But let us not forget how the 170,000 dollar deficit in Midland just went away some sort of new math ! In fact , it went away with an increase to the tune of over a million bucks..enough to acquire 8 and a half acres for new digs near the airport.

It wasn't an increase per se. I get the impression they just did like Austin and transfered part of their capital grant (and Recovery Funds) to operations.

The big regional bus center at the airport has been on their minds for a couple of years now. You can only build so many shelters and buy so many buses, but your have to keep the capital money flowing from Washington somehow.

I wonder if they made an offer on Entrada A before they settled on a tract off 1788?

I had the same thought on the Entrada building. So it's still available for paintball.

MT Rider could at least do something with the space at the old TI plant, managed/marketed by MDC.

I beg your pardon . Since we are receiving FREE money from the Federal Government to pay for a bus system that has been losing money but suddenly finds itself able to cough up a mil for new housing after "demoting" the previous director to a fantastic tourist attraction job I would probably kill for...Golly , where is this money coming from..must be the U.N.

Wait ! There's more !

I always hear of ridership being UP but if that is the case why is not the bus system making any profit? ( To be honest , I really don't care if this is an example of helping the people in need because if it is, it is not sustaining . It would be far better and cheaper , to buy these people cars.)

What do I know , I am old.

Otto

Ridership is up, but revenue is down because of trying to toy with fares.

EZ Rider jumped fares to $1.25 each way in October '08 (up from $1)and ridership fell like a rock. After suffering low ridership numbers, they implemented a $2 all day pass. Well, ridership is now up, but the revenue per rider is down.

I figure the number of individual riders hasn't really recovered that much since the big drop back in '08, and what we are seeing is more use(trips) by the same people. (i.e. more trips per day per individual)

I think the "700" signatures and letters on the EZ Rider petition is telling. If the petition was available on the buses, then that number is about equal to the individuals who ride EZ-Rider on a daily basis. (700 riders x 30 days x 2 [round trip] = 42,000 riders for the month).

Okay . People signing petitions twice I can understand . I thought it was more like Lyndon Johnson's grave yard voting or the twirling and swirling voters of the dead in CHICAGO.

I am not the brightest bulb in the chandelier Os, so let me ask you this ...If MT Ryder increased their fare a whopping 25 cents to go anywhere in our fair city from the one dollar original charge, would you be sorely tempted to not go to the doctor that day, get your prescriptions,get food for yourself or a hundred other things?

But when a $2.00 pass is offered ridership all day, ridership increases..why not an All-Week pass for $14.00 ..or an all year pass for only $351.00 ( taking account for 2 weeks of vacation)!

HEY !!! Heres the ticket ! Michael Troast are ya listening ! The "Reverse Morgage Bus Pass ! RMBP!

Sell your house to the City/State/FederalGovernment and ride the bus FREE for the rest of your natural life ! If you get involved with this plan NOW you'll be long dead before it craters ! (You're Social Security will have been long gone , but what the HEY , ya gets ta ride the bus for fREE !

I think I'm on to something here so if someone will kindly point me to my rec room I shall pour a bracing glass of spicy rum and get back to you...sometime.

( You're Social..should read: Your Social...) There's just something about spicy rum that makes apostrophes fly out your head!