I'm sure everyone can recall instances when riding an RTS bus was less than pleasant and would certainly want for the buses to arrive promptly, according to schedule, in addition to also having room to comfortably fit on the bus. Now imagine that multiplied by almost 8 million.
That is the number of passengers RTS handles on an annual basis, and it continues to go up each year. That statistic is from the Wednesday meeting of the Gainesville RTS Advisory Board meeting, which I attended.
Attending the board meeting is one of the requirements to become a member of the board, to which I am applying for as a student adjunct representing UF. If I am appointed to the board by the Gainesville City Commission, you can feel free to let me know of any concerns or comments you wish for me to personally inform representatives of RTS to be aware of.
But I will also point out that there are many things RTS is already aware of, and from the comments at the board meeting by various RTS personnel, including their transit director and chief transit planner, I can attest that RTS is doing the best it can given the funding and other logistical resources it currently has. The budget cuts that originate from the highest offices of our state find their way down to the local level, and they do not only apply to our university.
Despite such constraints, I believe that RTS is still committed to ensuring the ridership needs of UF students - in which we contribute a predominant portion to their operating budget - are met to the best possible end. In these budgetary doldrums, everyone feels the drag.
