In response to a question from a NewsLanc reporter regarding the board’s position on the issue of trolley cars for downtown Lancaster, Executive Director David Kilmer said, “That effort is not being led by this authority” and “I think it’s too early to make any judgment about that and I don’t think we should be narrow-minded about things.”

Refusing to indicate any position on the issue, both David Kilmer and Board Treasurer Jon Farrell repeatedly stressed that further study is needed to determine the needs and concerns of the Authority’s client base.

According to figures made available at their Monday Board meeting, ridership of combined Red Rose Transit Services increased by 4.4% between October 2006 and October 2007.

213,838 passengers rode RRTA last month compared to 204,912 in October 2006. Over 2.2 million rides were taken on Red Rose Transit vehicles in Fiscal Year 2007.

At their Monday board meeting, the members approved a resolution to award a construction contract to Ebersole Brothers Construction of Mount Joy in the amount of $118,866.50 for improvements to the transit stop located at Locust & Market Streets in Columbia, part of which will be funded by a grant from PENNDOT.

The members also approved a resolution Monday authorizing the purchase of eight Wheelchair-Accessible Small Transit Buses from Shepard Brothers, Inc. for a total cost of $482,488. Eight buses were retired from RRTA’s fleet due to the fact that they have now accrued over 200,000 miles.

It was also announced at Monday’s board meeting that RRTA Executive Director David Kilmer has been appointed to a 3-year term on the recently-formed Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee, which will advise Pennsylvania lawmakers on safety and efficiency issues with regard to motor carriers.

The Nov. 25th Sunday News confined news of the arrest of Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion, opposition leader and the foremost critic of President Vladimir Putin, to a single column on page A8 while devoting its front page almost entirely to four human interest stories of little if any news value. Readers are not so provincial as to not be alarmed about Russia careening towards its former totalitarian status and thus posing a greater threat to the world and the USA than a dozen North Koreas or Irans.

In a 22 column-inch puff piece in the Sunday News of Nov. 18th headed “Streetcar group picks board, seeks momentum,” less than one inch is devoted to the merest mention of wide scale public disenchantment with the proposal.

The article concedes in brief: “… there’s been considerable criticism from those who worry that a streetcar system would be an expensive anachronism, dependent upon public subsidies to survive.”

While trolley advocates are quoted at length, there isn’t a single comment from opponents of the project. This is typical of how the monopoly newspapers cover projects endorsed by their owners. Whatever happened to the days when the newspapers would take opposing sides on local issues?

Totally disregarded are the low ridership on the current “trolley bus” (only eight passengers per hour); traffic congestion caused by the trolleys running in the center of the street and, at intersections, in the curb side lane; dangers to pedestrians because of silent running and slow braking; and whether the estimated $300,000 annual deficit is a far too optimistic projection.

The power elite has been drafting board members from every institution in town to make a show (more a sham) of support for the project. But critics have yet to be invited to participate.

On Nov. 14th, the Intelligencer Journal reported that a spokesman for the City’s Bureau of Solid Waste & Recycling told City Council that “waste” collection averaged 46% less per home in 2007 than in 2006. It also said a city councilman stated that it “seemed too good to be true” and praised the accomplishment.

WATCHDOG: The NewsLanc reporter also noted what was said, since the information appeared “too good to be true.” In response to questions from NewsLanc the following day, Michael Devaney, the Bureau’s manager, implied that the 46% difference largely reflects the introduction in 2007 of the separate collection of recyclables. However, he declined to provide a statement clarifying the matter.

NewsLanc’s coverage had questioned the accuracy of so large a change. The Intell failed to question, let alone correct, the misinformation.

According to a spokesperson for the Red Rose Transit Authority, the trolley bus carries 2,900 passengers a month. That comes to 96 daily and, based on the 12 hour daily schedule, an average of about 8 an hour.

Businesses normally expand and upgrade when there is strong demand for their product and services.

Does it seem logical to spend $14 million of taxpayer money to bring back trolley cars and to subsidize the service for upwards of $300,000 a year when there is so little indication of demand?

At the present ridership rate of 34,800 per year, $300,000 annually would subsidize each ride by over $8!!!

Wouldn’t it make business sense to first publicize the bus trolley loop and provide it free or for fifty cents instead of the current $1.35 to determine how much demand exists?