RT's new, improved TMP Meeting Schedule

Sacramento Regional Transit has apparently had a change of heart about its schedule of open houses and forums to discuss the district's Transit Master Plan.

Back on April 12, I posted RT's schedule for Open Houses and Forums:


And commented: Who is going to be available between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday? Look at the calendar: Not one weekend date. Granted, everyone appreciates why RT doesn't want to hear from people about its weekend service, but this calendar is unlikely to attract anyone except the "professional" interests -- mobility associations, groups representing the elderly. No one speaks for the "choice" riders, the people who have other options, the people who are the key if RT wants to increase its ridership.

Well, today I received a notice that RT had modified one of its Transit Master Plan site pages. When I checked, I discovered that, lo and behold, RT has revised that schedule.

That's certainly an improvement, even without any weekend meetings. The complete list of meetings is available here.

But apparently the focus of the meetings has also changed.

The Web site for the TMP used to say (Thank you, Google cache):

To help us update the Transit Master Plan, we are engaging our communities to gain their input through a wide ranging outreach program. Activities will include interactive workshops throughout RT's district, community meetings and events and a plan to reach out to the media. ...

Now it says:

Everyone is invited to get involved! Your ideas and comments will help shape the future of transit in the Sacramento region. Please join us at an open house to learn about the TMP and provide your input.

And when you check out that meeting schedule you discover a new, more limited purpose of the meetings:

We’ve developed three scenarios that will help RT test a mix of land use and transit options. These are available at our public open houses and on our TMP web site for review and comment. We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at one of the following open houses or public presentations ...

The wife says it would be unfair to say, Now more people will have an opportunity thanks to the schedule change to have less input into the formation of RT's Transit Master Plan.

Instead, the wife suggests that you can still take RT's survey here. Remember, she says, the answer to Q2 is "Cup holders on the bus."