Hello everyone! This is Bill Spriggs and this is a special edition of
THE BACK FENCE

March 05, 2012 

Build the Rail or Bail:   

RTD needs to make the courageous decision to build the NW Rail Line or bail on any attempt for a tax increase come the November Ballot. We humbly believe the vital support would not be there from the NW residents who want to be part of the FasTracks system they thought they were paying for. 

Unfortunately for the management team at RTD, it seems, in my humble opinion, that RTD didn't see the smashing left hook to the jaw from BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) coming.  

Somehow, I just can't believe that no one saw this punch coming and that no one at RTD has anything more to say in the media about the doubling cost hike from BNSF other than "We respect BNSF's right (to stick it to us -- my words) because it's their property." It's not what we would have said to them. 

Now, the good news. If RTD decides to vote for the NW Rail and drop the ill-timed effort to sell the Rapid Bus Transit option, it will still have time to save face and actually, may have a better excuse (and chance) to ask the public for more tax revenue to proceed with the Fastracks system.  RTD could always blame corporate greed to gain sympathy with the public. 

Now, let me make the statement: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH RAPID BUS TRANSIT.

Today's modern Rapid Buses are great. Ever ride on one? Know anything about them? No? Well, to be honest, I've never ridden on one yet either, but I've read extensively about them and I know that there are some great systems out there in service around the world.

The problem that RTD is facing in the Denver region is that there was never, or too little, news, or incentives brought forward to "sell" the Colorado public on traveling by bus; no advertising campaigns to sell the great interiors, the free wi-fi?, the "multi-tasking" joy of "you can write the next great American novel while commuting; remixing your music playlist; texting your friends; posting on Facebook, or doing your income tax (ugh) while whizzing past 'expensive and ultra high-status automobiles' stuck in congestion-clogged highways.

I'm not a survey expert, but I sense that the 2012 commuting public in Colorado considers taking a bus the equivalent of "taking a step-down in status." So, whose fault is it if the commuting public sees buses this way? 

I put some of the blame on the RTD team for being in a bubble of not knowing what the NW public felt about such a mode of transportation before it made its presentation to the public after the BNSF cost estimate announcement. More blame could be directed at RTD for ignoring or forgetting what was sold to the public in 2004.  

The NW residents got sold on a shiny, sexy train system; they threw their money into the pot because it sounded like a great idea at the time, and now they are basically being told to sit down, shut up and sit at the back of the bus. It ain't gonna work. There was no smooth talk, no fabulous dinner, no violin player, no candy and no flowers in the bungling wooing process.

So, it comes down to the failure to sell buses as a great way to commute with their great features not being presented for months, even years in advance of this NW effort.  

Well, I'm in enough trouble for expressing my views, but that is how I see it. Below, is a link to news item from Salon.com that featured the London double-decker bus that was just put into service. Take note: the campaign to sell the bus service was started two years before it began.

Salon.com  

READ MORE... 

A final note to the RTD Board: Good luck with your decision. Sorry that it's such a tough one.

The Back Fence.