Beech Grove schools are asking for residents to take less of a property tax cut, otherwise it will eliminate bus service from its budget. I find the threat highly suspect for a school district that is only four square miles in size, but that’s beyond the point.
Is there any reason why any school district in Marion County has bus service? Why not consolidate their transportation budgets and create a uniform system of transportation with shared costs. Or here’s a better idea. Why not use IndyGo for high school student transportation? Why can’t districts work out a deal with IndyGo, pay a certain amount to provide students with bus cards, and they can ride for free. I’m sure IndyGo could adjust some of the routes during the week to accomodate students.
With IndyGo providing service for high school students, districts can save on their transportation costs since they are now only paying for elementary and middle school. And another side benefit is that you get people use to taking mass transit at an earlier age so it’s no big deal when they become adults.
Now to do this requires something school districts are notorious for not doing; looking for creative and innovative ways to deliver non-instructional services. But then again, why should they when it’s so much easier to use fear tactics and avoid making tough choices.
August 25th, 2009 at 7:28 am
What you suggest has long been actual practice in Muncie School where some routes are totally free to kids. Of course, the private sector firms were pushed away from the market and the subsidy to the bus company continues so government grows either way.
August 25th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Abdul when was the last time you took IndyGo? I hope recently, but if you have you would know that it isn't merely “adjustment of routes” that would be an issue… It's a good idea in theory, works in Chicago where there is comprehensive mass transit including hub as well as crosstown routes, but in Indy? It would cost far more in route addition/labor than they could ever make off of students I'm guessing. Take Broad Ripple High School- right on the 17 bus line, but you can only get there from stops along North College given the “hub” design of IndyGo. The majority of kids would have to get from their neighborhoods, IF they are served, to downtown, then on the 17 bus to Broad Ripple….same at all the other schools. Then people would be complaining about thousands of IPS high school students hanging around downtown twice a day switching buses… Nice idea, but the bus system just isn't designed to unless you work downtown and live right on one of the lines (which I used to, and took the bus part of the time)
August 25th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Thanks, but maybe it's time for IndyGo to revamp the way it does business and this just might be the catalyst to do it.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:25 am
The whole thing sounds like emotional blackmail to me. The Super knows that the parents won't give up their buses, so he trots that out as what they'd have to cut.
I'm supposed to believe that's the only place he can save money? The one place where it will affect parents most directly?
Something smells here.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Yep. And it's the smell of those annoying, protesting taxpayers again. Imagine they object to paying for two seperate bus lines when they might be able to pay for just one! Now, if they'll only bathe more often…..
August 25th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Two comments:
1. These are the intended consequences of forcing a tax cap without providing an alternative funding mechanism. The Daniels Administration knew that they were taking advantage of emotion to implement a cap without a plan to maintain municipal services. The goal is to create anger towards local leadership and convince people to consolidate under a non-elected county leadership who will supposedly make things cheaper and easier. I'm in favor of complete elimination of property taxes, but only with an appropriate funding mechanism to protect municipalites from fiscal collapse. Daniels' actions demonstrate that he's looking for collapse. My best guess is that he wants to use it as a tool to promote centralization of power (under himself and future leadership, regardless of party) by demonizing local government who is struggling as a result. His media wing in the capital seems to be on board with the plan.
2. I used to walk a mile each way to school, rain, snow, or sunshine. I'm still in my 30's so it wasn't that long ago. I never saw value in the whole bus thing anyways (for kids less than a mile from school), except to make sure that Laidlaw maintained a healthy growth rate.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am
First of all, Shorebreak, in IPS a student is provided bus service only if they live 1.5 miles from home or is severely handicapped. Your sugestion of a mile is more liberal and would bus more students than currently is the practice. Many years ago, IPS used Indygo. What they found was that the loudness, the foul language and frequent fights drove away the riders who were paying full fare. There were several times when the bus driver just took the entire bus to the police station. That was in the days when students were better behaved than they are now.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Why don't they cut a damned administrator for once!
August 25th, 2009 at 10:16 am
This idea isn't new. In the 60's IPS students used the city buses at a reduced fare. I rode one to Jr High and HS.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Unfortunately, I can think of several reasons why this won't work. A number of my friends, when I was still in high school, were in some special program that they could choose which high school to go to. So many people living in the downtown area chose to go to Broad Ripple High School. They usually had to drive there or arrange other transportation.
At IUPUI, we have these IndyGo buses called the Red Line, which provide transportation with no cost to IUPUI students, and probably those who work at the hospitals too. But it's only around the IUPUI and hospital campuses, and to some parts of downtown. It's not some way to get home, or anywhere else.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
My family lives more than 3 miles from the nearest bus stop (and, of course, the route doesn't go any where near the high school).
August 25th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
IndyGo CEO Mike Terry has campaigned for this with IPS more than once. The increase in ridership would help IndyGo with more state and federal funds. Before you comment about IndyGo's system you have to understand how it's funded. Indy is the 13th largest city in N. America but the size of it's budget and operation is 99th. The staff at IndyGo realizes that the hub and spoke system is archaic and ineffecient, however there is no way to with the current funding model to expand the system to a grid type that is seen in other cities. IndyGo's budget was 51 Million this past year, Cincinnati, Louisvile and Columbus OH, all cities much smaller than Indy, have budgets in the 90-100 million range. Unfortunately you get what you pay for. IndyGo is recognized in the public transit community as one of the most effiecient transit's in the country. No one does more with less than IndyGo. The average mangament to employee percentage in most Transit operations is 15% IndyGo does it with 5%. IndyGo is the model that all the others municipal corporations in Indy should follow.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Why not refuse bus transportation to the little darlings who live within a certain proximity of the school, use the savings to build sidewalks along busy streets, and have them walk their little buns to school? This would also help the state's obesity problem.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:27 am
http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20090826/NE... but isn't the necessity to transport born from school consolidation efforts jammed down the parent's throat by liars who promised benefits of consolidation? Note: the benefits never arrived and government schools declined in all areas of measured academic performance. Cause and Effect? In part, the answer must be YES. Of course, a better method of balancing budgets would be for teachers to pay the same out of pocket expenses for health care insurance as the average taxpayer with health care insurance….leaving aside many taxpayers who don't have employer provided insurance. Of course, with school boards larded with the same group plan it isn't likely…..or is it? If the legislature would clamp down on these part time employees getting full time benefits then oversight might return, or, cap health care costs at some number like $8,000 a year and all the school budgets would be in the black.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Abdul, this would be a great idea if we had a bus system that reflected the size and needs of our city. We do not and from what I've seen never will. It's not just a matter of funding either, one could throw the entire IPS transportation budget to Indygo and it wouldn't matter. Despite what some say, this city does NOT value public transportation and unless that attitude changes all the money in the state isn't going to matter.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Why are schools delivering “non instructional services” at all? The purpose of a school is to educate – not provide transportation, free meals, health screenings, or anything else.
Some of these programs are excellent (free school lunches for needy children to name just one) – but they should not be offered by schools. We have a Health and Human Services agencies – let them do their job, and let schools get back to educating children.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Hey if kids in New York City are smart enough to ride public transportation to school, then I'm sure Indy kids are too!
August 28th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Hey if kids in New York City are smart enough to ride public transportation to school, then I'm sure Indy kids are too!