Two boys shot on Metro Transit bus in Minneapolis
Two boys were hospitalized in serious condition Sunday after being shot on a Metro Transit bus in north Minneapolis Saturday night.
At least six shots were fired on the Route 22 bus as it headed northbound at Humboldt and 53rd Aves. N., said Metro Transit spokesman Bob Gibbons.
There were ten to 12 people aboard when the shooting erupted at 10:35 p.m.
Both victims were taken to North Memorial Medical Center, with injuries that were described as not life-threatening. It was unclear what the ages are of the two junvenile males.
Gibbons said investigators were still trying to sort out what might have prompted the incident. Early Sunday morning they were interviewing passengers and the bus driver, and had interviewed one of the victims at the hospital, Gibbons said. The other victim was not in condition to be interviewed. Transit police were also reviewing the bus camera.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Northstar delayed by Train derailment
Train derailment impacts morning Northstar service
FRIDLEY, Minn. -- A train derailment Thursday morning at the Burlington Northern rail yard in Fridley significantly impacted ridership on the Northstar Commuter Rail line.
The incident happened near 44th and East River Road just around 4 a.m. about one half mile north of the Fridley station.
Metro Transit Spokesman Bob Gibbons says Metro Transit employees informed customers at the Big Lake and Elk River NORTHSTAR stations about the derailment, and of plans to put them on busses in Coon Rapids to complete the link to downtown Minneapolis. Many of those customers returned to their cars and drove to work instead.
He estimates morning ridership on the NORTHSTAR line was less than half it's average of one thousand daily round trips.
Gibbons also said he expected the derailment to be cleaned up and the track problem corrected by 10 a.m. Thursday. Friday's service should be back to normal.
There is no word yet on what caused the derailment
I drove the bus bridge from Coon Rapids Station to Downtown Minneapolis this morning.
FRIDLEY, Minn. -- A train derailment Thursday morning at the Burlington Northern rail yard in Fridley significantly impacted ridership on the Northstar Commuter Rail line.
The incident happened near 44th and East River Road just around 4 a.m. about one half mile north of the Fridley station.
Metro Transit Spokesman Bob Gibbons says Metro Transit employees informed customers at the Big Lake and Elk River NORTHSTAR stations about the derailment, and of plans to put them on busses in Coon Rapids to complete the link to downtown Minneapolis. Many of those customers returned to their cars and drove to work instead.
He estimates morning ridership on the NORTHSTAR line was less than half it's average of one thousand daily round trips.
Gibbons also said he expected the derailment to be cleaned up and the track problem corrected by 10 a.m. Thursday. Friday's service should be back to normal.
There is no word yet on what caused the derailment
I drove the bus bridge from Coon Rapids Station to Downtown Minneapolis this morning.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Madison Metro driver make over 100 K
Madison Metro driver highest paid city employee
Madison's highest paid city government employee last year wasn't the mayor. It wasn't the police chief. It wasn't even the head of Metro Transit. It was bus driver John E. Nelson. Nelson earned $159,258 in 2009, including $109,892 in overtime and other pay. He and his colleague, driver Greg Tatman, who earned $125,598, were among the city's top 20 earners for 2009, city records show.
They're among the seven bus drivers who made more than $100,000 last year thanks to a union contract that lets the most senior drivers who have the highest base salaries get first crack at overtime.
And there was a lot of overtime - $1.94 million last year, $467,200 more than the bus system budgeted for and the most ever for the system - as employees exhausted sick leave and took advantage of unpaid leave through the federal Family Medical Leave Act, officials said. "That's the (drivers') contract," said Transit and Parking Commission Chairman Gary Poulson. "(But) I think we want more information to the TPC and a discussion of all the facts."
The high salaries for Metro bus drivers come as Metro's ridership continues to grow and the system ranks high among peers according to a 2009 state audit. Metro, which increased fares last year, carried 13.58 million riders in 2009, the second highest total in 40 years.
Metro general manager Chuck Kamp, who earned $118,690 last year, defended the employees.
"These are very good employees who follow the rules that have been negotiated with the Teamsters," Kamp said, adding that Nelson and Tatman "are senior drivers with excellent safety and customer service records."
But he said Metro is looking at ways to limit overtime, including tighter follow up on workman's compensation claims and exploring how to control the growth of Family Medical Leave Act time off by employees.
Nelson, Tatman and Gene Gowey, business manager for the bus drivers union, Teamster Local 695, could not be reached Friday.
In the past, drivers have defended the pay, saying they earn it by working long hours that can create hardships on families. Also, the job requires navigating an oversized vehicle through city streets and dealing with sometimes uncivil riders and other challenges, they have said.
The bus drivers' contact, which calls for pay up to $26.02 an hour, expired at the end of December and the sides are now in negotiations.
Many make more than the mayor
Over all, Madison paid at least 20 employees more than $125,000 in 2009, according to city records.
After Nelson, the top paid employees in 2009 were City Comptroller Dean Brasser, who earned $151,551, and Police Chief Noble Wray, who made $143,585.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was paid $112,880. He wasn't among the top 20.
Concern about bus drivers being among the city's highest earners isn't new. The issue surfaced after Metro changed from a Downtown hub to a transfer station system in 1998.
In 1997, before the change, no driver made more than $70,000. But two years later, as Metro struggled to fill vacancies, two drivers topped $100,000 and seven more made more than $70,000.
A high base salary and other benefits for drivers were largely set in the 1970s and 1980s, when the city took over the bus company.
Also, the union contract limits part-timers to 15 percent of the number full-time drivers, and part-timers can only drive morning and afternoon school routes. Those rules create opportunities for overtime and other special pay for full-time workers.
The city negotiated more flexibility for using part timers in 2002-03, but a state audit last year recommended Metro seek even more flexibility and noted that some pay premiums, such as those for evening and Sunday shifts, are uncommon in the industry.
Busting overtime budgets
In the past three years, Metro has been below budget for regular salaries, mainly due to vacancies, but exceeded budget for overtime, Metro data shows. In 2009, Metro was $290,000 under budget for salaries, spending $22.8 million, but $467,200 over budget for overtime, spending $1.94 million, the most ever.
Overtime is high for several reasons, Kamp said.
Metro employees are exhausting sick leave time, taking advantage of the federal Family Medical Leave Act and have high rate of absenteeism without pay, Kamp said.
For example, use of the medical leave act by Metro employees jumped 44 percent to 28,340 hours from 2008 to 2009, Kamp said, calling it "the driving factor" for overtime last year.
A city hiring freeze last year blocked Metro from replacing drivers for a time, Kamp said. Cieslewicz later authorized Metro to fill vacancies after learning it was cheaper than paying overtime.
Also, Metro undertook a safety program that took drivers off their jobs and increased overtime, Kamp said. But the training helped cut preventable accidents 17 percent last year, he said.
Metro is working with the Teamsters to control vacancies and absenteeism, including a progressive discipline system for absence without pay, Kamp said.
Already, Metro has cut worker's compensation costs 27 percent to $632,600 between 2007 and 2009, he said.
Despite challenges with overtime, Metro's cost per rider rose just 5 percent to $3.07 between 2006 and the third quarter of 2009, Kamp said.
"There are a number of things we're trying to do to create efficiencies," he said
Madison's highest paid city government employee last year wasn't the mayor. It wasn't the police chief. It wasn't even the head of Metro Transit. It was bus driver John E. Nelson. Nelson earned $159,258 in 2009, including $109,892 in overtime and other pay. He and his colleague, driver Greg Tatman, who earned $125,598, were among the city's top 20 earners for 2009, city records show.
They're among the seven bus drivers who made more than $100,000 last year thanks to a union contract that lets the most senior drivers who have the highest base salaries get first crack at overtime.
And there was a lot of overtime - $1.94 million last year, $467,200 more than the bus system budgeted for and the most ever for the system - as employees exhausted sick leave and took advantage of unpaid leave through the federal Family Medical Leave Act, officials said. "That's the (drivers') contract," said Transit and Parking Commission Chairman Gary Poulson. "(But) I think we want more information to the TPC and a discussion of all the facts."
The high salaries for Metro bus drivers come as Metro's ridership continues to grow and the system ranks high among peers according to a 2009 state audit. Metro, which increased fares last year, carried 13.58 million riders in 2009, the second highest total in 40 years.
Metro general manager Chuck Kamp, who earned $118,690 last year, defended the employees.
"These are very good employees who follow the rules that have been negotiated with the Teamsters," Kamp said, adding that Nelson and Tatman "are senior drivers with excellent safety and customer service records."
But he said Metro is looking at ways to limit overtime, including tighter follow up on workman's compensation claims and exploring how to control the growth of Family Medical Leave Act time off by employees.
Nelson, Tatman and Gene Gowey, business manager for the bus drivers union, Teamster Local 695, could not be reached Friday.
In the past, drivers have defended the pay, saying they earn it by working long hours that can create hardships on families. Also, the job requires navigating an oversized vehicle through city streets and dealing with sometimes uncivil riders and other challenges, they have said.
The bus drivers' contact, which calls for pay up to $26.02 an hour, expired at the end of December and the sides are now in negotiations.
Many make more than the mayor
Over all, Madison paid at least 20 employees more than $125,000 in 2009, according to city records.
After Nelson, the top paid employees in 2009 were City Comptroller Dean Brasser, who earned $151,551, and Police Chief Noble Wray, who made $143,585.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was paid $112,880. He wasn't among the top 20.
Concern about bus drivers being among the city's highest earners isn't new. The issue surfaced after Metro changed from a Downtown hub to a transfer station system in 1998.
In 1997, before the change, no driver made more than $70,000. But two years later, as Metro struggled to fill vacancies, two drivers topped $100,000 and seven more made more than $70,000.
A high base salary and other benefits for drivers were largely set in the 1970s and 1980s, when the city took over the bus company.
Also, the union contract limits part-timers to 15 percent of the number full-time drivers, and part-timers can only drive morning and afternoon school routes. Those rules create opportunities for overtime and other special pay for full-time workers.
The city negotiated more flexibility for using part timers in 2002-03, but a state audit last year recommended Metro seek even more flexibility and noted that some pay premiums, such as those for evening and Sunday shifts, are uncommon in the industry.
Busting overtime budgets
In the past three years, Metro has been below budget for regular salaries, mainly due to vacancies, but exceeded budget for overtime, Metro data shows. In 2009, Metro was $290,000 under budget for salaries, spending $22.8 million, but $467,200 over budget for overtime, spending $1.94 million, the most ever.
Overtime is high for several reasons, Kamp said.
Metro employees are exhausting sick leave time, taking advantage of the federal Family Medical Leave Act and have high rate of absenteeism without pay, Kamp said.
For example, use of the medical leave act by Metro employees jumped 44 percent to 28,340 hours from 2008 to 2009, Kamp said, calling it "the driving factor" for overtime last year.
A city hiring freeze last year blocked Metro from replacing drivers for a time, Kamp said. Cieslewicz later authorized Metro to fill vacancies after learning it was cheaper than paying overtime.
Also, Metro undertook a safety program that took drivers off their jobs and increased overtime, Kamp said. But the training helped cut preventable accidents 17 percent last year, he said.
Metro is working with the Teamsters to control vacancies and absenteeism, including a progressive discipline system for absence without pay, Kamp said.
Already, Metro has cut worker's compensation costs 27 percent to $632,600 between 2007 and 2009, he said.
Despite challenges with overtime, Metro's cost per rider rose just 5 percent to $3.07 between 2006 and the third quarter of 2009, Kamp said.
"There are a number of things we're trying to do to create efficiencies," he said
Saturday, February 20, 2010
MVTA Brings Artculated Bus to Area for Demonstration
MVTA Brings Nova LFS Artic to Area for Demonstration
The bus will operate on the following routes on the specified trips and days. Fares will not be charged on these trips.
Thursday, Friday (Feb. 25-26), Monday (March 1)
Route 480 - Heart of the City P&R to DT St. Paul, 6:36 a.m.
Route 480 - Blackhawk P&R to DT St. Paul, 8:15 a.m.
Route 442 - Burnsville Center (BVC) to Mall Of America (MOA), 3:35 p.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 4:32 p.m.
Route 442 - BVC to MOA, 5:35 p.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 6:32 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27
Route 444 - Savage P&R (SPR) to MOA, 7:25 a.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 8:30 a.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 9:25 a.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 10:30 a.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 11:25 a.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 12:30 p.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 1:25 p.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (March 2-5)
Route 442 - BVC to MOA, 7:04 a.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 8:32 a.m.
Route 442 - BVC to MOA, 9:34 a.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 10:32 a.m.
Route 442 - BVC to MOA, 11:34 a.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 12:32 p.m.
Route 460 - Gateway Ramp to Burnsville Transit Station (BTS), 4:35 p.m.
Route 460 - Gateway Ramp to BTS, 5:55 p.m.
Saturday, March 6
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 3:25 p.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 4:30 p.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 5:25 p.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 6:30 p.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 7:25 p.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 8:30 p.m.
Articulated Bus Facts & Figures
The bus will operate on the following routes on the specified trips and days. Fares will not be charged on these trips.
Thursday, Friday (Feb. 25-26), Monday (March 1)
Route 480 - Heart of the City P&R to DT St. Paul, 6:36 a.m.
Route 480 - Blackhawk P&R to DT St. Paul, 8:15 a.m.
Route 442 - Burnsville Center (BVC) to Mall Of America (MOA), 3:35 p.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 4:32 p.m.
Route 442 - BVC to MOA, 5:35 p.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 6:32 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27
Route 444 - Savage P&R (SPR) to MOA, 7:25 a.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 8:30 a.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 9:25 a.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 10:30 a.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 11:25 a.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 12:30 p.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 1:25 p.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (March 2-5)
Route 442 - BVC to MOA, 7:04 a.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 8:32 a.m.
Route 442 - BVC to MOA, 9:34 a.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 10:32 a.m.
Route 442 - BVC to MOA, 11:34 a.m.
Route 442 - MOA?to BVC, 12:32 p.m.
Route 460 - Gateway Ramp to Burnsville Transit Station (BTS), 4:35 p.m.
Route 460 - Gateway Ramp to BTS, 5:55 p.m.
Saturday, March 6
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 3:25 p.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 4:30 p.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 5:25 p.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 6:30 p.m.
Route 444 - SPR to MOA, 7:25 p.m.
Route 444 - MOA to SPR, 8:30 p.m.
Articulated Bus Facts & Figures
Friday, February 19, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Break
If your wondering where i have been. Well, I am have moving to Coon Rapids. So, I be not blogging for awhile
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