METRO (Formerly Metro Area Transit - MAT)

Post by **Brad** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:03 pm

almighty_tuna wrote:even though i told it I didn't participate in the YP Bus Challenge it still asked me what routes i took and how frequently i used them. fail.

would rather see that MAT actually gave two |expletive|.

I put in fake answers just to see more questions. The survey is not for people who did not participate.

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:05 pm

Taken.
Hopefully all this will have an impact on the future of the pathetic MAT.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu May 14, 2009 1:42 pm

Are you guys serious?

As long as you've ridden the bus EVER in your life, hopefully within the last year or two, you can answer the questions using that information.

It's open to everyone. Don't take it so literally. Apply your past experience and answer the questions. It's not that hard.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Wed May 20, 2009 6:50 pm

Omaha will be getting nearly $10 million to overhaul some old engines and buy 30 new buses. The office of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a news release Wednesday that the money is part of $8.4 billion earmarked for transit capital improvements as part of the federal stimulus package.

The engines on 37 Omaha transit buses will be overhauled. The bonus bucks will fund the purchase of 30 new 30-foot buses.

http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/45496782.html

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Wed May 20, 2009 9:18 pm

30 foot buses...now hundreds of commuters can ride "the short bus" to work.

They should convert the engines they are overhauling to natural gas engines or some sort of greener fuel.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Thu May 21, 2009 5:20 am

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:30 foot buses...now hundreds of commuters can ride "the short bus" to work.

They should convert the engines they are overhauling to natural gas engines or some sort of greener fuel.

They should innovate a new kind of fuel technology for these buses altogether. Like running them on the tears of people who want better transportation than what they currently provide.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:08 am

thenewguy wrote:Like running them on the tears of people who want better transportation than what they currently provide.

:lafcry: :lafcry: :lafcry:

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:11 am

almighty_tuna wrote:
thenewguy wrote:Like running them on the tears of people who want better transportation than what they currently provide.
:lafcry: :lafcry: :lafcry:

Touche.

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:41 am

thenewguy wrote:Like running them on the tears of people who want better transportation than what they currently provide.

Really, I hardly think that can be beat.
But I will say that they better be adding new routes with these new buses. Going every fifteen minutes on a few routes would be nice, but it doesn't help the gigantic gaps in the city where people don't even have access via bus.

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Fri May 22, 2009 10:20 am

So how was the board meeting yesterday?

By the way, I was able to take that survey and I live in Denver and haven't ridden MAT since last September.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sat May 23, 2009 9:35 pm

TheNewGuy, I second everyone else's sentiment. You summed up how I feel about it.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:54 am

While not related to the bike rack discussion, I have noticed that many (possibly all) bus stop shelters have had large maps of the full bus system added to them!!!

I know it seems rudimentary and obvious to have maps (and line info... still waiting) at the bus stops, but MAT is somewhat "special" and needs a few extra decades to catch up.

Now, if we just add bus line info and schedules to the stops, we may have ourselves an actual, functioning bus service.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 5:21 pm

I was a little concerned that these new racks would not get used that much. But I see bikes on buses about every day. From what I have seen they get used a lot.

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:55 pm

I'm glad to see people are using the racks on the buses. This might be a good way to help overcome Omaha's lack of good east-west bike trails. The Dodge street bus routes have always been the easiest and most used too.

I don't know if MAT mentions it anymore, but the funding for the bike racks came from part of the funding for the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:11 am

The new on-street bike lane system ("Bike Omaha") will do wonders for providing those east-west links from trails to Downtown in urban Omaha.

I found a large format image!

Post by **Brad** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:37 am

Group backs later MAT service

http://www.omaha.com/article/20090827/NEWS01/708279924

Tom Shaw WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:It's 1 a.m.

You and your friends just had a great time in the Old Market. Now you want to get back to Dundee.

If only you could hop on a bus.

Expanding Metro Area Transit bus service to include late-night hours is one of several recommendations from the Greater Omaha Young Professionals.

Tom Shaw WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:Some of the group's suggestions, such as improving MAT's bus signs and Web site, are being done already, Simon said. Other ideas, including the late night bus service, will require more study. Currently, buses serving main routes quit running at 11:30 p.m.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:53 pm

Thanks for posting this, Brad.

I had the most serious of intentions to make it to the MAT board meeting this morning at 8:30, where the GOYP were presenting their final report. Unfortunately, and I was really bummed out by this, some early morning errands ended up strapping me down.

Anyway, the GOYP's report makes some extremely important recommendations to MAT, and I am SO grateful to that organization for taking it upon themselves to bring up these issues and present them DIRECTLY to MAT.

Curt Simon drives me CRAZY. I'm glad to see he's at least "verbally" open to the suggestions.

Simon said there's merit in exploring an after-hours bus that circulates through downtown and midtown. The question, he said, is whether late-night bus service would be economically viable.

Economically viable compared to WHAT???!!! The empty buses that MAT runs during the day? PUH-LEAAASE.

Some of the group's suggestions, such as improving MAT's bus signs and Web site, are being done already, Simon said.

I certainly hope he's not talking about the "new," nondescript, unidentifiable, blue bus stop signs! Those are exactly what the GOYP is recommending be changed, along with MAT's entire brand and image.

MAT's Web site will be improved soon, Simon said, so users can click on specific routes and pull up the bus schedule for that route.

Select specific routes and pull up the bus schedule for that route? How technologically advanced! How revolutionary! Anyway, can't you already more or less do that with the current web site?

The web site needs a COMPLETE reworking, coinciding with new branding and new user friendly, useful features.

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:05 am

Wow, a transit website where you can click on specific routes! AND look up schedules! What a great concept! :roll:

I agree with Mayor Suttle that we need to start with a blank sheet of paper in regards to MAT.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:53 am

Here are the key findings and recommendations from the GOYP report:

Midtown Gal · Post by **Midtown Gal** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:34 am

A bit off topic - But is there a bus that runs up and down 52nd St.? We live in Country Club, and if my husband wanted to take the bus to his work (48th & Dodge) the only route that we can find takes him way out to Westroads to transfer. What should be a 10min. bus ride, ends up being an hour ride. Grrrr!

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 1:13 pm

http://www.metroareatransit.com/pdf/Sys ... k_4-09.pdf

Nothing TOO direct, unless the 3 or 4/14 could work.

Sounds like the perfect bike commute to me!

Midtown Gal · Post by **Midtown Gal** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 1:19 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:http://www.metroareatransit.com/pdf/Sys ... k_4-09.pdf

Nothing TOO direct, unless the 3 or 4/14 could work.

Sounds like the perfect bike commute to me!

Very true - if he had a bike. He refuses to ride mine because he thinks it's too girly. It's not like it's a banana seat Huffy with streamers and a basket. It's just a cruiser-type bike. I can see his point, though.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:06 pm

Well, he should GET ONE then.

Great places to get started:

http://communitybicycleshopomaha.org/

http://recyclebikeshop.net/

http://www.olympiacycleomaha.com/

mrdwhsr · Post by **mrdwhsr** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 5:46 pm

Zephyr wrote:Wow, a transit website where you can click on specific routes! AND look up schedules! What a great concept! :roll:

I agree with Mayor Suttle that we need to start with a blank sheet of paper in regards to MAT.

Precisely the reason some people advocate for street-car systems run by people completely separate from the local bus transit operators. (MAT is not alone in ineptitude).

Great bunch of suggestions by the Young Professionals!!! I only hope MAT will listen.

Now how to solve the problem of buses running late in the afternoons???? a problem with any system that shares right-of-way with the automobile on major streets. I've seen the same issue first-hand in San Diego which reminded me why I don't rely on bus for transportation (not to mention I have the same problem as Midtown ..a 10 minute commute would turn into an hour).

If there were only a safe bicycle path out here in West O to commute to work...I refuse to get on the two-lane county black-top with the mini-vans and SUVs, you'd have to have a death wish

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:00 pm

Like I've mentioned, I think there should be a bicycle and pedestrian corridor running the spine of Omaha (like Dodge Street) connecting from all the way west, going east into the city. This would be INCREDIBLE.

I know the bike lane system will eventually be expanded further west.

Post by **nebugeater** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:33 pm

First, I think the bike racks on Buses are great.

I have been keeping an eye out for them as I am driving around and I see them on many buses but I have yet to see a bike on a bus rack other then the ones in the photos above. Anyone have an idea on how much they are getting used? It is a starting point and that is great. Maybe the fact that they are empty is a good thing, people are actually RIDING their bikes!

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:45 pm

I definitely see buses with bikes on the racks all the time. I've seen buses with BOTH slots full on several occasions. They're definitely getting used and much appreciated. A HUGE step for transit in Omaha.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:33 am

I have seen more an more buses with bikes on the racks also. Mostly east of 72nd street.

Post by **nebugeater** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:58 am

Glad to hear they are being used!

mr. omaha · Post by **mr. omaha** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:45 pm

What Happened to the MAT Retro Busses? Anyone know?

- Mr. Omaha

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:48 pm

They stopped running.

mr. omaha · Post by **mr. omaha** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:12 pm

Why? Will they ever return? Does the City even own them anymore or did they trade them for those great looking pastel ones?

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:49 am

I always thought the Retro circulator buses were a great idea, but admittedly didn't use them much when I worked downtown near the Old Market. I ended up just walking everywhere instead, even up to 16th or City Hall.

Mechanical issues aside, maybe the Retro buses failed because they didn't serve a larger area within downtown or go to the airport or Midtown. (Did they go to the airport? I can't remember) But it makes me wonder if a limited streetcar system would meet the same fate as the Retro buses, and fail from lack of use.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:27 pm

I think you nailed it in that the service didn't/doesn't (as there is still some circulator service) serve a large enough area. It pretty much circulated around an area that is EASILY walkable for most people. To make it successful, it should TOTALLY connect to the airport and to Midtown. That should really be a service ALL DAY LONG.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:36 pm

I wish we had a subway so MAT couldn't change the route every three days...

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:38 pm

This is the GLARING problem with bus transit. People don't trust that route X will always be there to serve their needs.

mrdwhsr · Post by **mrdwhsr** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:05 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:This is the GLARING problem with bus transit. People don't trust that route X will always be there to serve their needs.

And the reason that more people will ride a street-car than would ride a bus.

Streetcar, Airport to Midtown/UNO, at least every 15 minutes...sweet!!!

Wonder if I could hire on as an operator

Midtown Gal · Post by **Midtown Gal** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:33 am

Anyone have any insight on when these routes will cease to be rerouted around Dodge & be put back on Farnam?

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:37 am

I recommend contacting MAT and letting them know the Farnam street reconfiguration is done. Otherwise they will probably wait until Midtown Crossing is "done", which could be another year before MAT woke up.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:19 am

They should probably move both directions of the 15/55 to Farnam St between Turner and 36th.