[Ct-nfb] transit fare increases, service reduction, apathy and cynicism

Chris Kuell ckuell at comcast.net
Thu Sep 1 15:18:46 UTC 2011


Hey Trevor,

Great post, thanks for taking the time tow rite it, and I agree with 
everything you said. Before I proceed I'll mention that although the public 
hearings have passed, we can still write or email our comments to the 
Department of Transportation (DOT) and I promise to do so in the next few 
days. I encourage others to join me--here's the contact info:

arguments on the proposed fare adjustments and service reductions must be 
delivered or postmarked by September 15, 2011 to Bureau of Public 
Transportation, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 
06131-7546. The caption "COMMENT ON INTENT TO ADOPT PUBLIC TRANSIT FARES & 
SERVICE REDUCTIONS" must appear on the envelope. E-mailed comments or 
arguments should be addressed to dot.farecomments at ct.gov within the same 
time frame.

As I indicated above, I agree that we should be expanding mass transit 
rather than shrinking it. We should be making it more affordable to entice 
more riders and keep the ones that already use the transit system. However, 
I don't see this ever happening. The issue keeps being raised, usually by 
disability groups and/or environmentally conscious consumer groups, and time 
and time again it goes nowhere. The reasons for this are a little complex, 
but basically boil down to the fact that only poor or disabled people use 
mass transit outside urban areas where congestion make it a more palatable 
option than driving (Boston, NYC, Washington DC, Atlanta...) Americans 
prefer the personal freedom that comes with driving wherever they want to 
go, whenever they want to go. The government, manipulated if not controlled 
by the interests of mammoth oil companies, do all they can to keep it this 
way. In Europe, where mass transit is both readily available and embraced by 
the public, governments have raised gas prices so high that public 
transportation is a more appealing option.  If America were to do this there 
would be public lynchings. Add to this existing attitude our steep deficits 
and our  country's current opposition to any government spending that 
benefits primarily poor, disabled or disenfranchised citizens, and I 
calculate a 0% chance of success. Of course, I'm still feeling mighty sore 
about losing the fight to keep BESB around. Despite a fairly massive outcry 
from the blind, their families, friends, co-workers, teachers and  trainers, 
the governor got what he wanted and the general assembly took the firs step 
down the path leading toward lower literacy rates, lower graduation rates 
and inevitably, lower employment rates for the blind in this state. At state 
and national levels valuable social programs for the poor and needy are 
being sacrificed so that the mega-rich don't have to pay taxes, and I'm very 
cynical about the prospects for good in the future.

chris









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