NAIPTA aka Mountain Line Bus

Flagstaff AZ

Description

NAIPTA, which stands for NOW ALL INCOME PLUNDERED TAXED AWAY, again seeks new revenues (taxes) from stakeholders (taxpayers, you) in its continuing efforts to once again expand this overblown agency. Despite having to cut back routes and buses in recent weeks, and a decline of ridership of more than 40 percent over each of the last 2 years, NAIPTA is looking for money for a brand new downtown connection center which is already over budget before ground is even broken. They also want money for a new fleet of electric buses and charging stations and long-term rapid transit plans (road construction to suit buses and bus routes). Operations have already blown through $6 million in CARES act funding (money taken from you by the feds and given back to the bus agency). We need a bus system that serves the city not the other way around. Last month, the management team voted themselves a $3 per hour pay increase for managers despite increasing turnover of drivers with those who remain facing mandatory overtime and canceled leaves. This approved by the board including elected city councilors unanimously almost without question. Green clean transportation? Right. NAIPTA doesn't even have an idling policy in place. How much emissions do 20 something buses idling almost 15 minutes every hour for 16 hours produce? How many tons of greenhouse gases? How many gallons of diesel fuel and at how much cost? Does Flagstaff really need 20 something buses running around empty all day and night?