Open Letter to MAT
I wrote a letter to[ the paper](http://www.omaha.com) on Sunday night about [Omaha's bus system.](http://www.metroareatransit.com) Due to recent[ "major events" ](http://www.beatricedailysun.com/articles/2007/10/17/news/news1.txt) in the state, it probably won’t ever get published. So I’ll put it up here in case a city council member reads my blog.
This wasn’t everything I wanted to say, but the World-Herald has a 200 word limit. 200 words isn’t very much.
> I live out west and took a job downtown about a year ago. One of the
> things that made the decision easier was the MAT Express Bus routes.
> The bus picks me up close to my house, drops me off in front of the
> office, and the return trip is the same. The trip downtown is thirty
> minutes — not any longer than driving myself.
>
> However, in the past year we have had buses that didn’t have any heat
> on sub-zero mornings or buses with no air conditioning on 100 degree
> days (and windows that won’t open!). The bus is also routinely late
> and sometimes it doesn’t show up at all! Not long ago, we had a wheel
> fall off while on I-80 that did not result in any injuries but very
> well could have.
>
> In the recent World-Herald article, the director of MAT was quoted as
> saying, “Our focus is east of 72nd Street”. I would think in this day
> of high fuel prices, MAT would provide reliable service to where the
> population is expanding. Yet MAT has no plans to implement express or
> MOBY services to northwest Omaha nor regular bus service past 144th &
> Center. It’s a shame that a growing and vibrant metropolitan city
> like Omaha has no vision for public transportation.
>
Mike,
You could also send the letter to the councilman who represents your area. That would probably be the best thing in terms of impact. You could also send it to the mayor.
That seems to work around here anyway and they usually get back within a day.
[...] paper printed my letter on Thursday. I didn’t even know until a co-worker as me about it. And someone on the evening [...]
[...] I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again — too bad Omaha’s city government has no vision for public transportation. [...]
[...] questions and complaints and were honest about what was happening. It’s been a while but I have blogged about my frustrations with the bus service before. This was a good time to find out [...]