The Virginian-Pilot
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In a sweeping push for transparency, Hampton Roads Transit today will post on its website nearly 700 documents containing more than 50,000 pages of financial reports, budgets, audits, salaries, federal reviews, operational analyses and light-rail cost breakdowns.
"I think it's the most important thing I'll do while I'm at Hampton Roads Transit," said President and CEO Philip Shucet, who leaves the agency after next month.
Shucet was hired in February 2010 to finish light rail, which was over budget and behind schedule, and restore credibility to the transit agency.
"If those documents regarding The Tide had been readily available, while the project may not have been less expensive, the cost would not have been mysterious, the cost increases may not have been mysterious and the things taken out of the project to make it seemingly cost less would have been publicly known," he said.
Shucet added that creating the public records site "is important to do regardless of the past history.... It's the right thing to do."
The Web page will help the transit agency reduce the time spent responding to public requests for documents because much more of that information will be posted online. The site will be linked on HRT's home page at www.gohrt.com.
Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said HRT's efforts are "very encouraging," adding that she isn't aware of any other Virginia public agencies posting records to the same extent.
"When I go to transparency-related conferences, this is what they're talking about," Rhyne said. "Today's model is shifting towards a proactive disclosure of records."
"Overall, putting records out there is a better strategy with the public - they can look at it at their own convenience as opposed to only during office hours or waiting five days for a response to the FOI (Freedom of Information) act."
Shucet said his staff is working on creating a formal policy that will address maintenance of the information and continuous posting of new material.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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TCC Student chiming in
I live in Va Beach, and could easily walk across the street to the Beach campus. Since my only choice for the class I want this Spring will be at the ODU Tri-Cities building in Suffolk, well guess what? I'm commuting from the Beach to Suffolk twice a week. Drive? Nah. Bus, Train, and Ferry each way (great way to avoid the Tunnel traffic). **I would do this commute even if I was paying for an All Day Pass each day**
I don't get it. HRT does something positive (I was among the first to learn about "the last straw" for Townes and light rail, and I wanted him out too), and the usuals post the usual negatives? Why am I not surprised.
In response to one of the
In response to one of the comments stating how many of the TCC students or City Employees would ride the light rail if they had to pay.. Well FYI...I am a City Employee my fiance and my daughter who are students at TCC have (since opening day)still ride the Light Rail daily to school and work. So you should really be mindful of the comments you make when you are making broad statements. I will not begin to assume what others do with their time or money simply because I do NOT like the outcomes. But hey that's just me...
Cooked Books?
Show us what you want us to see! Truth is light rail was a costly mistake and they will never admit it. The number of ridership is already being skewed by all the "Free" riders. They should publish the true costs versus gate receipts to show the true intake of money. When light rail is finally paid for it will be time to do another boondoggle project somewhere around 2212!
I've said it before and I'll say it again
Transparency = Accountability.
Could HRT be the new government leader in transparency?
I have an open mind.
Ridership is up?? Only because many riders are riding for free..
Norfolk Employees, ODU faculty and students, TCC students and faculty and others are subsidized by their employers, DOD Employees are to follow soon. Now, what's say if these people had to pay from their own pockets, would they ride light rail..I don't think so.
Now, is anyone going to be subsidized when the tolls are implemented?? NO.
Will traffic through the tunnels decrease - YES.
Because $2. each way through the tunnels equals $4. and gas is $3.20 a gallon and most cars get 18 - 22 MPG and that's cheaper to burn than the $4. daily route fee for folks who live on one side but work on another.
The roads to get around the tunnels will have an increase of traffic as a result, and light rail is no where to be found on these routes.
Downloaded the COA!
My Christmas present from HRT: the 1,080 page Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA). I tried obtaining a copy last year, but they didn't have it on CD. I just downloaded it for free.
For you transit bashers, read the surveys of the ridership in the COA. They paint a stark picture of why the fringe right's anti-transit agenda would backfire.
What they will show,
What they will show, Ridership is a bit higher then expected but so are costs.
They will release only what they want
the public to see.
While the the light rail may not have cost less ... it also wouldn't have been built had the Government (yet again) listened to the taxpayers.
They apparently don't realize that we are broke. We don't have the money to pay for the pet projects.
The Government believes that we work for them, and whatever they want, they will get.
push for transparency?
Will this include both sets of LRT books? Will the public get a look at the actual proposal, as well as the set of fradulent books submitted to lie to the FEDS and scam funding based on inaccurate and "low-ball" proposals?
Will the e-mails between fraim, wright, townes, and willims discussing the lies and fraud be included?
$100 mil overrun and $40,000 a month
Taxpayers take a beating and Shucet gets $40k a mo. to clean up the travesty. While I am thankful that Phil has done a credible job for the situation that he faced, I am disturbed that not once did you hear our governor or any of our congressmen/ senators speak out about a project with corruption on this scale. And they allowed Shucet to game the system for the $40k (more than the Prez is paid).
Heard the gov speak on Macrini's show about a shortage of capital as a reason for supporting the public/private toll on the Midtown. But he has been completely silent on this boondogle. As long as guys like Sessoms and McDonnell allow guys like Townes to be in charge there will always be a shortage of capital. Hoping someone goes to jail.