Letters for April 2, 2015

SN&R really bad at softball, apparently

Re “Parks and wreck” (SN&R Scorekeeper, March 26):

Um, have any of you self-entitled neckbeards ever played any level of organized baseball or softball? The home team (or in this case, league) always maintains the field—even little leaguers! It's like, tradition, or something. So get off your lazy asses and grab some rakes!

Jason Holt

via email

S.F. > Sac, again

Re “Taken for a ride” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Feature Story, March 26):

The only time I ever rode a bus in Sacramento was when I had to ride a bus in Sacramento. I do, however, ride public transit all over San Francisco. This attempt to lure choice riders just isn’t going to happen unless our transit system is as convenient as the one in San Francisco. There’s a bus to anywhere in the city, usually every 20 minutes. When it becomes easier to take a bus than to drive, and cheaper to do so than to park a car, then their dream of choice riders will come true.

Julie Oliver

Sacramento

‘Pissing on the poor’

Re “Taken for a ride” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Feature Story, March 26):

Choice riders aren’t going to choose to take an RT bus that takes forever. When will the city stop thinking that economic development means pissing on the poor, like when Greyhound got exiled to an extremely inconvenient location on Richards Boulevard with a terminal in permanent lockdown and no parking? And in San Francisco, you don’t have to pay again for a transfer, which is a really good idea. Instead, one fare is good for 90 minutes. Although in Sacramento, one fare should be good for three to four hours, given the headways and distances.

Muriel Strand

Sacramento

RT responds

Re “Taken for a ride” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Feature Story, March 26):

As the Sacramento Regional Transit District slowly and steadily recovers from the Great Recession and major bus and light rail service reductions in 2010, the RT board of directors remains focused on improving quality, strategically restoring service and building ridership throughout the system. A thriving RT is critical for the long-term success of the region’s economy and environment.

An improving economy and the construction of the much-anticipated Entertainment and Sports Center in the downtown core create a huge opportunity for RT to accomplish these goals. In just over a year, many in the Sacramento region will be looking to RT to provide convenient, reliable and safe transit service to and from events in downtown Sacramento. Our goal is to make this option convenient, safe and attractive. More riders will generate more revenue, which in turn creates resources to add more service throughout the entire system for people to get to work, school, services, shopping and entertainment.

The business community understands this correlation and has stepped up to ensure RT’s success. RT welcomes the support and insight of these business and community leaders and, in response, has focused on four specific areas for improvement: safety and security; facilities, including light-rail stations, bus stops and bus shelters; vehicles; and customer communications.

Planned systemwide improvements include more frequent cleaning of light rail stations, a significant increase in the security operations budget, new buses and more communication tools to receive real-time feedback from customers.

The spotlight is now on RT to deliver. By working together with our community partners to streamline processes and set new policies, we can significantly improve the overall customer experience. This comprehensive effort will greatly benefit both current and a new generation of riders.

Throughout this collaborative process, there will be many opportunities for current riders, potential riders and the general public to weigh in. The purpose is not to sacrifice the needs of one group over another, but to improve the overall system and provide high-quality service for all.

Councilman Jay Schenirer and Supervisor Phil Serna

board of directors, Sacramento Regional Transit District