TxDOT Funds $100,000 Efficiency and Marketing Study for Brownsville Metro

Selena Barlow, Transit Marketing 
of Tucson, Arizona

A dynamic marketing and research duo, paid $100,000 by the Texas Department of Transportation, to research the efficiency of Brownsville Metro as well as share marketing ideas, were introduced to the Brownsville Metro Advisory Board Wednesday at the board's regular monthly meeting.

Clifford Chambers, Owner of Mobility
Planners, Mountain View, California

Selena Barlow, representing Transit Marketing of Tuczon, Arizona and Clifford Chambers, the owner of Mobility Planners of Mountain View, California, have been riding Brownsville Metro's buses along with a Spanish language translator to get insight into the perceptions of the system's ridership.

"Breakdowns and maintenance issues have been number one so far," stated Barlow, an observation not surprising to those who've followed First Transit's dismal performance with respect to major breakdowns. While First Transit's $1,400,000 maintenance contract just renewed with the City of Brownsville in January calls for 8,000 miles between major breakdowns, the city's buses have been averaging nearly ten times that many, one major breakdown every 825 miles.

The researchers' work includes transit planning, market research and passenger surveys.

Board member Viola Currier suggested the research team interview, not only those who ride, but those who don't.  "Find out what it would take for them to use the system," stated Ms. Currier.

The researchers had one question for board members:  "What is the role of public transit in this community?"

Daniel Lenz, Chairman of the
Brownsville Metro Advisory Board

Brownsville Metro Board Chairman Daniel Lenz did not hesitate:

"Public transit is vital to this community. So many in our community do not have cars and 
cannot afford a taxi. They depend on the system to get them where they need to go.  Public transit also drives the economy as it gets customers to the stores.  That sort of offsets the expense of running the system."

Brownsville Metro Director Norma Zamora promised to invite City Finance Director Lupe Granado to the next board meeting to discuss the contract the city negotiated with First Transit.  James Campbell, hired in April to supervise the mechanical crew will also be invited, according to Zamora.

Andrew Munoz, Brownsville Metro Assistant Director, announced a groundbreaking ceremony to be held Monday at 10 AM for the new downtown parking garage.  The Spawglass Corporation has completed the necessary demolition work for the project according to Munoz.