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News
Classifieds and Directories
City subsidy for trolley likely over $1 million City Manager Pat Salerno said the Coral Gables Trolley program, “…was budgeted to go into the hole every year.”
While at its most recent meeting the Coral Gables City Commission ultimately approved the purchase of two used diesel trolleys to replace two “failing” hybrid vehicles in the fleet at a cost of $70,000, it was only after it was disclosed that the program costs significantly more than advertised. Comments
I wish the Trolley ran through my neighborhood, as I would use it to run back and forth downtown. The concept that "residents are not riding" misses the point. Increasing development along Ponce will marginally increase resident ridership, but, more importantly, those "low-wage earners and students" are important to shops, restaurants and offices throughout our downtown. Therefore, they are important to taxpayers.
said Easy Rider at 29-Oct-09 06:37 AM
The parking garages, trash pick up, parks, the youth center, the Venetian Pool ... it is likely that all of these are "subsidized," just as county roads are subsidized. Building & Zoning is subsidized. Police and Fire are subsidized. Trash collection is subsidized. What would you expect? Obviously, how one presents the budget can help make clear what the budget might be "with/without" certain services, but a subsidy per se is not an argument for or against any particular city activity.
said more amused than ever at 29-Oct-09 07:24 AM
Availability and visability of the trolleys is more telling than will ever be appreciated. An alternative and reliable mode of transportation in place makes it very attractive for residents who would rather not hassle the parking and the glutted streets. The thug factor appears to be well controlled. Charge for the service if you have to but don't even think about eliminating the trolleys.
said p2248 at 29-Oct-09 10:53 AM
Welcome to the City Beautiful formerly known as Coral Gables.
Where is the accountability? Nowhere. We have a City Commission that holds no one accountable for anything -- money simply disappears into an accounting blackhole and no one, not the City Manager, not the 2 Assistant City Managers, not the Finance Director, nor anyone else is held accountable, yet, these people are paid eye-popping $100,000 plus salaries and enormous other benefits, such as take home cars, cellular phones, pensions. Will City Manager Salerno fire anyone? Absolutely not. Mr. Salerno is just like our current President, more of the same, same as the last President. Mr. Salerno is just like David Brown, he just hasn't been caught stupping his secretary, so that the City Commission can pay him over $500,000 to walk away and cost this City that I love more money. Who has the fortitude to STOP the insanity? Mr. Damian? Mr. Sanabria? Mr. Burr? Mr. Kerdyk? Mr. Cabrera? I don't expect the Mayor or Commissioners Anderson or Commissioner Withers to do anything but pickpocket and ram more tax increases, fees and fee increases up my a**.
said No recall, politics as usual in Gables at 29-Oct-09 11:42 AM
The Commissioners are "subsidized" to the tune of well over $1 million over the last 6 years but they have done far less for the city than the Trolley has. Dump them before the trolley.
said Dave at 29-Oct-09 01:16 PM
Kerdyk is right - the Trolley is now an important part of the upscale ambiance of Ponce de Leon Blvd. Its full of commuters, so it reduces traffic congestion, and its also very busy with riders at lunchtime! Charge a quarter if you have too, but keep the Trolley!
said jaguar at 30-Oct-09 07:39 AM
Charge 50 cents per ride and extend the route so that more people can be served. The current route is very limited. Granada Blvd., for example, could be well utilized by the service.
said Anonymous at 30-Oct-09 07:47 AM
The idea here is not to break even, moreover to have a system that actually makes money. Charge a dollar and expand the route - how about selling a semi-annual or annual trolley pass?
said One doilar please at 30-Oct-09 09:02 AM
I agree with Dave. Dump the commissioners before dumping the trolley.
said Resident trolley user at 30-Oct-09 09:40 AM
Kerdyk is the problem with the Trolley. Check how the budget has exceeded its totals for the last 3 years. It's all a big secret and still is. Cabrera please ask where is the money for the Trolley advertisement for the last 2 years
said City Hall at 30-Oct-09 11:34 AM
I am Coral Gables resident that rides the trolley every week day to take me to the Metro Rail Station which takes me to downtown Miami for work. The trolley is a great commuter connection mechanism between downtown Gables/North Gables and the Douglas Metro Rail Station. I know and see many other professional people using the trolley as a commuter tool (going both ways to and from Douglas Station). The Trolley has increased the ridership of the metro rail to and from Douglas Station by a hefty 20%. The ridership of the trolley is an amazing 6000people/day. Just think how many gallons of gas per day (and henceforth unnecessary emissions) the trolley is saving us by getting many, many people out of their cars. Not to mention helping to ease the traffic congestion in the area.
Sounds like Maria Anderson and Ralph Cabrera are missing the boat and clueless when it comes to understanding the overall benefit and effectiveness of the trolley. For Cabrera to say “Yeah, it’s pretty trolley; it gets a lot of ridership, mostly low-wage earners and students,” said Cabrera. “But residents are not riding the trolley. I have a problem supporting a venture that continues to cost us money.” shows his lack of understanding in the direction that metropolitan areas are trying to go in getting people out of their cars for their commute. I for one see many medium to high wage earners (many Gables residents) using the Trolley for their commute for work. And further-more, why is it bad to get a so called "low-wage earner" out of their car and into mass transit for their commute? What a self-righteous inane comment. There is a benefit for all the rest of us in getting unnecessary cars off the roadway, even if that car would have been driven by a mother who would have had to drive to pick up her child at Gables High. I suppose Cabrera would rather see more gas guzzling one person per SUV's crammed onto the local roadways at all times. Does Cabrera realize that the trolley is the link with metro rail that makes it attractive to many more businesses and workers to locate and or work in downtown Gables/Merrick Park? This is a great asset to helping keep our downtown business vibrant in a difficult economy. There is one thing that I think that City of Coral Gables should pursue. When Gables opened this trolley route along Ponce De Leon Boulevard Miami Dade Transit shortly thereafter terminated the bus route that ran along the same corridor. Coral Gables should get some sort of reimbursement for picking up the slack and providing the much needed mass transit along this corridor.
said Coral Gables Resident at 30-Oct-09 01:43 PM
Why has the trolley been free all this time? Meantime, city residents are now paying 25 cents for 12 minutes at the meters. And btw, whatever happened to those trolley advertising revenues? Another clueless pie-in-the-sky promise.
said Pay Up at 30-Oct-09 02:56 PM
Was there really a Ponce MD Transit Route that was cancelled? Now that is pretty outrageous.
On the other hand, I have used the Trolley from time to time and would use it more often if it were more broadly available. It's a shame the East-West route gained little ridership.
said wish I could at 30-Oct-09 03:52 PM
The trolley should stay, the City's IT Department should go, as should the Wither's Museum!
City Hall fatcats need a pay cut, no benefits, and reduction in their pensions. If they don't like it, they should go elsewhere. Look what these self-serving crooks have dumped on all of us, deficits, increased taxes, increased fees, new fees, and this is just the start. The trolley should stay free, about time that all the money that this City Commission pilfers from our collective wallets be used for something worthwhile.
said No recall, politics as usual in Gables at 30-Oct-09 04:43 PM
Coral Gables deserves to have a trolley service. Good for reducing parking, less congestion, gets people to jobs, and now the finances are in check. Keep up the good work!
said fourabettercoralgables at 31-Oct-09 08:18 AM
The Trolley is a great asset to the city and should be expanded. Granada Blvd would be an awesome and heavily used route.
All transit systems are subsidized. Anything that gets people out of their cars and walking is a great thing.
said 47 Year Resident at 31-Oct-09 08:42 AM
Charge an annual pass. Human nature dictates that many people will not use the pass fully. Therefore the city recieves:
* Income up front prior to delivery of service * An accurate tabulation of ridership growth or decline * An accual number to present to advertisers and to set rates * Loyal riders, who in being loyal keep it clean and don't abuse it
said Wake up morons at 31-Oct-09 12:04 PM
I wonder if ol' bill will be voting down the lines with cabrera anymore?
said Anonymous at 31-Oct-09 05:39 PM
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