We’ve written before about Tom Bazan’s regular attempts to pry ridership data, fare revenue, and other assorted items of interest out of METRO, and how METRO routinely ignores his requests. When Tom gets really insistent (translation: he gets the TXOAG involved), METRO reluctantly complies, but even then it’s often only a partial fulfillment.
A recent example of METRO’s delaying tactics was when the transit agency finally handed over March’s ridership details — in the middle of May. The reason for the stalling was apparent: March’s numbers showed a decline in ridership.
Anyway, Tom has decided to help out the poor dears who compile the information. He’s now making daily TxPIA requests for ridership and fare data, thinking this might make it easier to get him the numbers. Presumably METRO tallies its numbers daily, so forwarding that shouldn’t be too hard, right?
So, how’s it going? Well, I did see an email last week from METRO paralegal Jacqueline Maldonado regarding the June 8th TxPIA request. METRO will notify Tom by June 23rd if/how it will be complying.
Now seems like a good time to recall the immortal words of METRO CEO Frank “Procurement Disaster” Wilson:
We operate the METRO organization in a completely transparent manner.
Can you imagine how much worse it would be if METRO weren’t completely transparent???
