Trolleys carry more people, last longer than buses Re: “Bus snobs try to torpedo cheaper bus rapid transit,” June 6
Ms. Hollingsworth’s column insults her readers with its many factual errors and is not of the high quality normally associated with The Examiner.
For starters, the bus rapid transit vehicle pictured is a regular Metrobus. Modern trolleys run on electricity, which comes from many sources, including coal.
Trolleys also have plush seating, doors on both sides and traffic signal overrides, features that are often used to promote BRT as “just like light rail, but on rubber tires.” But one multisection trolley can carry hundreds of people efficiently with one operator, replacing two to four buses.
Hollingsworth claims that the only objections to BRT in Montgomery County are from “bus snobs.”Are there facts to back up that statement, or is she a “rail snob”?
Ride the Circulator to Union Station or the S9 semi-BRT line on 16th Street.Then ride Baltimore’s light rail line.Which ride is better?Bus lanes need frequent repaving, and the buses only last seven to 10 years, while a trolley lasts 30 to 40 years. Explain the cost benefits.
Robert Morrisson
Wheaton
Technology, ‘wellness czars’ will save money
Re: “Headache over high taxes? Don’t call the ‘wellness czar,’ ” Local Editorial, May 28
To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, there goes The Examiner again, playing fast and loose with the facts. According to the 2010 Census, Montgomery County is ninth among large suburban counties in average household income, but 15th in cost-of-living, behind Arlington and Fairfax. Far from being “more expensive to live in than either high-priced New York City or San Francisco,” Montgomery is 31 percent less expensive to live in on average than New York City and 16 percent less expensive than San Francisco. And our unemployment is just about the lowest in the nation.
County employees have gone three years without cost-of-living increases, two years without increments and were furloughed up to eight days in 2011. Last year’s changes to health and retirement benefits will have them assume more of the cost, saving taxpayers $15 million a year. Given what they have sacrificed, the $2,000 lump-sum payment (not a bonus) is appropriate — and less than other jurisdictions have done, including Fairfax County.
In the budget just approved by the County Council, property taxes are $26 million below the charter limit. That means next to no average property tax increase for homeowners. The ambulance reimbursement program won’t cost residents a single dime. The average household tax burden is $114 less this year when adjusted for inflation, and $530 less than in 2009.
For the past five years, there has been zero increase in county government tax-supported spending. The 5.6 percent increase for the coming year mainly adds a little money back in for police officers, library hours, retirees’ health benefits and help for the most vulnerable — all areas significantly reduced over the past five years.
The new innovation and wellness positions recommended and approved by the County Council are designed to save money in the future by effectively leveraging technology to support entrepreneurship and promote healthier lifestyles.
The Examiner is skeptical. But if the county turns out to be right, chances are nil that it will show up on its editorial page.
Patrick Lacefield
Director of public information,
Montgomery County
