New Sacramento Regional Transit manager Mike Wiley scored a success last week, overseeing a lightning contract agreement with bus drivers.
The two sides agreed on an 18-month deal – with a 3 percent pay increase – as a short-term, hold-steady contract until the agency's worrisome financial picture clears.
We talked with Wiley about what it's like to take the driver's seat after working 30 years in the RT trenches.
Q: So, how long have you wanted to be general manager?
A: Ha! Let me see. When did I start at RT? It's always been a goal of mine, recognizing it would take a lot of experience.
Q: State and local funding is way down. What do you bring personally to help RT pull through?
A: I have a thorough knowledge of where the money is going, how to make the most of what we have, to help navigate us through this – I wouldn't call it a minefield – this economic downturn.
Q: RT recently cut bus service. Would you do it again?
A: The absolute last resort would be to trim services any more. There will be more money in the future to add services; we need to stretch those dollars.
Q: RT is criticized for focusing a lot of money on light rail.
A: Yeah, rail is a high-ticket item (to build, but) rail in the long run is less expensive than bus … as long as you focus on corridors where demand is going to be high. It doesn't make sense to build light rail all over the place.
Q: Your planned airport light-rail line is controversial. Why build a train with lots of stops through residential neighborhoods?
A: It's not about light rail to the airport. That's a fraction of the rides. It's about serving the downtown railyard. It's about Richards Boulevard and how that will grow. It's about serving South and North Natomas residents.
Q: People worry about safety on light rail. You just put live cameras in stations. How seriously are you addressing this issue?
A: Clearly, that has to be a focus for us. You media folks certainly are focused on it. The actual crime and fare-evasion numbers are quite low, but there is a huge perception we are not safe. A lot of that has to do with nuisance behavior. Four more fare inspectors are starting training, and we are going out to bid on a private security contract.
Q: What wild dreams do you hold for RT?
A: My wild thought is I want to make sure transit is a core service that everybody can depend on, whether they choose to or not. I know that's not sexy, like running a monorail.
Q: What, no monorail?
A: I don't care about the mode. I just want everybody to be able to use the system. To me, we need a backbone of frequent service within reasonable walking distance.
Q: What's this "magical" 10-minute frequency goal?
A: Riders won't need a schedule. You just walk out and use it.
Q: But you're far from that now?
A: Not even close. (We have) one-hour bus service on Arden Way. That's ridiculous. With gas prices, people are looking for change.
Q: You're still talking about a sales tax measure in 2010 or 2012 for more transit funds?
A: (First) we need to develop a clear vision of where we want to take this system, then return to the voters, the sooner the better, for the resources to implement that vision.
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