Emergency Meeting to Save Transit!
“The degree of cutbacks facing Topeka Transit are so large that saving Sunday and evening bus service isn’t even being discussed much any more,” Janlyn Nesbett-Tucker, president and chief executive officer of the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority (TMTA), said Tuesday. … So begins the article in the Capital-Journal (06/16/09) that announces the possibility of Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority eliminating up to 49% of the current bus services!
Despite all the grassroots efforts by Topekans in Support of Public Transit and other transit advocates to raise the mil cap so that TMTA could get the money they need to keep the buses rolling, they are still planning to cut services!
Only a massive outcry by all of us can preserve the existing services and save our public transit system!
WE NEED EVERONE TO COME TO AN EMERGENCY ORGANIZING MEETING!
501 SW Jackson St.
10am -Noon
June 23, 2009
Together we can save:
Evening & Sunday Service,
½ Hour Fixed Route Service &
Saturday Service!
For more information contact Kevin at 207-6508.
What needs to happen is to get a new CEO that CARES and can think outside the box. Ms. Nesbett was contacted in February 2009, with a complete power point presentation and free outside consulting help from a professional human resources senior expert and community activist, Cheryl Fields, MBA, based out of Seattle, Washington, however; Ms. Nesbett-Tucker REFUSED to even try some of the examples/suggestions. And later on Ms. Nesbett-Tucker, misrepresented herself by taking some of the thoughts, ideas, suggestions, provided by Ms. Fields and the focus group from Seattle, Washington.
Having a new CEO that is more astute, professional, and has expertise in fundraising might be what is needed. Does this woman have a term that expires? What type of CEO or organization would dare to prevent people from attending faith based services of their choice? Many people with disabilities only have the weekends to look forward to. It is backwards thinking to prevent or reduce people with disabilities from living their lives to the fullest.
This is not the first time this has come up and finally Ms. Nesbett-Tucker will be on the hot seat and can hopefully FINALLY provide her rationale for her decisions regarding reducing or cutting out services on the weekends for people with disabilities.
I suggest calling the office or e-mailing your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions to Ms. Nesbett-Tucker, apparently she did not listen to us in February 2009, perhaps she shall listen now?
E-mail: jnesbett@topekatransit.com
Janlyn Nesbett-Tucker, CEO
Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority
201 N. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS
785/233-2011 X101
“What goes around, comes around—-be careful how you treat folks!”
StillStanding,
I believe you may be misinterpreting the issue. The proposed cuts of the TMTA are not a personal choice of Mrs. Nesbett-Tucker’s, but rather a necessity if more funding is not secured. The system simply cannot afford to operate at its current level. Sundays and evenings have the least ridership; cutting these times would affect the smallest amount of people. That is not to say that no one would be affected.
I would love to see a campaign arise out of this debate that encourages more people to use transit here. Topeka has a great bus system for a city its size, and far too many people ignore that while driving themselves to their destinations – which are frequently on or near bus routes.
I am sure that if you have constructive criticism for the TMTA, Mrs. Nesbett-Tucker would love to hear your thoughts.
Karl
Thank you so very much Karl for your post.
Let’s see what happens on June 23, 2009 and/or shortly after.
Together as a team, we can win.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
StillStanding