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| Volume 18, Issue 2 | Spring 2006 |
Transit is an Important Part of the Community Barb BallenskyVermillion Public Transit Vermillion, SD We received this letter from one of our riders who moved to Vermillion last fall: "This is a 'thank you' to all of you Transit people who were so kind and helpful to me these last three months --- conveying me back and forth from Dakota Gardens (her home) to Great Plains Therapy and then back again. You were (and still are) my only contact with the residents of Vermillion, and I am grateful to you all. My therapy will now be in a pool in Yankton and then, surgery. (groan!) I'll miss you all; and again, my thanks." A letter like this really makes you realize what you are doing is important. For some of our riders, we are their lifeline to the community and a big part of their social life. When receiving this type of correspondence, it puts a spring in your step and a smile on your face! Changes in Today's Transit VehiclesThe biggest change we have seen in the last year has to be wheel chair lifts being changed to meet the new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 403 and 404. The changes were made to make these products safer both for the operator and the user. Some of the changes are: the roll stop barrier size is now larger so a wheelchair cannot flip over the roll stop; an on/off switch has been added to the lift itself; illuminated hand controls; a new stow signal interlock on the lift; a warning light and alarm to warn individuals that the lift is deployed and they are approaching the lift area from the inside of the bus; and extra lights have been added to lifts for better lighting during night operations. A cycle counter has been added to each lift, as well. The agency can perform service and maintenance based on this cycle count. You can expect to pay a little more for your next lift, due in part to these safety enhancements. All agencies should take a serious look at their training and maintenance programs to make sure the changes to the new lift standards fit their operation. Low-floor transit buses are becoming more popular with several companies manufacturing low-floor buses. The new buses will have a 10-year life cycle and a cost of approximately $150,000. This is a welcome addition to this market. In the past you could expect to spend up to twice that amount. Both International and Work Horse have dedicated a chassis just for the low-floor application. There is a big change coming with diesel engines for 2007. All engines manufactured after January 1, 2007, will be required to meet a stepped up emission standard. Model year 2007 engines and model year 2007 chassis are not to be confused just because they are both 2007 model year. You can still order a 2007 chassis, with a 2006 engine, with no cost increase for the engine until 2006 production engines are sold out. The new engine is estimated to cost $5,000 to $8,000 more than the engines built prior to January 1, 2007. Along with the additional engine cost, there may also be additional maintenance expense, depending on the size and application of the diesel engine and the after treatment for the exhaust. Also, most of the new engines will require the end user to use different oil, requiring agencies to stock two different types of oil. If your preference is a diesel engine, I recommend you purchase your vehicle as soon as possible to avoid this healthy cost increase. Bottom line, a good relationship with your local bus vendor is still the best form of information on what is available and what is required for your vehicles. Another good source of information is state, regional, and national trade shows like the DTA, APTA, or CTAA. A Cautionary TaleTransit agencies are concerned about the rights of their riders. Most work hard to make sure that everyone is treated fairly. Still, challenges can come from unexpected sources. Recently, Bruce Fuchs at the NDDOT forwarded an e-mail he received from Rebecca Ubando Tanrath, the civil rights officer from the Region 8 Federal Transit Administration Office in Lakewood, CO. The e-mail contains a cautionary tale for transit agencies with policies for providing or denying rides to individuals with strong body odors. In the e-mail, Tanrath quotes an article written by Chuck Shepherd in his syndicated column "News of the Weird" that details the activities of homeless New Jersey man Richard Kreimer. The article, with the headline: "Reeking as a Career Field," explained that Kreimer had recently settled a lawsuit against a transit company and two drivers who had refused to give him rides because of his foul odor. Since the early 1990s, Kreimer's been in the limelight for similar actions. He sued a public library in Morris Township, New Jersey, over a rule that prohibited people with a shabby appearance and foul odors from using the library. A "New York Daily News" Editoral notes that "He has since filed lawsuits against various towns and businesses and transit systems and individuals. Some were dropped, but some were settled, putting more money in his tattered, smelly pockets." Does your agency have such a policy? How is it enforced? How will it stand up in court?
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