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Matt Zencey

Matt Zencey joined the Daily News as an editorial writer in 1985 and was named editorial page editor in May 2007. He has won several. "Best editorial writing" awards from the Alaska Press Club and was a Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard University. He lives on the west side of Anchorage, where he enjoys the best weather in town and easy access to the Coastal Trail. E-mail Matt at mzencey@adn.com

Frank Gerjevic

Frank Gerjevic has worked at the Daily News since 1978, where he's been sports editor, copy editor, reporter and columnist. He's been an editorial writer since 1998. He began his newspaper career with the Anchorage Times in 1975. E-mail Frank at fgerjevic@adn.com

Rosemary Shinohara

Rosemary Shinohara is an editorial writer who has lived most of her life in Alaska. She has spent most of her career as a reporter or editor at the Daily News. She covered construction of the Alaska oil pipeline, the Legislature, schools and urban affairs. She has also been an editor for NPR's All Things Considered, and has written for the Associated Press. E-mail Rosemary at rshinohara.com

Looking to save on gas and ride the bus?

Posted by editorial_views

Posted: May 12, 2008 - 9:35 am

From Rosemary Shinohara:
Across the country, "More commuters are abandoning their cars and taking the train or bus instead," the New York Times reported in a story over the weekend.

Gas prices approaching $4 per gallon are motivating people to ride the bus.

I'm working on some editorials about improving the bus system and increasing the number of riders. I'd like to talk to some people who are thinking about riding the bus. I'd like to know what it would take to get you there. What kind of obstacles are in your way?

Please e-mail me at rshinohara@adn.com, or call 257-4340
If you'd like to comment here, that would be great, too. Thanks.

login or register to post comments

14 June 10, 2008 - 9:26am | iflyak

looping raised light rail system for now with expansion built in

I'm not a huge light rail fan howeve, Disney world does it and it works.

Build the K-Arm bridge with parallel raised light rail (think future here) no need to build two bridges over the K-Arm. MAG LEV (think big here why waste dough on old technology)

Loop the rail parallel with the glenn, parks, KGB and the K-arm bridge. This will cause huge development in the relatively in undeveloped Pt Makenzie area and outward. (more tax revenue) in the future, plan to extend the system to houston willow and beyond. Make the rider fee reasonable enough to allow the system to be be maintenance self sufficient. Mag Lev -- less moving parts and raised removes any Animal encounters

Run it frequently.

"if you build it they will come" if the Fare is Fair

13 June 10, 2008 - 9:03am | iflyak

one question-- is the bus system in anchorage self sufficient

If it is -- Keep it

If it is not -- Scrap it!

I was down town last week and saw a two busses sitting nose to tail running and sitting empty for over 30 minutes burning $5.00 a gallon diesel. No drivers anywhere!

That's efficient mass transit for you.

Your editorial will not change a thing.

12 June 10, 2008 - 8:20am | iflyak

NO!

I'm not looking to save on gas or ride the bus. I may draft off the empty bus flying down the glenn highway, but that's about it.

11 May 24, 2008 - 5:13am | ak4rent

Spend more on train service, not bus service

The existing airport to ferry terminal service should be expanded to add a downtown stop; then midtown, then southside, Eagle River, east side, etc. Trains are cleaner, eliminates road traffic, and issues associated with snow removal, unsafe waiting places, etc. Rather than put more money into a marginally effective mass transit system, use the $$ to create a Minneapolis type system that works and will be used.

Anchorage needs a system that recognizes people don't like to stand on snow berms, or in plastic houses during freezing weather. Use existing malls and large office complexes to establish hubs, rather than build new ones. Partner with large employers to encourage ridership (oil co's., state bldgs, muni bldgs, malls, college campuses). Collaborate with existing entities and multiply resources. Ultimately, we can have a mass transit system that is utilized, effective, and self-sustaining. Park and Rides will work if the facilities are there. How many of us use NYC, DC, and Chicago trains during visits, and find no problem doing so?

10 May 19, 2008 - 9:59am | akcoyboy

Mass Transit

Alaska is still in the "I don't care how they do it on the outside." mentality and until that changes public transit will be unsuitable for the public.
Two million spent to study transit systems in other northern cities would be well spent "if" the findings were utilized to make a system in south central work.
The state must utilize a mass transit system from Willow to Girdwood to relieve the strain on the fuel, roads, maintenance costs and collision incidents.
A study for a new Airport Runway ??? Put the expansion on Point Mckenzie, justify the ferry or bridge.

9 May 17, 2008 - 8:14am | stan_tdy

Valley to Anchorage

I've been in AK for 4 years now. When I first arrived I questioned why a public commuter system wasn't available from the valley to Anchorage and back. I was told the demand wasn't great enough, hence not cost effective. After fours years of commuting I can't believe there isn't a demand or need for public transportation. I've left for work between 5am and 8am on numerous occassions in those four years and the highway is always packed. The share a ride program is awesome, but too rigid for the particular van you ride. Meaning you have (supposed) to go in with and home with the same van.

It would be really nice if there was a place (hub) out here in the valley the bus could pick people up and transport to a location in anchorage (a hub). Both of these hubs would need an area big enough to build a fairly good size parking lot. I have a vehicle I use to commute with exclusively. If this system was built, I would leave my commuter at the hub in anchorage where the bus would drop me off and commute from that location to work and back to that location in the evening for the return bus ride.

I think a proposal like above has numerous benefits:
1) Save gas
2) Less congestion on the Glenn. Traffic would move better during the winter.
3) Fewer cars would mean less pollution (better for the environment).
4) Wear and tear on Glenn would be less. Money saved for road repairs and upgrades could be used to subsidize costs to operate the system.

I'm sure there are many more tangents and benefits to a mass public system. Hopefully a mass transit system is being discussed at the formal level. I know it is definately talked about and wanted in social circles.

Feel free to reply to Stan_tdy@yahoo.com

May 17, 2008 - 10:08pm | rfn

There IS bus service from Wasilla and Palmer

to and from Anchorage.

For the schedule check the MASCOT website. http://www.matsutransit.com/
There are several stops in the valley for each trip; all go to the downtown bus terminal from which you can transfer to city buses. Fare is only $2.50 each direction but only $1 each way if you qualify by age and pick up tickets at the Wasilla or Palmer Senior Centers.

There is also a van pool service. I've seen the vans but never noted the contact numbers. The MASCOT people should be able to tell you.

8 May 16, 2008 - 10:15am | akgen

more bike racks and

wi-fi...

It would be interesting to see the connections mapped out between the bike paths and bus routes, with emphasis on the southside of Anchorage. Hillside is an area lacking in regular routes.

The airport People Mover can be 'beefed' up with a luggage/passenger section.

7 May 13, 2008 - 4:35pm | editorial_views

Response to comments

from Rosemary Shinohara:
I'm glad to hear the specifics of how the bus system works or doesn't work for each of you. If anyone here is willing to be included (with your name) in an editorial in the next week or so, please e-mail me at rshinohara@adn.com.

The comments about how long it takes vs. riding in cars, and about how transferring messes up the ride would particularly fit.

May 13, 2008 - 7:52pm | toyland

Safety

I can understand that promoting ridership on the bus is the main subject of the editorial. However, if the safety and cleanliness issues are not addressed the general public will not ride no matter how much fuel costs. By far the drunks are the worst problem for this bus system. I have great respect for most of the drivers in the way they try to control the various situations these individuals create. Perhaps the city should concider a transit police unit that would respond in a timely manor when a bus driver calls for help. Then they should inforce the various laws that would apply to whatever the person was doing to interfere with the pleasant ride of the other passengers. I gaurantee you would see an increase in ridership if people felt safe. The Transit police unit could also patrol the various bus stops and make sure things are safe there too. Many times there are people drinking at the Mid town bus stops. Preventing other riders from using the stop. What kind of message does this send the public? I thank you for trying to promote the ridership. Hope you can help us!

May 14, 2008 - 8:27am | editorial_views

Safety

I agree -- safety is important, and I've been hearing a lot of people raise it as an issue, more than before.

It would make it somewhat safer if more work commuters were on board, but it sounds like the People Mover needs to pay more attention to safety as well.
-- Rosemary

May 14, 2008 - 10:23am | rfn

Where is Bernard Goetz

when Anchorage needs him most?

6 May 13, 2008 - 1:57pm | lkpetty

Why Not the Bus?

Actually, I do ride the bus, whenever I can. I ride it in from Eagle River and must transfer to route 7 or 7A to get to work near the Airport. The truth is, it typically takes me about 35 minutes to drive in, barring traffic or weather problems. But riding the bus, it takes me about 97 minutes. Wow, I must be nuts! This additional time is the time it takes to drive to the transit station in Eagle River, grab the 102, then transfer to my in-town route at the downtown bus station. The up side for me is that I trade windshield time for study time; I work on my college assignments. It’s also cheaper for me (worst case is the $4 day pass), and I don’t get nearly as aggravated by the nuts on the road; I leave that to the driver.

This being said, besides how long it takes, here are some other down sides:

1. The bus service in Eagle River starts 30 minutes too late everyday! I have a relative that lives in Eagle River, and can NOT get to work by 7:00 a.m. The People Mover folks don’t seem to understand that we in Eagle River need to start and end our days earlier and later, respectively.

2. It’s relatively safe riding the 102 to and from Eagle River, but the riding the other routes in town is a pretty scary proposition! Between the drunks and the nuts, it’s pretty spooky. Someone else was trying to be PC when they suggested that maybe these folks ride the bus for shelter. Well, by gosh it’s true. They get a buss pass and can ride around all day snoozing in a warm place.

3. The downtown bus terminal is yet another haven for drunks and nuts. I’m either harassed, or I witness someone being harassed EVERY DAY I need to transfer routes there. The security staff do a great job when they are on the floor, and the drunks and nuts keep and eye out for the security staff and behave themselves when they are present. However, as soon as they are gone, it’s like the teacher just left the room and all bets are off.

4. There just aren’t enough cross-town routes and connections. What’s really funny is that one of the folks I work with asked me about riding the bus. They live in town, and when I calculated bus route for them, it turned out that their travel time would go from about 15 minutes driving, to about 90 minutes on the bus; the same as for me coming in from Eagle River!

5. It would be helpful if the People Mover system had, on their website, a bus tracking tool to let me know how close my bus is to my workplace. More often than not, it’s running late, but it would be extremely helpful if I knew a little more precisely when that darn bus might be coming by. I hear that this is actually in the works.

6. I’ve watched the city for years and years advertising the People Mover system on TV and on the radio. Problem is, they ONLY seem to target the riders. They don’t target employers to urge them to be a little more flexible on work hours to allow for more convenient use of the bus system. There is an option for me to cut my ride time by about 15 minutes in the afternoon, but my employer is not flexible enough to accommodate this, to slide my work hours ever so slightly to cash in on this opportunity.
My wife could ride the bus for free given where she works, but I don’t want her to because of my concerns about security.

All this said, I must commend the drivers I’ve observed over the course of the last year. They put up with a lot of crap, and most of the time keep their cools and are very helpful to the ridership.

5 May 13, 2008 - 12:36pm | marcfrutiger

I would ride the bus to work

I would ride the bus to work in a heartbeat if the routing were more convenient. My commute is approximately 2.5 mi, which take 10 min by car or 20 min by bike. Riding the bus would take over an hour because of the transfer requirement. Should a direct route become available, you'll see me at the bus stop on days I can't ride my bike.

4 May 13, 2008 - 11:20am | kenweimer

riding the bus

I would gladly ride the bus to work, but the schedule for going from S. Muldoon area to downtown are terrible and pretty much on an hourly basis only rather than something more frequent in both directions. It would take me about 40-50 minutes MORE a day to ride the bus over driving to work. Also, there are no bus stops on the far east sections of 32nd or 36th. You have to get out to Muldoon to start with.
So it is very poor scheduling and lack of convenient stops.

3 May 13, 2008 - 9:01am | butch_walter

Riding The Bus

I don't ride the bus, I tried once a while ago, however I have 3 employees that ride the bus from Muldoon.

They ride the bus because that is the only way for them to get to work, not because they want to.

Two of them are young girls, 19-20, they say they feel unsafe on the bus and have been approached many times with offers for all types of things. They try to always set next to the driver and when they get off they never go directly home as they have been followed several times.

The young man feels the same way.

It is not the bus that is the problem, it's who rides it and no policeing of the busses. Just ride by the downtown station and see who is hanging around.

2 May 13, 2008 - 8:40am | rghomer

Riding the bus

When my wife and I came to Alaska thirty-one years ago, the buses were smaller, cheaper to ride and maintain, usually full to standing room only, with better routes and frequency.

Fast forward to today. I drive a new Tacoma which gets around seventeen mpg here in town. It's still cheaper than the bus and of course far more convenient. At a guess, that is why you see so many vehicles on the road carrying a single person. I feel that this will remain so until using the People Mover becomes considerably cheaper than a car trip, and improves frequency and routes. And we need a bus/light rail system from the Valley into and out of Anchorage as well as Girdwood.

It's pretty simple: We humans are basically lazy and before you can drag any Alaskan out of his or her car, public transportation must be cheaper and more convenient than private. I won't even go into the status of most bus stops.

1 May 12, 2008 - 10:03am | rfn

Speaking from experience...

I occasionally use the bus to get from downtown to the airport to catch a flight or to meet someone. Usually not the latter as they tend to have too much baggage to conveniently haul on the bus. Not reasonable to expect any change to accommodate that. However, when I have a couple of items to take with me, either outbound or inbound. I don't feel good about the odds of them still being with me when I get off.

I'm also pretty careful about arriving visitors. If they're from in-state it's one thing but, if from out of state, I worry about the impression they'll get. The busses I have used (7A) are often pretty grungy and some riders give the impression (particularly in winter) of being aboard for shelter or amusement; not really going anywhere. Probably not a good assumption but it does look that way.

Before I'd extend my use of the buses or recommend them to others they'd need to be cleaned up considerably and some kind of feeling of security provided. They just don't feel like a safe place for a woman alone other than a very athletic, strong one.

Must say the frequency of service is excellent; time enroute is optimal and the price is right. Probably wouldn't take too much to deal with the issues I've raised but undoubtedly it would raise the price.

May 13, 2008 - 1:02pm | toyland

Riding the bus: dirty and unsafe

I ride the bus from time to time. It has been my experience that the floors and seats are dirty. Rarely do you see one with a clean floor even in the morning. Do they not have people to clean the floors? Also the seats have grime and grit on them. I have also witnessed a drunk urinating in a seat, it ran down the seat onto the floor. A friend of mine told me that a man (also a drunk) had feces run down his leg on to the floor as he stood at the farebox asking for a free ride. I have also had the unpleasnt experience of rude teenagers using foul language and when the bus driver tried to do someting about it they got worse and verbaly attacked the driver. When the driver stoped the bus and made them get off they threw a pop bottle at her through her open door and threatend her. I would gladly ride more often if these issues were addressed. I know other people who feel the same. Basicly it comes down to cleanliness and safety!

May 12, 2008 - 11:40am | editorial_views

Thanks RFN, Interesting that

Thanks RFN,
Interesting that you take it to the airport. Is that mainly so you won't have to leave a car in the airport parking?
If you're willing to talk to me further for possible publication, could you send your phone number (and name) to me at rshinohara@adn.com?
--Rosemary

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