DENVER — Regional Transportation District passengers say they’ll take less service if it means more reliability.
That’s the result of an RTD survey to address ongoing service issues stemming from a labor shortage. [See “Denver RTD faces light rail, bus cuts because of lack of operators,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 21, 2019.]
Given the choice of continuing service at current levels — although with continuing risk of short-notice cancellations because no operator is available — or reducing service but having a greater likelihood that service will operate, 59 percent of those surveyed at RTD stations, and 58 percent of those who took part in a Nov. 6 telephone town hall event, opted for the temporary service reductions. The information was relayed to RTD board members before a Thursday meeting.
The Denver Post reports that RTD General Manager Dave Genova told the board that passengers “just want to show up and have their trip,” and that board member Judy Lubow called the situation “an emergency … This is just creaming us in terms of status and reputation.”
The board will likely hear a list of possible service cuts at its Dec. 12 meeting, and would likely go into effect in spring 2020. It has not been determined how long the cuts would last.
The presentation to the board showed that more than 8,500 hours of bus service had been cancelled through September 2019, as well as more than 850 hours of light-rail service through October.
The survey results and presentation to the board are available at the RTD website.
Since Colorado is a weed state, I would guess they have difficulty finding candidates who can pass the DOT mandated drug screening and who won’t fill the operator’s cab with munchies.
Anna, that’s irreplaceable gift. You only get it once.
Anna, I would recommend you be disbarred if for nothing else than wasting a great, replaceable gift – your life. Use it wisely, because you get it once.
Anna; I don’t think it is the pay necessarily, I worked for Amtrak as a second career in Minnesota. I loved the railroad and I loved what I did, it is the lifestyle of that type of work just like first responders, they also love what they do for the most part. That lifestyle is what you sign up for. It took me 12 years to get mornings and still no weekends. luckily, I had no small children left in the household. After retirement, I still miss the Railroad and always will. The family all have to buy into the fact that you are going to miss most family events. I also understand that compared to some freight railroads, my 12 years was a short time to get decent hours.
ANNA – We all thought you were going to apply. Why didn’t you?
It seems like a number of operators are having problems getting a sufficient engineer cadre. It can’t be that odious a job. What is the problem? Doesn’t it pay well enough to make it attractive? What is the market clearing rate for this job?
The above comments are genetic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. Shoes for industry, Comrade.
Mister Hull:
What make you think I was joking?
AH
The ultimate push poll. Patrons are given two bad choices, neither of which they want. So they opt for one over the other.
Nothing like a little levity to break the sometimes contentious comments. A refreshing change.
ANNA – Maybe next time, next place. If I hear of any openings I’ll pass it on.
Mister Landey:
I did apply but couldn’t pass the background check. Six months ago they got me for aiding and abetting the performing of an unnatural act with an underage female dragon of the opposite sex. I got busted with a goat, a squeege, and a can of Crisco. The judge said he understood the dwarf and the raincoat, but what’s this with the donkey?
The above comments are genetic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. ACME Bail Bonds. 212-555-0465. We spring the trap.
Unless the service runs 24/7 though you can be guaranteed of having no graveyard shift, and if you have shifts that are considered non-normal business hours just offer a percentage over the base pay for taking those shifts… you need to entice people to work those shifts on their own. You also need to emphasize that these jobs are perfect for those that are single or no longer have family living at home…heck they make a great late life job even, especially transit/bus operators, not saying you should refuse younger employees, but I’d be looking to hire older(as long as they’re safe and reliable) people on part time shifts, it might take twice as many to cover the same work as full time, but you save on benefits and they’re usually more reliable.