Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
TriMet comes in 2nd out of 11 teams.
Last week TriMet was well-represented at APTA's 2009 International Rail Rodeo in
The LRV mechanics team--Al Fisher, John Gende and Bob White--won two of the eight events, placing a close 3rd in the maintenance category. Only 30 points separated them from first place. This is exceptional, considering that TriMet hasn't sent a maintenance team to the rail rodeo in more than 10 years.
Rail operators Laura Walker and David White placed 3rd in operator's competition. The operator events took place on a segment of
Overall, TriMet took 2nd place out of 11 teams. When you see your colleagues, please congratulate them for their outstanding performances.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
TRIMET USELESS BUREAUCRAT OF THE DAY
ADMINISTRATOR ORACLE APPLICATIONS DATABASESALARY:$107,329
ad⋅min⋅is⋅tra⋅tor:a person who manages or has a talent for managing.
or⋅a⋅cle:an utterance, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest or priestess at a shrine as the response of a god to an inquiry.
ap⋅pli⋅ca⋅tion:the act of putting to a special use or purpose: the application of common sense to a problem
da⋅ta⋅base:a comprehensive collection of related data organized for convenient access, generally in a computer.
ad⋅min⋅is⋅tra⋅tor:a person who manages or has a talent for managing.
or⋅a⋅cle:an utterance, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest or priestess at a shrine as the response of a god to an inquiry.
ap⋅pli⋅ca⋅tion:the act of putting to a special use or purpose: the application of common sense to a problem
da⋅ta⋅base:a comprehensive collection of related data organized for convenient access, generally in a computer.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
UNION ACTIONS
ARY | The region's largest public bus system was thrown into chaos Monday as
Gary Public Transportation Corp. bus drivers called in sick to protest stalled
contract talks.
"I'm not going to make it to work in time," GPTC rider Latasha Amos said as she
waited for the Tri-City Connection at the Metro Center on Monday morning. "All
we know is there is only one bus running this route, and we don't know when it
will be here."
Hundreds of other GPTC riders were in the same position as Amos, as some began
hiking miles to work or other bus stops when buses didn't show.
On Monday night, GPTC General Manager Daryl Lampkins said all buses should be
running on a normal schedule today. He indicated he had talked to the union
about its work stoppage.
"Full service is expected," Lampkins said. "Maybe we kissed and made up."
GPTC routes serve six communities, stretching from Hammond to Hobart.
To make matters even worse for riders on Monday, planned service reductions
started on six GPTC routes. Those service reductions have been in the works for
months due to the city's budget crisis.
Stephan Mitchell, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 517, said
about 40 of the city's 52 bus drivers stayed home Monday, with many calling in
claiming they were ill.
He said GPTC "refuses to bargain in good faith" on a new contract for drivers.
He said the previous contract expired earlier this month.
"Even to get a meeting set up is a problem," he said.
Lampkins said the bus company has "made every effort" to negotiate in good faith
with the union. He said he wanted to start negotiations as early as December,
but union officials took months to review GPTC's initial offerings.
"We are willing to work with the union," Lampkins said. "But every time there is
a problem, this is their reaction."
Mitchell accused Lampkins of "running a dictatorship" and instituting changes
without consulting with the union.
Lampkins said he has conferred with the union at every turn and has abided by
the contract.
"But I have changed many things," Lampkins said. "We are trying to survive.
Things just can't stay the same."
Lampkins said about 95 percent of drivers called in sick on Monday and that
supervisors and others were filling in and keeping as many buses running as
possible. Lampkins was working as a dispatcher Monday and answering calls from
frustrated riders when a Times reporter called.
Early in the morning, some routes were barely covered, with one bus making stops
along several of them.
Lampkins said some recent back-and-forth negotiations on an overtime provision
in the contract might have led to Monday's work stoppage by drivers.
GPTC will suffer an estimated $511,707 cut in revenue due to state-mandated
property tax caps.
Gary Public Transportation Corp. bus drivers called in sick to protest stalled
contract talks.
"I'm not going to make it to work in time," GPTC rider Latasha Amos said as she
waited for the Tri-City Connection at the Metro Center on Monday morning. "All
we know is there is only one bus running this route, and we don't know when it
will be here."
Hundreds of other GPTC riders were in the same position as Amos, as some began
hiking miles to work or other bus stops when buses didn't show.
On Monday night, GPTC General Manager Daryl Lampkins said all buses should be
running on a normal schedule today. He indicated he had talked to the union
about its work stoppage.
"Full service is expected," Lampkins said. "Maybe we kissed and made up."
GPTC routes serve six communities, stretching from Hammond to Hobart.
To make matters even worse for riders on Monday, planned service reductions
started on six GPTC routes. Those service reductions have been in the works for
months due to the city's budget crisis.
Stephan Mitchell, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 517, said
about 40 of the city's 52 bus drivers stayed home Monday, with many calling in
claiming they were ill.
He said GPTC "refuses to bargain in good faith" on a new contract for drivers.
He said the previous contract expired earlier this month.
"Even to get a meeting set up is a problem," he said.
Lampkins said the bus company has "made every effort" to negotiate in good faith
with the union. He said he wanted to start negotiations as early as December,
but union officials took months to review GPTC's initial offerings.
"We are willing to work with the union," Lampkins said. "But every time there is
a problem, this is their reaction."
Mitchell accused Lampkins of "running a dictatorship" and instituting changes
without consulting with the union.
Lampkins said he has conferred with the union at every turn and has abided by
the contract.
"But I have changed many things," Lampkins said. "We are trying to survive.
Things just can't stay the same."
Lampkins said about 95 percent of drivers called in sick on Monday and that
supervisors and others were filling in and keeping as many buses running as
possible. Lampkins was working as a dispatcher Monday and answering calls from
frustrated riders when a Times reporter called.
Early in the morning, some routes were barely covered, with one bus making stops
along several of them.
Lampkins said some recent back-and-forth negotiations on an overtime provision
in the contract might have led to Monday's work stoppage by drivers.
GPTC will suffer an estimated $511,707 cut in revenue due to state-mandated
property tax caps.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
FRED ASKED TO OVERSEE THE SUSTAINABILITY OPERATIONS OF THE AMERICAN TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION?
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New Thinker for SA
Posted
The South Australian Government has appointed US transport expert Fred Hansen as its next Thinker in Residence.
The Government says Mr Hansen, who served in the Environmental Protection Agency under former President Bill Clinton, has recently been asked to oversee sustainability operations of the American Public Transport Association.
Mr Hansen will work with the Government to develop plans for its light rail extension to Semaphore.
He will take up his role in October.
Mr Hansen will take over from Professor Laura Lee, who has been providing ideas in environment and sustainability.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
FRED TALKS ABOUT THE "TOTAL TRANSIT EXPERIENCE"
It turns out our pal Jim Stenger is the Director of Administration & Transit Operations for total transit!
http://www.totaltransit.com/totaltransit/exteam.aspx
http://www.totaltransit.com/
Monday, June 15, 2009
LETTERS
Another round of cuts
TriMet is now announcing its second set of service cut-backs in as many weeks ("TriMet weighs schedule changes," June 11).
TriMet is now announcing its second set of service cut-backs in as many weeks ("TriMet weighs schedule changes," June 11).
This from an outfit that blew $5.5 million on that railcar fiasco in Colorado and is now planning to spend $1.4 billion for a light-rail line to Milwaukie.
For that amount, it could almost double bus service in the tri-county area with clean buses. Maybe TriMet should get its priorities straight.
ED ZUMWALT
Milwaukie
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
"Christianity’s Resurrection From Conservative Decline"
"Christianity’s Resurrection From Conservative Decline"
-- For nearly a quarter-century, Christianity in the United States has been defined by a very conservative strain of evangelical Christianity that, over time, became highly politicized and closely allied with a single political party. Over the same period, the number of American Christians has diminished.
-- For nearly a quarter-century, Christianity in the United States has been defined by a very conservative strain of evangelical Christianity that, over time, became highly politicized and closely allied with a single political party. Over the same period, the number of American Christians has diminished.
GRAFT
"The Best Investment Money Can Buy"
-- In the last decade, the financial industry’s $5 billion investment in campaign contributions and lobbyists resulted in deregulation and boatloads of free money. By Bloomberg News’ account, $12.8 trillion worth of taxpayer loans, grants and guarantees—all to Wall Street.
-- In the last decade, the financial industry’s $5 billion investment in campaign contributions and lobbyists resulted in deregulation and boatloads of free money. By Bloomberg News’ account, $12.8 trillion worth of taxpayer loans, grants and guarantees—all to Wall Street.
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