MAT Bus Communications

[43g70]

This is from the the World Herald. Interesting Comment about radios not working.

Improve city bus line
I have direct, extensive experience with the Metro Area Transit bus sys*tem because I take MAT buses home from work. There are three key prob*lems that I see with the service that MAT offers Omaha:
[1] Every time I ask the driver to ra*dio ahead to the bus I’m transferring to and ask it to wait for me, I have been told that the bus radio does not work.
[1] Many MAT bus-stop shelters are in poor condition, specifically the two shelters at 16th and Jackson Streets.
[1] Many MAT bus-stop signs are worn and faded and need to be re*placed.
I have made my concerns known by e-mail and phone calls to the Omaha City Council and Mayor Mike Fahey, but there does not seem to be any way to hold MAT accountable.
The most disturbing part of all this to me is that MAT apparently allows its buses to operate without working radios. I consider this a massive safety hazard. What if an elderly per*son who rides the bus had a heart at*tack? What if the bus broke down? Would the driver have the means available to call for help?
My only question for the City of Omaha is: What can we do?

 

[jayt555]

There has been talk about putting the 800 mhz radios in the MAT busses. Specially from the EM side,but it all takes $$ and time. And you know as well as I do if you live here that the city takes thier time and dosen't like to spend money. Well atleast not on important things. Cause we really need that new stadium ya know.

 

[obijohn]

There has been talk about putting the 800 mhz radios in the MAT busses. Specially from the EM side,but it all takes $$ and time. And you know as well as I do if you live here that the city takes thier time and dosen't like to spend money. Well atleast not on important things. Cause we really need that new stadium ya know.

From several OWH articles I read last year, I learned that the Dep't of Homeland Security
awarded money to the city of Omaha for equipment to make MAT "interoperable" in case of disaster.

You would think that with new radios there would not be any issues.

As far as the proposed new stadium goes, has anyone besides me noticed all the new hotels going up near the Quest center? One was dedicated just today at 13th and
Cuming-by the Mayor, no less!

I can't believe the city would attempt to do this without a consesus of the voters. Think of the bonds.

I will guarantee that it wouldn't pass to build a new stadium. I know I'm not voting for any more bond liability!

 

[Astrak]

You all can complain, but there are cities with far more troubled transit problems than Omaha, if you have an emergency use a a cell phone, certainly someone aboard the bus has a cell phone. Why complain so much...go with the flow, if you can't afford a car than don't complain at least you have affordable transit...and what are you doing typing on the net if you can't afford a car?

 

[Allan_Love_Jr]

You all can complain, but there are cities with far more troubled transit problems than Omaha, if you have an emergency use a a cell phone, certainly someone aboard the bus has a cell phone. Why complain so much...go with the flow, if you can't afford a car than don't complain at least you have affordable transit...and what are you doing typing on the net if you can't afford a car?

Like they say. You could always Walk.

 

[Pro92]

MAT Buses

This is from the the World Herald. Interesting Comment about radios not working.

Improve city bus line
I have direct, extensive experience with the Metro Area Transit bus sys*tem because I take MAT buses home from work. There are three key prob*lems that I see with the service that MAT offers Omaha:
[1] Every time I ask the driver to ra*dio ahead to the bus I’m transferring to and ask it to wait for me, I have been told that the bus radio does not work.
[1] Many MAT bus-stop shelters are in poor condition, specifically the two shelters at 16th and Jackson Streets.
[1] Many MAT bus-stop signs are worn and faded and need to be re*placed.
I have made my concerns known by e-mail and phone calls to the Omaha City Council and Mayor Mike Fahey, but there does not seem to be any way to hold MAT accountable.
The most disturbing part of all this to me is that MAT apparently allows its buses to operate without working radios. I consider this a massive safety hazard. What if an elderly per*son who rides the bus had a heart at*tack? What if the bus broke down? Would the driver have the means available to call for help?
My only question for the City of Omaha is: What can we do?

I SF Bay Area i think AC-Transit is TRS , i know BART trains & PD
is.