KCRag Forum

earthling wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 4:00 pm I rode 47 and MMAX last week and while fewer runs per hour was OK. Google Maps not sync'd at all though, way off. Can't complain when all lines free to ride. Airlines struggling too now claiming weather but we all know it's operational/staff issues. Time for overhead robo flight attendants with remote monitoring and one manned security? And perhaps it's just a matter of time planes/busses are flown/driven remotely like a drone. Might take another generation but won't be surprising if sooner out of necessity.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 6:12 pm Absolutely. Don't want to create a crowding problem during the pandemic, even though the entire world has shown that transit is safe due to new and existing protocols.

When trips are missed due to staffing shortages (a vehicle is scheduled to go out, but there isn't someone to drive it that day/time), great care is taken to ensure access is retained on low frequency routes so the first to see the hit are frequent routes. Taking one bus away from 31 still leaves plenty of service, rather than taking a bus away from 9 leaves nothing due to the lower frequency.

Drivers choose routes by seniority every quarter so if a driver is unexpectedly unavailable during that quarter (illness, quarantine, on-the-job injury) someone steps in to fill the work: That's the "extra board" and they're kinda like temps or substitute teachers. Very similar to the airlines, Greyhound, and Amtrak. So if you get a bus driver who might seem unfamiliar with the route, that's probably why (their "route book" does contain turn-by-turn instructions but that can be hard to reference while driving a 40-foot vehicle).

Of course, the goal is to not miss any trips and to let the public know if it does occur. Right now, the best way to stay informed is through this text/email/voicemail service that covers all RideKC services (including streetcar, no smartphone required): https://ridekc.org/rider-guide/ridekc-notify

Anthony_Hugo98 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 10:41 am Has the staffing issue resolved itself for the most part Dave, or are they still operating with lower frequency?

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 11:31 am

Anthony_Hugo98 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 10:41 am Has the staffing issue resolved itself for the most part Dave, or are they still operating with lower frequency?

Still running reduced service. Staffing is the top priority to improve reliability and restore more service. It's affecting every city and even providers like Amtrak and Greyhound.

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 9:04 am On the topic of going electric, didn't ATA invest a lot into the natural gas infrastructure in buses and at the bus barn? Will that just age out naturally and not be reinvested in?

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:32 am

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 9:04 am On the topic of going electric, didn't ATA invest a lot into the natural gas infrastructure in buses and at the bus barn? Will that just age out naturally and not be reinvested in?

It will take a LONG time to age out of CNG and I don't think it will completely go away until battery electric range matches diesel (right now it's shorter than CNG, which itself is shorter than diesel). Sure you can add in-route charging, but that just adds cost and complexity to operations.

SilentSpades24 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 11:12 pm Out of curiosity, how many more operators would be needed to make the RideKC Next changes work? And has the ATA thought about implementing the route changes with lower frequencies? Or is it just not possible with the current shortage.

Anthony_Hugo98 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:48 pm KC took #6 in City Nerds most recent video on top ten cities with worst transit. While he did shit on us for that he did actually give KC some praise for existing urban fabric of streetcar suburbs, quality of Max lines, and streetcar. However he did address the surface parking issue, and brought up the other videos where he shreds us for our highway situation. Overall he gives the info we all have been saying in this forum for a couple decades, so nothing new. Link below:

https://youtu.be/pNH05BczfZw

Anthony_Hugo98 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:48 pm KC took #6 in City Nerds most recent video on top ten cities with worst transit. While he did shit on us for that he did actually give KC some praise for existing urban fabric of streetcar suburbs, quality of Max lines, and streetcar. However he did address the surface parking issue, and brought up the other videos where he shreds us for our highway situation. Overall he gives the info we all have been saying in this forum for a couple decades, so nothing new. Link below:

https://youtu.be/pNH05BczfZw