CFIT Lincoln

Regular bus service will resume July 23.

StarTran to resume regular bus service July 23 Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and health officials updated the community on the City’s efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at a briefing on Friday.

The six additional battery electric buses scheduled to be delivered to StarTran this summer have had their delivery date moved back to December 2020.

This delay occurred when New Flyer, the bus manufacturing plant, was closed during the pandemic.

The current four battery electric buses continue in regular service. Summer heat is a test since using current for air conditioning drains the batteries more quickly.

https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/startran-waiving-bus-fares-reducing-hours-as-ridership-declines-piloting-on-demand-service-in-lincoln/article_a104bcac-7e9a-5a1e-b592-6d031f705445.html =journalstar.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter-templates%2Fnews-alert&utm_medium=PostUp&utm_content=f6300b2b9539c729c60060a55f988abc920a7824

StarTran waiving bus fares, reducing hours as ridership declines, piloting on-demand service in Lincoln Dramatically lower ridership on StarTran buses has led city transportation officials to reduce service hours and runs and make rides free during the pandemic, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird announced

Prepping for our committee hearing on high speed rail between Lincoln and Omaha!

Who doesn't love ice cream? Thanks to Ivanna Cone for their support this month!

Trolley Replica Bus T-Boned by Delivery Truck

By Richard Schmeling, CFIT President

The two trolley replica buses assigned to the downtown trolley run, Route 55, are numbers 500 and 501. They have been of doubtful reliability and are out of service more often than not with a variety of ills. Short (200 series) diesel buses are being used as substitutes when the 500 series are malfunctioning.

It is ironic that bus 500 was able to run one day in late December and was T-boned by a delivery truck which ran a red light at an intersection downtown.

The impact was to the right front of the trolley and it was damaged to such an extent that it will be out of service for an unknown period of time. This leaves the 501, which may or may not start on a given morning.

The StarTran driver banged his head on the side window from the impact and was sore from this, but not hospitalized. No passengers were injured on the trolley.

A series of accidents not involving bus driver negligence has occurred, ironically involving the new CNG 300 series blue and green buses. One of them was totaled and a replacement bus has been ordered. The other, Number 313, sustained repairable damage to the left front of the bus but has not been placed back in service to date.

Casualties like these have been made up for by using the older Gillig buses in the 600 series, which remain operable. There are three from the 650 series and a couple from the 660 series. These buses are over 15 years old and are slated for retirement when new battery electric buses are in service.

The first battery electric bus, Number 400, has been received by StarTran and others are soon to follow. Because the battery electric technology is different, it will take time to train drivers how to operate them. Also, the new charging station at the north StarTran garage at 7th and J has not been completed, but should be operational soon.

It is simply a matter of chance that the newer buses have been hit rather than the older ones.

Additional Evening Trip on Route 40

By Richard Schmeling, CFIT President

In a schedule change effective November 1, 2019, StarTran added an evening on Route 40 Heart Hospital.

Previous to this change, the last trip on Route 40 departed Gold’s at 6:40 p.m. and arrived back downtown at 8:05 p.m. The new trip departs Gold’s an hour later at 7:40 p.m. and arrives back downtown at 9:05 p.m.

New individual route schedules for Route 40 have been published showing this change, but the All-Route Weekday Schedules were not reprinted and do not show the added trip. Information on the StarTran website, startranlincoln.ne.gov, shows the change.

No other route changes were made in November 2019.

The additional trip will benefit workers who work later in the evening and allow them to use the bus to get home, as well as providing service for late shoppers.

Prior to the major route and schedule changes, all StarTran service ended around 7 p.m. The goal is to extend service on all bus routes into the evening hour to accommodate second-shift workers and people who wish to shop during the evening.

Patrons wishing to see changes in bus routes may file a “Service Request” with StarTran. Not all requests can be honored due to budget restrictions. A service request can be made to move a bus stop to make it more convenient or to add a stop where the route goes a long way without stopping.

During 2020, StarTran will be doing a periodic update of the Transportation Development Plan which, hopefully, will make the service more responsive to riders’ needs. Public testimony will be part of this process. CFIT will participate. If you have changes to suggest, please notify Richard Schmeling at 402-853-9537.

Also during 2020, the City of Lincoln will adopt a new two-year budget. It is hoped that money will be included to implement more phase changes recommended, including Sunday bus service. CFIT will monitor the budget process and testify at the public hearing about the budget to be held in August 2020.

CFIT will urge that funds be included to improve more of the 800+ bus stops on the StarTran system. Such funds were included in the 2019-2020 budget and a number of stops have received either benches or shelters as a result.

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful, But Riding StarTran Is Quite Delightful

By Richard Schmeling, CFIT President

No matter if you are a regular StarTran rider or simply decide to use the bus when snow and ice make it difficult to drive, you will find StarTran is a good winter weather transportation option.

StarTran bus routes are mostly on arterial streets, which are given first priority by the Transportation and Public Works Department of the City of Lincoln for snow removal. Your residential street may lag hours or days behind before the snowplow arrives. If you have to travel, consider StarTran.

The Farmers Almanac predicts that our winter for 2019-2020 will be a lot like last year – colder than normal and above normal amounts of snow.

Last year, StarTran riders were some of the few people to be able to get to work or school when storms hit. The heavy transit buses can plow through when cars would stall out. StarTran professional drivers know all the tips and strategies to cope with the snow and ice.

Last year, some riders found the areas at the bus stops had not been cleared. Some riders had to climb two foot ridges of snow to get on and off the bus. Here are some helpful hints to make this year better:

1. If you bus stop has a bench or shelter and the area has not been cleared, phone the Snow Removal Hot Line at 441-7541. City Ordinance requires that walks be cleared by 9 a.m. following the end of a snowfall. Bus stops outside the downtown area are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. This includes the area around a bus bench or shelter and a path from city sidewalk to the curb. Property owners who fail to comply will be given a formal notice to comply but only if you call it in. We no longer have city sidewalk inspectors cruising the town looking for violations. Only complaints about lack of snow removal are acted upon. If the property owner fails to comply with a notice, the city has a contractor who will come and clear the area and the property owner will be billed for the cost of the snow removal.
2. The general rule is that buses stop only at designated StarTran bus stop signs to board and let off passengers. However, if the stop you are using has not been cleared and it is unsafe to board at the sign, StarTran drivers can stop at a cleared area nearby to let you safely get on or off. If a driver stops at a sign in a non-cleared area, you can ask the driver to move a cleared area nearby. A bulletin to drivers authorizes this deviation for safety purposes.
3. During periods of heavy snowfall, buses may run late. You may want to take an earlier bus in order to arrive on time at your destination.
4. Often StarTran delays during snow events may be caused by cars trying to operate on streets used by the StarTran buses. At times, slick streets allow only two or three cars to get through an intersection during a traffic signal cycle when a dozen or more would make it through the intersection in normal weather. StarTran buses have to wait for their turn. If more people used StarTran, slipping and stalled cars would be fewer.
5. If there is an accident ahead of the bus, it may be necessary for the StarTran bus to detour around the problem area. Every effort is made to make sure that riders on the path of this problem are not left behind. You can check out the StarTran website for information about these detours. If a stop cannot be served because of a problem, information will be given on the StarTran website as to the next open bus stop.

6. Be courteous to bus drivers and other passengers when riding during snow events. The main concern of StarTran drivers during snow events – and at all times – is to deliver you safely to your destination as quickly as possible. It won’t help to criticize the driver for not moving faster. Some StarTran riders are elderly or have mobility issues that require them to ride the bus. Help these passengers as they get on and off the bus. In spite of snow removal efforts, the areas at some stops may have patches of packed snow and ice that make footing dangerous. Don’t hesitate to offer a helping hand to other riders boarding or getting off at your stop.

When forced to take the bus during snow events, many people discover that riding the bus when the weather is good is safer and more convenient than driving a car. StarTran welcomes “emergency riders” and would like to see you as a regular passenger.

Star Tran Riders Seeing Bus Stop Improvements

By Richard Schmeling, CFIT President

Thanks to a concerned mayor and Lincoln City Council, StarTran riders are seeing a number of bus stop improvements on all routes throughout Lincoln.

These improvements include:
1. Concrete pad with bench and path from sidewalk to curb at bus stop sign.
2. Concrete pad with concrete walkway from sidewalk to curb at bus stop and bus shelter.
3. Concrete walkway only from sidewalk to curb at bus stop sign.

With over 800 bus stops in the StarTran system, not all bus stops will see improvements now. Priority is assigned to a stop based upon the number of riders using it in a 24-hour period averaged over 3 months.

1. If a stop averages 25 riders it will receive a bus shelter.
2. If a stop averages 15 riders per day a bench will be installed.
3. If a stop has fewer than an average of 15 riders per day, it may receive a concrete walkway from public sidewalk to the curb at the bus stop sign.

About 32 stops were improved this go around (this does not include improvements near Lincoln High School, Moore Middle School and Lefler Middle School done in cooperation with Lincoln Public Schools).

Already in the budget for 2020 is $35,000 to be used for an additional 35 stops. It is hoped that when the 2021-2023 city budget is adopted, this earmark for bus stops will be included in the StarTran budget.

All improvements were in compliance with the standards set for bus stops by the Americans With Disabilities current regulations. This includes a grade for concrete work that allows motorized and people-powered wheelchairs to move easily on the concrete. The new shelters do not have a bench the full length of the shelter and have an empty space which allows a wheelchair rider to pull fully into the shelter.

An enterprising StarTran rider used the empty space for a kitchen dinette-type padded chair to sit in while waiting for the bus and it miraculously wasn’t stolen for over two weeks!

You should consider writing the mayor and expressing your thanks for the upgrades and asking that the upcoming budget includes funds to improve more bus stops.

Do you commute from Lincoln to Omaha? What if you could take a nap, check email or enjoy your morning coffee instead of battling traffic ... all while getting to work for $4?

CFIT President Richard Schmeling weighed in on the conversation about proposed bus service between Lincoln and Omaha.

Nebraska Transit discusses bus service for travel between Lincoln and Omaha Nebraska Transit is getting public feedback on a bus service travelling to and from Lincoln and Omaha.

We're so grateful to everyone who attended last night's fundraiser! And a huge thank you to Raising Canes for hosting us!

CFIT Lincoln brought in $128, which means we'll be able to give 16 bus passes to low-income seniors and students in Lincoln.

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to support our mission!

Thanks to everyone who pushed "like" on CFIT Lincoln's page yesterday! Sharing is caring, so if you'd be so kind, let your friends know about us!

Citizens for Improved Transit has been around since 2015, working at the grassroots level to make sure public transit is constantly improving to benefit Lincoln's citizens.

Increase in StarTran ridership highest in region StarTran increased its ridership 27 percent from 2017 to 2018, the city of Lincoln announced Wednesday.