December 12, 2006 7:34 AM
Diary of the mad commuter
The new T-REX light rail line has trimmed commuting time for many passengers - but certainly not all as Kevin Flynn reports.
Many who once took nonstop express buses straight to their destinations, a so-called one-seat ride, are finding that their best-case itineraries are at least 15 minutes longer now that those express buses have been replaced with shuttles to light rail.Throw in a chance missed connection or a late bus, and the extra time can grow to an hour tacked on each side of their daily commutes.
Kevin interviewed riders on 10 different light rail trains on a recent commuting day and four out of five train riders who responded said their commutes have gotten longer since the new train service began Nov. 20.
Others are frustrated over inadequate parking at Nine Mile Station in Aurora, where the 1,225-space garage fills up early and latecomers' illegally parked cars are towed.At Lincoln Station in Douglas County, missed connections with the new feeder bus route have some people going back to their cars. Outlying park-n-Ride lots in Parker and Franktown, which used to be filled with regional bus riders, now have fewer cars as riders drive straight to Lincoln Station or return to the highways for their commute.
Spencer Winegarden, an RTD commuter from Parker, started an online blog at spencer.vox.com to publicize the problems.
How has the T-REX light rail affected your commute? Disappointed in the bus system changes? Got suggestions on how RTD can improve service?
December 12, 2006
8:31 AM
james writes:
Good for Spencer. Too many people complain about problems, yet don't attend any RTD meetings or offer potential solutions. Glad you're recognized and are involved, and hope things get better.
Another train option is "skip/stop" service. Similar to the bus stops on 15th and 17th street downtown, every OTHER station is served. Of course due to single track spacing issues are needed, but it's an idea.
My commute has been a positive change, shortening my trip from Congress Park to 25/Belleview, and eliminating busy street corners for the DU station as my transfer.
I find it hard to believe while skipping past backed up traffic on 25 on the train, (as I do daily), 4 out of 5 people said that their commute is longer. Content people like myself don't always raise their voice, so I am sure that more than 1 out of 5 people are happy with the new rail service.
The new stations are comfortable, and separate from busy street traffic. I'm sure with some additional modification more folks will be as content as I am with the new rail service.
james www.futuregringo.com
December 12, 2006
8:58 AM
Road King writes:
If you don't like the long wait for the bus, simple...BUY A CAR. Just do us all a favor and quit complaining about how bad it is that you have to wait for a bus.
December 12, 2006
9:11 AM
james writes:
Road King chill out. I don't like complaining either. But there's a difference between complaing with reason, documentation, and purpose, versus fruitless bitching.
Spencer in this case is doing it right. Documenting is frustration for RTD and others to see. That type of action is what people WANT. It's actually doing something.
If it helps get the circulator and connection service improved to match the trains then good for him.
I love the rail, but I work 1/4 mile from the station. I can understand in a geographically expansive area like the tech center how some tweaking is needed and expected
December 12, 2006
9:49 AM
ML writes:
I take the SW rail line to work downtown. I have taken the rail and/or the bus for many years now and would not have it any other way. But...my commute has gotten longer and our rail cars are more crowded as RTD has reduced many 3-car lines to 2-cars so as to accommodate the new SE line.
And I agree with James that Road King needs to chill a bit...more cars on the road is NOT the answer.
December 12, 2006
10:01 AM
RTD writes:
Why dont you people STFU and keep putting coins in the slots. Sitting on your fat asses blogging all day is not going to change anything. Just keep buying more tickets, and keep your damn mouths shut
December 12, 2006
10:08 AM
citizen gump writes:
Everyone needs to stop crying and look at the obvious solution: move closer to a lightrail stop if you can't handle it. I live downtown and walk 1 block to the station. I ride the SE line and catch a call and ride to my building, which runs every 15 minutes. My total commute is around 45 minutes. There are many new developments along the route, move or buy a car.
December 12, 2006
12:49 PM
benn writes:
I unfortunately cannot speak to the new rail-line, but I think the vast majority of people realize the benefit that RTD provides.
Clearly there is a segment of the population that has a longer commute now. But those people should remember the price of gas, not too mention oil changes, tire changes and rotations, and other wear and tear on their car. That quickly adds up. LightRail and bus service is relatively cheap in comparison. I personally get to ride for free as my employer is a member of the eco-pass program, whereby each employee has a pass that allows them to use RTD services for free.
The other point is that people need to remember that this system is merely a few weeks old. Give it some time to work out a few tweaks... and perhaps you need some more time to work out your personal scheduling to get the best possible routing and timing.
If you don't like it, then picture the snow-storm a couple of weeks back, crawling along the highway in very slippery conditions.... then think of a light rail car zooming past you with no apparent delays and less financial and physical danger.
If all you can focus on is a few extra minutes, and not the big picture, then maybe driving would be your best answer.
December 12, 2006
1:32 PM
gr8fuldude writes:
I am a huge believer in mass transit. I've worked downtown for the last ten years, and have put a total of 40K on my vehicles during that time. I also have cheap car insurance, since I get a break for not doing the daily commute.
While I can empathize with those who face a longer commute, I think that the RTD expansion is on the whole, a very good thing. Anything that takes cars off the road and crap out of the air is definitely a good thing.
What value would most people attach to taking the daily commute, which is normally stressful, and turning it into time to relax?
December 12, 2006
2:14 PM
history buff writes:
You can always change the bus line, but once the tracks are laid, they aren't going to change. The RTD schedule is a work in progress. Give RTD a chance to figure what is the most efficient schedule.
December 12, 2006
2:28 PM
Hogar De Vuelta (العودة) writes:
I ride light rail out of Mineral, so the new TREX service cut my trains, but I am a big believer in having lots of commuting options. Every change to a complex system like an urban transportation system will have good and bad associated with it. There is no perfect solution, and I would echo HBs sentiment and let the RTD adjust as they go along.
The bottom line is that no matter how much you plan, there will be unexpected consequences and it functions like a feedback loop where each reaction by the commuters leads to future corrections. It eventually settles down, only to be disturbed with the next big project, which I understand is going to be the West Corridor to the Jefferson Country Taj Mahal.
The only way that everyone would be completely happy is if they got a limosine ride from their house to work with no delays and no cost.
December 12, 2006
4:35 PM
Anonymous writes:
James, I agree that it's nice being on the train when I see traffic stopped on the highway. But please don't think that people are making up the fact that their commutes are longer. Mine is now 25 to 35 minutes longer each way, each day because I have to make more connections that my one bus didn't force me to make. We are not lying about this...and if one of my connections is late, I'm hosed. It really is that simple and I would guess that more than half of the people have had their commutes worsened.
December 12, 2006
4:41 PM
Anonymous writes:
Benn, not everyone with an eco-pass gets it free. I have one and pay for it monthly, with my employer pays part of it. The reason people are complaining is that public transportation is supposed to be an attractive option to people. When my commute got longer because I didn't have a choice of taking a bus or train, it has made it worse and therefore what was supposed to be a major improvement has not turned out to be that way. RTD needs to put some of the buses back on the road, especially during rush hours!
December 13, 2006
1:53 PM
Northside Commuter writes:
I was one of the people quoted in Kevin Flynn's article. While I appreciate his coverage of this issue, he only printed complaints and not the positive comments I provided. I included the fact that the light rail runs later in the day than the regional buses did, and that they are unaffected by bad weather and traffic problems. But the article was about problems with the light rail, so that's all that was printed. I think some things can be improved, and I do think that some people have gotten a downgrade in service. But there are some very positive aspects to the SE Line that RTD can build upon, if it will just listen to the riders. And by the way, many of us did go to RTD meetings last winter to alert them to some of these issues, but they basically told us we didn't know what we were talking about.
December 13, 2006
7:37 PM
DBear writes:
We went to all the town hall meeting and got lied to at every one. I took the 'P' bus for 10 years but will drive from now on.