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Top 9 Cap Metro Derailments

By Lee Nichols, Fri., Jan. 1, 2010

Still waiting for the train
Still waiting for the train
Photo by John Anderson

1) DING, DONG, THE WITCH IS DEAD The seven-year tenure of Fred Gilliam as Capital Metro's president/CEO saw a labor strike, a financial crisis, and a commuter rail system that still hasn't debuted two years after its originally scheduled start date – few tears were shed when he waved goodbye.

2) NO, THIS TIME WE MEAN IT The debut of MetroRail has had so many delays and setbacks that for a while, Cap Metro quit predicting a date. Now it's shooting for the first quarter of 2010.

3) BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A FEW MILLION? The quick spend-down of Cap Metro's reserves unfortunately coincided with a global economic crisis and downturn in tax revenues. Oops.

MetroRail seats remain empty.
MetroRail seats remain empty.
Photo by John Anderson

4) NEW MOTTO: LESS FOR MORE In keeping with No. 3, Cap Metro hiked fares while simultaneously cutting back on some routes to balance the budget.

5) KILLING THE 'DILLO If the new rail ever starts, Cap Metro will need a Downtown circulator more than ever – yet it chose this moment to "suspend" the 'Dillo service.

6) STICKING IT TO LABOR I In a naked move to pay workers less, routes were shifted from the better-paying StarTran labor contractor to the lower-wage Veolia Transportation and First Transit.

7) STICKING IT TO LABOR II Almost as bold: The transit agency fired the union leader, Jay Wyatt, on some murky charges of sexual harassment – still to be reviewed.

8) NONPROFITS NONINTERESTED The agency wants to start a nonprofit to see to the needs of low-income, transit-dependent citizens. Charities reply: "Isn't that your job?"

9) BEAT IT Depending on who you believe, contractor Veolia Transportation has either been a cause of MetroRail's delays or a scapegoat. Cap Metro says firing the France-based company in December will ensure MetroRail gets launched in time; we'll see.

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