The budget should show proposed expenditures - not just projected income from fares. The VTA should cut expenses by firing many of its managers and other useless employees, lowering salaries and benefits, and avoiding projects that cannot rationally be expected to significantly enhance transportation in the county.

When the dedicated lane BRT is launched, operations costs will drop by tens of millions annually and bring farebox recovery to the level that Caltrain has. That's all laid out in the BRT project plans. For those that are concerned about VTA fiscal matters, should really focus on getting BRT approved. Fortunately, it's just the usual loud NIMBY crowd that is not truly representative of the community....

"When the dedicated lane BRT is launched, operations costs will drop by tens of millions annually and bring farebox recovery to the level that Caltrain has. That's all laid out in the BRT project plans."

That's cute.

Given VTA's historic incompetence in making such projections what makes you so confident?

Because VTA has learned that when they cave in to NIMBY local community members who want to gut key features of a project that there would be repercussions. That's why light rail isn't as good as it ought to be.

The same type of person that blames VTA for missed light rail forecasts are the same that sabotaged it in the first place...and the same that want to do it to BRT today!

I see snarky commenter is back.

"Save millions"? More like COST millions

@Because

Can you support that assertion?

Yes, it's in the VTA proposal materials. If you have not read them, I'm unclear why your opinion should count for anything.

Please do your research to inform your decision, rather than letting your opinion bias your research.

Thank you.

"it's in the VTA proposal materials"
So therefore, it must be true. And when it misses its mark, it will only be because a small band of naysayers forced them to change direction.
Wow! that's one powerful group of critics! They've managed to screw up EVERYTHING VTA has ever done, dating all the way back to when they were simply called "County Transit".
I'd like to meet these people!

Wait, the VTA's proposal for BRT includes data on why their projections on Light Rail were so horribly, horribly wrong?

I'll happily admit being inadequately informed if you can point me to that information. I've not seen it in any of the material I've read. By all means, provide a link.

You don't need a l;ink, you have the reality of the situation. VTA's projections were in fact HORRIBLY inaccurate, to the point of costing the county MILLIONS on yet another failed project.
They can buy Rosenberg and Showalter, but they cannot buy the will of the people. We're ready to stand arm in arm on this one. Get ready for the local TV news coverage. We simply won't let them do it.

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?