Get ready for a good snooze... here's the scoop on First Transit straight from the horse's website.
First Transit is part of First Group, the world's leading transport operator. They won the 2009 National Safety Council Green Cross for Safety Medal. Delta Airlines won the award in 2008... more on that later.
First Group trades on the London stock exchange under FGP, serving 2.5 billion passengers p/yr in the UK and North America, with a total of 137,000 employees.
First Group America is based in Cincinatti, OH.
They also operate First Student, the leading provider of student transportation in the US and Canada (they bought out Laidlaw).
First Services is also the largest private sector provider of fleet maintenance services.
They also own Greyhound bus lines.
First Transit is the leading provider of transit management/contracting services. Thay have 235 locations in 41 states, with over 51 years of fixed-route. paratransit, and shuttle service.
First Transit revenues are at 760 million dollars p/yr. First Group America has 5 billion dollars in revenue, and First Group has 10 billion dollars in revenue p/yr overall.
First Transit took over management of Sun Metro 10/29/2006.
Now for the good stuff... lol.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Congrats Jaime!
Just got done watching the premier of EPTV and it has alot going for it.
Had a few moments that were hard to hear and some questionable camera angles with the interviews with Marquez and Perez (didn't care for seeing the back of their heads while they were speaking at times)- the interviews with Escobar and Byrd were better with angles, but didn't get to hear much when Susie Byrd spoke due to audio problems. But overall liked the questions and seemed a relaxed atmosphere and hope this segment gets fine-tuned as was very interesting.
Note to Susie Byrd- you have nice legs but you might want to wear something a little longer next time.
Almost looked as though Jaime was going to mix a coctail behind the bar- would rather see him and the guests behind the bar together and speak to the camera/audience.
Yeah- everyone's an armchair quarterback- I'm still stuck trying to figure out how to enbed pics off the web onto my blog:D- Jaime's more 'techie' so I'm sure they'll smooth out the bumps.
Enjoyed the videos and man-on-the-street interviews. Next time, tho, if someone wants to borrow my Riv just ask, but you brought her home in one piece so it's all good.
Congratulations, Jaime, you worked your ass off.
Look forward to the next show!
yes... I spied a red shirt Jaime was sportin at the taco festival- everybody pay up!!!
Had a few moments that were hard to hear and some questionable camera angles with the interviews with Marquez and Perez (didn't care for seeing the back of their heads while they were speaking at times)- the interviews with Escobar and Byrd were better with angles, but didn't get to hear much when Susie Byrd spoke due to audio problems. But overall liked the questions and seemed a relaxed atmosphere and hope this segment gets fine-tuned as was very interesting.
Note to Susie Byrd- you have nice legs but you might want to wear something a little longer next time.
Almost looked as though Jaime was going to mix a coctail behind the bar- would rather see him and the guests behind the bar together and speak to the camera/audience.
Yeah- everyone's an armchair quarterback- I'm still stuck trying to figure out how to enbed pics off the web onto my blog:D- Jaime's more 'techie' so I'm sure they'll smooth out the bumps.
Enjoyed the videos and man-on-the-street interviews. Next time, tho, if someone wants to borrow my Riv just ask, but you brought her home in one piece so it's all good.
Congratulations, Jaime, you worked your ass off.
Look forward to the next show!
yes... I spied a red shirt Jaime was sportin at the taco festival- everybody pay up!!!
Friday, June 26, 2009
CAC 101/ Pt 1
I HAVE to start off this series with the Meltdown of 2006.
I came down to El Paso in 2004- from Chicago- a transportation dream for the riders. You can't really compare El Paso and Chicago in some ways because Chicago is surrounded by heavily-populated suburbs for 50 miles north, south, and west (not east- there's Lake Michigan in the way!). But when I left Chicago there were around 2 million people and El Paso has now grown to almost 700,000- pretty big.
Anyway, I was quite surprised to be in such a vast area land-wise and not have decent transportation. In 2004!
It was as if the people in El Paso had given up. Meaning, I don't know HOW many years they were probably beating a dead horse trying to get decent transportation and customer service, that they finally resigned the thought of ever being treated decently and have their voice heard.
It was what it was and there were no other choices.
To get a taxi in the NE in the daytime, say from Walmart, was next to impossible, or with 1-2 hour wait times. Kinda defeated the purpose.
That left the bus.
A typical day in summer 2004 was waiting in the blistering heat and wondering if the bus would show at all. Remember, there's only like 136 bus shelters for something like 3,000+ bus stops!
In a desert!
In 2004!
Where was our city governments' head at?
As a health care aide I accompany my client to the grocery store and doctor's appointments etc. On the bus. More times than not the lift ramp on the bus never worked, it was the accordion-type back then. Sometimes the bus drivers wouldn't even attempt to put the lift down, as is required. Many times my client and I were left on the side of the road, probably 4 out of 10 rides. Wasn't really equal access for disabled riders, was it?
The trolleys downtown were a nightmare, not only for the drivers with the heat, but for disabled riders with a narrow entrance, small passenger capacity, and a helluva bumpy ride! My client suffered many a day on these when he had to go to his doctor. Sometimes we were relegated to riding an old old Blue Bird bus that had a backdoor conversion for a wheelchair- now THAT was bumpy!!! The back of the bus is always a harder ride.
Not to mention the lack of air conditioning! Nothing like a sick person on a bus and there being no air- it was NOT fun.
I remember the pivotal day in the Meltdown of 2006. I was in it, I was there!
My client and I were on the buses all day just to go to the doctor for a 15 minute visit. Roundtrip from the NE with 2 missed rides due to the ramps not working. No air conditioning on the 42 on the way down. Now we were trying to get back to the NE. Remember, we were at the 1st temporary bus stops for many routes due to the transition away from San Jacinto Plaza. NO shelters, NO benches! Sidewalks almost inaccessible for wheelchairs and people waiting in line and walking the sidewalks. Not to mention the cracks and craters in the sidewalks.
The first 42 rolled up, we all got in what almost resembled a line, it was pretty much dog-eat-dog as far as that goes, and then it pulled off further down the line. We all scrambled after it- pretty hard for my client in the wheelchair to maneuver through the people. We got to the 42 and then the driver put on his "OUT OF SERVICE" sign! So it was time to hurry up and wait again.
This was an unbearably hot day, if anyone remembers. We all waited about 40 more minutes for the next 42 to come along. He pulls up- we run to get in line and what happens? The bus driver jumps out of the bus literally crying and ranting and raving!!! He had not had a break all day, no air conditioning, no water (remember we were promised water bottles in coolers free to all the passengers and drivers when it was hot and there was no air?). The driver had literally HAD IT! He was saying over and over he quit! He ran through the crowd and disappeared! Now we had a bus but no driver! Couldn't blame him, tho.
A supervisor came by and tried to calm us down, but this was just too much! You can't treat people like animals and not expect to get bitten!
Eventually a driver was called in and we got to make it 2/3 of the way home. Remember, we're going to the NE- we have to catch yet another bus at the Northgate Terminal! We had spent almost 2 1/2 hours downtown just trying to get to this point from one bus.
We did get home, obviously. I'm surprised the City didn't get more lawsuits from that debacle. It was time for change or mass upheaval and I think our elected officials finally heard the people, or got scared enough to do something about this situation.
Meltdown 2006 was a shame for our city and I blame ALL the city reps and mayors of past who did nothing to upgrade this most-needed and important service (next to water, nothing else was more important besides maybe feeding the poor). I blame everyone at Sun Metro who didn't do anything, they were all aware of what was going on yet for whatever reason they didn't see it necessary to do anything- they might lose their job and heaven forbid then they might be stuck having to take the bus!
Meltdown 2006 was a classic example of the haves and have-nots.
Newer buses and regular maintenance for the buses was one of the keys to changing this shamelessness around. We HAD to buy new buses and I will never regret having to pay taxes to be treated as a human being. But this is just one key ingredient to a successful turnaround. Yes, it was the most important and immediate at the time.
Enter First Transit.........
I came down to El Paso in 2004- from Chicago- a transportation dream for the riders. You can't really compare El Paso and Chicago in some ways because Chicago is surrounded by heavily-populated suburbs for 50 miles north, south, and west (not east- there's Lake Michigan in the way!). But when I left Chicago there were around 2 million people and El Paso has now grown to almost 700,000- pretty big.
Anyway, I was quite surprised to be in such a vast area land-wise and not have decent transportation. In 2004!
It was as if the people in El Paso had given up. Meaning, I don't know HOW many years they were probably beating a dead horse trying to get decent transportation and customer service, that they finally resigned the thought of ever being treated decently and have their voice heard.
It was what it was and there were no other choices.
To get a taxi in the NE in the daytime, say from Walmart, was next to impossible, or with 1-2 hour wait times. Kinda defeated the purpose.
That left the bus.
A typical day in summer 2004 was waiting in the blistering heat and wondering if the bus would show at all. Remember, there's only like 136 bus shelters for something like 3,000+ bus stops!
In a desert!
In 2004!
Where was our city governments' head at?
As a health care aide I accompany my client to the grocery store and doctor's appointments etc. On the bus. More times than not the lift ramp on the bus never worked, it was the accordion-type back then. Sometimes the bus drivers wouldn't even attempt to put the lift down, as is required. Many times my client and I were left on the side of the road, probably 4 out of 10 rides. Wasn't really equal access for disabled riders, was it?
The trolleys downtown were a nightmare, not only for the drivers with the heat, but for disabled riders with a narrow entrance, small passenger capacity, and a helluva bumpy ride! My client suffered many a day on these when he had to go to his doctor. Sometimes we were relegated to riding an old old Blue Bird bus that had a backdoor conversion for a wheelchair- now THAT was bumpy!!! The back of the bus is always a harder ride.
Not to mention the lack of air conditioning! Nothing like a sick person on a bus and there being no air- it was NOT fun.
I remember the pivotal day in the Meltdown of 2006. I was in it, I was there!
My client and I were on the buses all day just to go to the doctor for a 15 minute visit. Roundtrip from the NE with 2 missed rides due to the ramps not working. No air conditioning on the 42 on the way down. Now we were trying to get back to the NE. Remember, we were at the 1st temporary bus stops for many routes due to the transition away from San Jacinto Plaza. NO shelters, NO benches! Sidewalks almost inaccessible for wheelchairs and people waiting in line and walking the sidewalks. Not to mention the cracks and craters in the sidewalks.
The first 42 rolled up, we all got in what almost resembled a line, it was pretty much dog-eat-dog as far as that goes, and then it pulled off further down the line. We all scrambled after it- pretty hard for my client in the wheelchair to maneuver through the people. We got to the 42 and then the driver put on his "OUT OF SERVICE" sign! So it was time to hurry up and wait again.
This was an unbearably hot day, if anyone remembers. We all waited about 40 more minutes for the next 42 to come along. He pulls up- we run to get in line and what happens? The bus driver jumps out of the bus literally crying and ranting and raving!!! He had not had a break all day, no air conditioning, no water (remember we were promised water bottles in coolers free to all the passengers and drivers when it was hot and there was no air?). The driver had literally HAD IT! He was saying over and over he quit! He ran through the crowd and disappeared! Now we had a bus but no driver! Couldn't blame him, tho.
A supervisor came by and tried to calm us down, but this was just too much! You can't treat people like animals and not expect to get bitten!
Eventually a driver was called in and we got to make it 2/3 of the way home. Remember, we're going to the NE- we have to catch yet another bus at the Northgate Terminal! We had spent almost 2 1/2 hours downtown just trying to get to this point from one bus.
We did get home, obviously. I'm surprised the City didn't get more lawsuits from that debacle. It was time for change or mass upheaval and I think our elected officials finally heard the people, or got scared enough to do something about this situation.
Meltdown 2006 was a shame for our city and I blame ALL the city reps and mayors of past who did nothing to upgrade this most-needed and important service (next to water, nothing else was more important besides maybe feeding the poor). I blame everyone at Sun Metro who didn't do anything, they were all aware of what was going on yet for whatever reason they didn't see it necessary to do anything- they might lose their job and heaven forbid then they might be stuck having to take the bus!
Meltdown 2006 was a classic example of the haves and have-nots.
Newer buses and regular maintenance for the buses was one of the keys to changing this shamelessness around. We HAD to buy new buses and I will never regret having to pay taxes to be treated as a human being. But this is just one key ingredient to a successful turnaround. Yes, it was the most important and immediate at the time.
Enter First Transit.........
I Want My EPTV!!!
OK- it's almost here, just a couple more days!
'Bout time we get some intelligent and possibly controversial cable show by locals on our City15 channel. That's what it's there for.
I had tried to get the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Mass Transit Board/Sun Metro meetings taped and run on City15 but was told it would be very difficult to coordinate and would probably have to be taped in City Council chambers (no biggie)- but when I brought it to the committee they were not as responsive as I had hoped. One committee member was holding out on the hope that we could bring people TO the open meetings without having to video tape it. Great idea in a perfect world. I say we have the technology so let's take advantage of it.
Mr. Jaime Abeytia will be hosting the show and from what I've read he is planning to gear it towards getting more younger people involved and excited about politics and also focusing on different community hot goings-on. I'm sure he'll be doing some cool stuff- music, videos, "live" meanderings to interesting places et al. Can't wait to see the first show this Sunday at 11:00a.m.
For those that live under a rock, Jaime Abeytia has his own blog called the Lionstar blog (http://thelionstarblog.com) that is well-known to many in El Paso who care about how our elected officials conduct themselves, among other topics of interest. Jaime also writes for the Newspaper Tree, El Paso's on-line news source. under the politics tab.
One thing I do hope his show does, too, is try and light a fire under OLDER people's behinds on issues such as VOTING!!! Us 10% that do vote need some back-up!
The one burning question I have is... will Jaime be wearing a red shirt (or tie) in his first airing? I'm just poking fun at him, seems he's always in red and yes it does look good on him- if he is, I'm sure "Newsie girl" will be ecstatic! She's probably even planning a "The hottie's on tv" party with all her girlfriends.
'Bout time we get some intelligent and possibly controversial cable show by locals on our City15 channel. That's what it's there for.
I had tried to get the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Mass Transit Board/Sun Metro meetings taped and run on City15 but was told it would be very difficult to coordinate and would probably have to be taped in City Council chambers (no biggie)- but when I brought it to the committee they were not as responsive as I had hoped. One committee member was holding out on the hope that we could bring people TO the open meetings without having to video tape it. Great idea in a perfect world. I say we have the technology so let's take advantage of it.
Mr. Jaime Abeytia will be hosting the show and from what I've read he is planning to gear it towards getting more younger people involved and excited about politics and also focusing on different community hot goings-on. I'm sure he'll be doing some cool stuff- music, videos, "live" meanderings to interesting places et al. Can't wait to see the first show this Sunday at 11:00a.m.
For those that live under a rock, Jaime Abeytia has his own blog called the Lionstar blog (http://thelionstarblog.com) that is well-known to many in El Paso who care about how our elected officials conduct themselves, among other topics of interest. Jaime also writes for the Newspaper Tree, El Paso's on-line news source. under the politics tab.
One thing I do hope his show does, too, is try and light a fire under OLDER people's behinds on issues such as VOTING!!! Us 10% that do vote need some back-up!
The one burning question I have is... will Jaime be wearing a red shirt (or tie) in his first airing? I'm just poking fun at him, seems he's always in red and yes it does look good on him- if he is, I'm sure "Newsie girl" will be ecstatic! She's probably even planning a "The hottie's on tv" party with all her girlfriends.
CAC 101
Being on the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Mass Transit Board/Sun Metro is one of the most interesting and frustrating ways I know to spend my 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Lemme just say- I did not get nominated to that board because I have relatives in town. Nor did any friends owe me a favor. And I'm definitely not running for any office nor do I ever plan to run (I know- famous last words of so many here). I'm truly interested in improving our transportation woes, especially for the disabled.
That said- I want to write about my experiences of being on this committee. I want "the people" to see just what one goes through in the push for progress and transparency.
Anyone that knows me knows I'm not a public speaker- lol- I'll be the first to admit that- I HATE IT! Thank goodness for writing. When I do speak I call it like I see it. I hate the game-playing and mincing of words that goes on in government.
I want to write about past meetings that are already of public record. But I want to tell you what you WON'T read in the heavily condensed minutes. That's where the true story lies.
I want to give you background of struggles I've experienced, so it will take quite a few posts to get everyone up to speed. Bear with me, it's important to see the whole picture and it will take some time.
That said, I'm glad I took a couple days off before posting about my recent frustrations. It gave me time to cool down and hopefully now I can get the whole story out clearly and calmly.
Hang on, we're in for a bumpy ride.....
Thursday, June 25, 2009
ZEN pool
Had to take a day or two off to run around like a chicken with its head cut off and finally for a bit of r&r. The latter consisted of shopping and cooking and attending our private end-of-season party for our pool team.
Talk about fun! I learned how to play 9-ball. Alot faster than 8-ball, obviously, and a whole different kinda game. Hey, I'm new to this so I'm still excited by the concept.
One thing I did during one game of 9-ball that my friend couldn't understand was me taking a risk.
I had semi-easy shots that were more plausible to make and run up the numbers to get to the 9 ball. I did that the first couple games. This time, tho, I had the chance to shoot my next in sequence ball and combo into the 9 ball and into the pocket- winning the game. I had an open and close shot to shoot the other ball into a corner pocket but I like to stretch my learning skills (and luck) and go for it all. I missed, barely. If I had made it the bar would have erupted in applause. But I didn't, and that's the chance I took.
My friend didn't understand why I didn't go for the safe shot. I tried to explain to her it's not all about winning and losing- it's about HOW you play the game and the fun you have. Sounds cheesy but it's my strong feeling/take on things.
I was not playing for a $10,000 jackpot nor the league championship. I was playing to have fun, to practice the "duck shots" that even the best of the best miss at times, and to push the envelope. If I had alot more experience I would say I may have had a 50/50 chance of making that shot. But I don't have that experience, and that's why it was more fun! The risk was higher and the reward would have been bigger.
But there still was a reward. I almost made it. Eventually I WILL be able to make that shot. It was fun and I wouldn't change it for anything.
I just hope that when I get to the point that alot of people are at in our league in skill level that I don't stop taking risks.
I'm not dumb, tho, there IS a difference between taking a risk and taking a calculated risk. But there's a time and place for both kinds, and since I have the "rookie" label I can get away with more- lol!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Our Beloved City Government
Got some J-U-I-C-Y tidbits to share of my wrangles of late with our city, but you're gonna have to wait as it's 3a.m. n I need some sleep! (awwwwwww)
I'm pissed off n the gloves are coming off. I'm so tired of the game-playing and time-wasting tactics of our city government. And don't get me started on the incompetency!!! WOOHOOO that's a mouthful! But today (Tues) took the cake!
Everybody makes mistakes, I'm the first in line on that one. But sometimes one's mistakes have really bad consequences for others, and just sometimes someone needs not only to try and make it better and right, but apologize! Takes a big person to do that, especially without cameras around. We'll see how this plays out...
I'm pissed off n the gloves are coming off. I'm so tired of the game-playing and time-wasting tactics of our city government. And don't get me started on the incompetency!!! WOOHOOO that's a mouthful! But today (Tues) took the cake!
Everybody makes mistakes, I'm the first in line on that one. But sometimes one's mistakes have really bad consequences for others, and just sometimes someone needs not only to try and make it better and right, but apologize! Takes a big person to do that, especially without cameras around. We'll see how this plays out...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
