Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 2:33PM Here is a neat graphic from the US Census Bureau. Looking at 1790, I think I know why they chose Washington, D.C. as our nation's capital. If we base it on today's population, we should move the capital to St. Louis, Kansas City, or Jefferson.
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 3:02PM One of Bozeman's largest and busiest shopping centers is threatening to close its bus stop for the community's local transit bus (Streamline), all because one rider wrote a letter to the editor saying the Bridger Peaks Town Center parking lot was the only viable place for him to leave his car then ride the bus to work. He was upset because he had gotten a warning note on his windshield saying his car would be towed if he continued to park and ride.
So far the public face of Bridger Peaks Town Center has been their facility manager "Sparky" - a spokesperson who has a talent for sparking controversy with the petulant and undiplomatic tone of his public statements. The controversy has been the topic of several Bozeman Chronicle articles and letters to the editor as well as an editorial urging a reasonable solution:
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/article_0b383950-4227-11e1-af37-001871e3ce6c.html
Over the holidays I had a very relevant experience involving Montana State University and the Skyline Bus that provides service to Big Sky. I thought my experience could provide some perspective on the park and ride controversy, so I wrote the following letter to the editor:
Nothing puts a damper on a great day of skiing like getting off the bus and finding a $60 parking ticket on your windshield for “failure to register” at MSU. But I’m writing to thank MSU, to share some useful information and to weigh in on the bus parking debate at Bridger Peaks Town Center.
MSU’s policies are strict but fair considering the number of student, staff and faculty vehicles the campus accommodates. Because school was out for the holidays, I thought I was fine leaving my car in the huge empty parking lot across from the Skyline bus stop. But turns out MSU will ticket you on any weekday except staff holidays.
The MSU police station is conveniently located a short walk from the bus stop, so I took a few deep breaths, calmed down, told myself not to be confrontational (something the manager at Bridger Peaks might have considered), and went in to inquire about why they’d ticked my car in a giant empty parking lot. I spoke with a friendly, reasonable woman who explained the policy, then let me off with just a warning and a very useful piece of information – the MSU police station is always open and you can go in any time and buy a one-day parking pass for just $2.50 – problem solved!
Round trip to Big Sky is 88 miles, so it’s a big cost savings, much more environmentally responsible, and a lot more relaxing to take the bus. Thanks to MSU for providing a bus stop and a very reasonably priced parking solution. I hope Bridger Peaks considers keeping a bus stop to accommodate disabled and elderly shoppers as well as people who just want to save some gas and some money – likely including some of the people who work there.
Ted Lange
Bozeman, Bozeman Chronicle, Bridger Peaks Town Center, Streamline, bus, commuter in transit Friday, June 17, 2011 at 1:26PM Beginning June 21, 2011, Rimrock Trailways will begin serving schedules Greyhound provided between Billings, MT and Missoula, MT. The service will still be there, and it will be improved with a third schedule routed through Helena, MT and an additional schedule between Great Falls, MT and Helena, MT. For more information, visit www.rimrocktrailways.com
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 11:54AM A couple of articles worth sharing…
Intercity Bus Travel on the Rise in the U.S. and Abroad.
Source: The City Fix
“We’ve said this before: the face of intercity bus travel is changing. The popularity of buses, in general, is gaining ground for a number of reasons. In cities from London to Los Angeles, buses are benefiting from sleek new designs, transit agencies’ marketing and rebranding campaigns, the use of social media to increase ridership, and new and improved services on longer bus routes.”
The Intercity Bus: America’s Fastest Growing Intercity Transportation Mode (PDF)
Source: DePaul University
“Intercity bus service in the United States remained robust through 2010 as a result of rising travel demand, escalating fuel prices and investments in new routes. These and other factors propelled motor coach travel to its highest level in years and made the intercity bus the country’s fastest growing mode of transportation for the third year in the row. Curbside operators, including BoltBus, DC2NY Bus, and Megabus, which eschew traditional stations in favor of curbside pickup and provide customers access to Wifi and other previously unavailable amenities enjoyed particular success. Express services linking major cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states grew at a particularly rapid rate.”
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 11:28AM Robert Gallardo assesses population trends for rural counties during this county in today's Daily Yonder, summarizing:
Rural counties gained only 2.9% in population in the 2000s, compared to a national average of 9.1%. But that doesn't tell the whole story.
Gallardo explains that Rural America is becoming more diverse, but most interesting to me is the patterns of where population growth and loss are occurring. The two noted areas of growth are in exurban communities, and in the mountain west, including Washington.
Gallatin County, where Bozeman is the county seat, had the 17th largest population increase among rural counties between 2000 and 2009, and the largest change in Montana. Besides Gallating County, the fastest growing counties during this decade includes quite a few other counties in the Greater Yellowstone, including:
Second fastest growing rural county in the country, Teton County, Idaho, with a 55.6% population change. This mostly is driven by people working in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and commuting over Teton Pass. The local community has been trying to deal with the impacts of the growth, including the implementation of a commuter bus over the pass. Unfortunately, Idaho has no local taxing authority, and the state doesn't put any money towards public transportation, so every penny has to be scrounged together to try to leverage federal programs. Meanwhile, they are building roads and new suburbs, but maintaining and serving them are a bit more difficult to fund.
Sublette County, Wyoming is fifth on the list with a 48.5% population change over nine years.
via Rural America in the 2000s: Population | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural.
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