Video - Elk Grove Bus Riders Subjected to Service Failures While Council Members Harvest MV Transportation Campaign Donations

Elk Grove bus failures

December 14, 2015 |

As most eTran bus riders in Elk Grove can attest, failures continue but service is improving was the message conveyed last Wednesday night by the General Manager of the city's contract bus transit provider, MV Transportation

Speaking during the public comment section of last week's Elk Grove City Council meeting, Terry Thompson acknowledged on-going problems (see video posted below) and that council members probably heard their "fair share of complaints" from constituents. 

"We've had some hard lessons learned over the last 12 months, but we have put some great steps in place and I feel great about what we have done so far," he said. 

Thompson estimated over the last couple months MV had dropped "a couple hundred trips" but through the first nine days of December only 12 trips have been dropped. 

Though he didn't directly say it, Thompson implied the dropped trips were the result of driver shortages and that MV has "put an aggressive staffing and recruiting plan in place" so the service failure rate should decline. 

"I personally want to thank council for all their support during this difficult transition," Thompson said. "I also want to thank the citizens of Elk Grove for bearing with us during this difficult time because it was a very challenging time."

"Terry thanks for share that with us," Davis said. "I appreciate your hard work serving our riders."

As one of the city's largest dollar volume contractors, MV has also been an active contributors to three of the five current city council members. According to the California Secretary of State, in the last four years MV has contributed $3,500 to Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis, and Council Members Steve Detrick and Pat Hume received $5,000 and $4,500 respectively.

In earlier years MV also made generous contributions to Davis, Detrick and Hume. In 2010 Davis received $2,500 for his city council campaign and $7,400 for his aborted Congressional bid while Detrick and Hume received $9,500 and $5,000 respectively in 2009.

In 2009, MV was unanimously awarded a renewal of its contract by the city council even though city staff recommended accepting a competing bid from Veolia Transportation Services that was $1 million higher, but deemed a better long-term value . 






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3 comments

Ralph Kramden said...

I seem to also recall the mess they left for us after the former transit manager was given a 'one-way bus ticket'.

Anonymous said...

How telling, MV thanks the council before thanking the citizens! You know darn well not a single person on the council uses EG public transit.

Warren Buffett said...

What a boondoggle this whole thing was/is. Seeing all those empty buses driving around all day in a commuter-dominated bedroom suburban community is the epitome of not knowing when to admit you made a mistake, cut your (our) losses, and work out a deal with RT to serve Elk Grove. When our leaders see those green buses, they must see eco-friendly--I see green as wasted dollars flowing out the exhaust pipe.

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