11 Comments so far

1. chris on November 4, 2006 9:55 pm

   maybe someone could explain this to me, but does it really take two years to build some new bus stops?

2. Tim on November 4, 2006 11:25 pm

   Keep in mind, this is a MAX route, which is much more technologically complex than a regular bus route. It is also much more expensive and relies heavily on federal funding, which is incremental. And since it will require the determination of arrival and departure times at stations with real-time signs, all of that needs to taken into consideration too. The people at the KCATA are easy targets, but they deal with the reality of financing versus wishful thinking every day and are trying hard to make the best of the situaton. The sooner we make Smart Moves a reality, the sooner we will realize the great potential for the future of transit in our city.

3. Joe Medley on November 5, 2006 10:14 pm

   As a regular, and voluntary bus rider, I really have only one complaint with MAX: the stop shelters. To be honest, this is the same complaint I have with all bus stop shelters. A shelter with only three sides does a terrible job of keeping the wind out. If you’ve tried to walk anywhere in January or February, you know what I’m talking about. The wind in KC is horrible that time of year. A bus stop shelter that kept that wind out would probably help improve ridership.

4. Tim on November 6, 2006 2:09 am

   That is true, but if the shelters were too enclosed, then you would risk having people who weren’t even waiting on a bus using them and some commuters probably wouldn’t get to use the shelter at all. Most cities don’t have much to offer as far as protection from wind and cold for commuters. Subways can be nearly unbearable in the winter as well.

5. ScooterJ on November 6, 2006 3:59 pm

   Since the #25 currently does a big loop across the north end of downtown and served the government district well, does this mean that when this route goes MAX that ridiculous route the current MAX takes through downtown will get straightened out?

   On a typical weekday it literally faster to walk across the loop than to take the MAX. (Trust me, I’ve done it.) Once you get past the loop the MAX is great.

6. ScooterJ on November 6, 2006 3:59 pm

   Since the #25 currently does a big loop across the north end of downtown and serves the government district well, does this mean that when this route goes MAX that ridiculous route the current MAX takes through downtown will get straightened out?

   On a typical weekday it literally faster to walk across the loop than to take the MAX. (Trust me, I’ve done it.) Once you get past the loop the MAX is great.

7. bob on November 7, 2006 9:16 am

   I am reminded of how “technologically complex” the MAX is when I walk by and the time display reads “* * *”

   Of what use is that?

8. Tim on November 7, 2006 12:13 pm

   I think that may be due to some kind of waterproofing problem…it does happen, but only occasionally, and is usually fixed pretty quickly…

9. irtisaam on November 9, 2006 8:41 am

   I think Tim disposes of the complaints about the shelters too quickly. The complain that the shelters are not sheltering is critical. Besides that fact that a shelter should shelter, comfort and convenience are important attractors for usage by the public, let alone the people who have little other choice than to use th buss systems. The shelters do not need to be made into impromptu homeless shelters for them to successfully impede the wind and rain. There are many imaginative people who could envision a design that could preserve the use of the shelter from bums while keeping customers dry and unfrozen.

10. Nik on November 10, 2006 8:15 am

    The MAX is a great improvement over the regular Metro bus, but the shelters do need some work. Why is it that some stops don’t have a shelter (I think the one at Main and Armour is just a bench)? And at night, I believe the lighting (while appreciated) is too dim. It may seem that way simply because the stop I was at (39th and Main) is a depressingly dark stretch of road to begin with. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts!

11. Tod on November 15, 2006 11:32 am

    Can Tim, or some other ATA employee explain to me why it is so difficult to get a normal bus stop at or near the Down Town Airport. There are several business that employ possible bus riders and an apartment complex full of bus riders that go unserved. WHY?