A colossal accounting failure aboard the SunBus

Accounting for transportation taxpayer dollars is a serious matter. Regular audits protect public finances from potential misuse. The Transit Coalition was discouraged to hear that the SunLine Transit Agency failed to complete its annual audit even though the transit agency was granted a quarter-long extension. It is without question that regular audits of public transportation dollars is essential to minimize wasteful spending. SunLine's budget has remained strong for the last several years; any spending abuse must be uncovered and stopped to keep the transit agency fiscally healthy.

SunLine's Board of Directors placed its General Manager C. Mikel Oglesby on paid administrative leave while the Riverside County Transportation Commission was forced to withhold $812,000 in state funding. Ogleby claimed last week that the audit failure was linked to personnel issues. It's true that SunLine's finance director Brenda Walker was recently fired, but HR issues are no excuse. The three month extension was more than enough time to address the issues. Now transit riders in the Coachella Valley are losing out in delayed state funding while Oglesby faces big trouble. SunLine's operating budget has remained fiscally healthy over the course of the past decade; let's keep it that way.

Going over RTA's 2014-2016 Short Range Transit Plan

This week, the Transit Coalition will go over the Riverside Transit Agency's 2014-2016 Short Range Transit Plan and FY 2013-2014 budget and will report it here. TTC has published a copy of the proposed 200+ page 2014-2016 RTA SRTP/budget here.

Here are some of the proposed highlights:

Late night bus service on high-demand routes, reinstating service on major holidays, RTA's Travel Training impact on paratransit service, closing transit gaps between regions, and updates on RTA's comprehensive operational analysis study.

Stay tuned to this Blog this week for detailed commentary. Do you have an opinion for RTA's SRTP? Let RTA know during its public hearing period and post your views in the comments below.

Public Hearing Period:

RTA proposed to its Board to open a public hearing period during the agency's Board meeting on May 23 at 3 p.m. at the Riverside County Administration Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers, 4080 Lemon Street, First Floor, in Riverside. RTA will close the comment period at the June 27 RTA Board meeting. RTA will accept comments at the meetings, by phone at (951) 565-5002, emailed to comments@riversidetransit.com, or sent via standard mail to 1825 Third Street, Riverside, CA 92507. RTA has requested that the public address comments to the Director of Planning.

The SRTP will be one of three public hearing items. RTA will also gather public comments for proposed changes to its Dial-a-Ride no-show policy and the agency's Title VI Policies and Plans. Once again, stay tuned to this Blog for detailed commentary.