FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2016
LABOR LEADER CALLS FOR A "NO" VOTE ON LACMTA SERVICE CHANGES
Irwindale, CA - On February 9, 2016, SMART Transportation Division General Chairman Marco Gudino sent an official letter to the LACMTA Service Councils and the LACMTA Board of Directors asking them to vote "No" on the proposed 2016 Service Changes to Bus Lines 190 and 194.
On Monday, February 8, 2016 a meeting of the San Gabriel Valley Service Council was held to receive public comment on the proposed service changes in their region including bus lines 190 and 194. The proposed service change would eliminate the MTA lines and allow Foothill Transit to take over their operation. 72 speakers cards were turned in and over 2 hours of public testimony was heard by the Service Council. Over those 2 hours, not a single person spoke in favor of Foothill Transit or the elimination of bus lines 190 and 194.
"The people have spoken," said General Chairman Marco Gudino in his letter. "Public transportation riders publicly testified on the poor on time performance, poor customer service, limited service options and inadequate hours that Foothill Transit provides."
Speakers at the meeting spoke highly of LA Metro and the customer service they receive from the operators. Some speakers suggested that if Metro continued to cut service in their neighborhoods, that they would be less likely to support any future sales tax measures.
"If it aint broke, don't fix it," said Gudino. "These lines are not broken and the people who ride them value the service that LA Metro and our operators provide. That is why I am urging you to vote "NO" on the proposed service changes to Lines 190 and 194."
The LACMTA Service Councils will take written comment through midnight, February 13, 2016 and then they will make their recommendations to the MTA Board. The MTA Board will then vote on the proposed service changes at a later meeting.
General Committee 875 of the SMART Transportation Division is the collective bargaining unit for the nearly 5000 bus a train operators at LA Metro. Find out more about General Committee 875 and SMART transportation Division by visiting gca875smart.org
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