  Rokk_krinn Member Username: Rokk_krinn Post Number: 33 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.249.60.2 |
I went to the meeting last night... but left before the vote. All of the papers are saying that the meeting went late into the night and that they may opt out (i.e. they couldn't get the story written prior to the print deadline), but I was wondering if anyone knows what the vote was? | ||
Rokk_krinn Member Username: Rokk_krinn Post Number: 34 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.249.60.2 |
Never mind - answered my own question... http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060124/NEW S11/60124002 I don't know if anyone else was there - the public support for staying in SMART was overwhelming. Most of the people who spoke were elected officials or members of groups like TRU. I am really surprised the vote was so close. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 6518 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.20 |
Good for them. I did however read some of the issues they have with SMART and it seems they have valid concerns on how SMART is run and the lack of user friendliness. | ||
Rokk_krinn Member Username: Rokk_krinn Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.249.60.2 |
Agreed. Only vote was whether to opt-in or opt-out. This should be a wake up call to SMART that the cities that opt-in are their customers, and their concerns need to be addressed. | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 1186 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.100.158.10 |
The ineffectiveness of SMART in Farmington Hills is likely not so much a function of the transit service, but of the automobile-oriented, pedestrian-unfriendly nature of that city. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 6519 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.20 |
ONe of their arguments was that there is nothing as basic as maps and routes listed at the stops. That is a pretty reasonable argument but we all know that the auto culture is the killer of transit around here. | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 731 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Yes, I agree about the maps and and routes listed. Growing up in Lansing and using CATA whem I was at MSU, it was nice to have the route maps and times listed at the bus stops. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3660 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 207.74.110.184 |
SMART will run the Farmington Hills YAYYYYY!!!! Hitlerland Livonia can stick their money woes in their $#@^! | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2216 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.58.137 |
One of the enlightened forces in FH is the Mayor Vicki Barnett. She opposes the opt out, has a heart for the less fortunate and cares about regional unity. | ||
Leyland Member Username: Leyland Post Number: 55 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 69.136.147.70 |
I would've ridden on SMART when I was growing up in Farmington if everyone I knew weren't such pussies. Nobody I knew rode on the bus. Back in those pre-driver's license days I used to pitch the idea to my friends or parents when we needed a ride. They acted like the buses didn't exist. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3663 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 207.74.110.184 |
Well mayor Vicki Barnett had to agree the FH folks. They want thier SMART bus to run in their streets. They want to keep their economic structure going. Our leaders MUST serve the public not matter what the cost. Now that's true democracy. | ||
Boo Member Username: Boo Post Number: 104 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 63.117.185.99 |
this is great news- let's hope that farmington's threat to leave the system is taken seriously by SMART management so that we can start seeing posted schedules and more shelters and better service. ridership is up but it isn't b/c service is necessarily better! | ||
Jtw Member Username: Jtw Post Number: 61 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 12.159.32.66 |
Danindc: What is 'pedestrian-unfriendly' about Farmington/Farmington Hills? sure, you can't walk to FH from detroit - but from downtown farmington, there's lots to walk to. farmington hills is a big city; how many downtowns can there be, in order for it to be walkable?? | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 1197 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.100.158.10 |
"Pedestrian-friendly" and "downtown" are not interchangeable terms. I think that's part of your confusion, jtw. Farmington and Farmington Hills are a combined 36 square miles. Downtown Farmington is but a blip among that expanse. I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say. | ||
Jtw Member Username: Jtw Post Number: 62 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 12.159.32.66 |
all i'm trying to say is that downtown farmington is not pedestrian-unfriendly; it's very walkable. if not for shopping, eating, drinking, entertainment... i guess i don't know what pedestrian-friendly is. as for the rest of F/FH, it's quite big, as you mentioned, and anything that big is not really walkable. how can anything that is 36 sq miles be "pedestrian-friendly?" because it's so big, and most everyone can afford it, most everyone here owns a car. i don't think that it's any particular element of "pedestrian-unfriendliness" that makes SMART ineffective, it's just that not really anyone who lives heres needs or uses it. it's not by design that it's ineffective - it's ineffective because it's unnecessary. |
