[bscb-l] ride stories

[Rick Morin]

The Ride vendors are essentially compensated on a cost plus basis.
When the vendors set their prices to the MBTA, they considered all their
operating costs and added profit to that. The vendors do not share in the
losses incurred by the MBTA nor do they receive fare revenue. They are paid
for their costs plus profit on a unit cost basis. One of the goals the MBTA
has set for the new contracting cycle is to create more competitive than in
the past through more bidders.


Regards,
 
Rick Morin
rick.morin at comcast.net
781-373-1044

-----Original Message-----
From: bscb-l-bounces at acb.org [mailto:bscb-l-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
Frank Ventura
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012 8:47 AM
To: a.strazzullo at yahoo.com; Bay state(Massachusetts) discussion list
Subject: Re: [bscb-l] ride stories

Interestingly enough I was having a similar conversation with an employee of
one of the ride vendors. Right now the vendors are not getting any extra
profits from the increased fares. Those are going to the MBTA to close the
budget gap. But remember those vendor contracts will eventually have to be
renegotiated and rest assured the vendors are going to ask for their cut of
that increased revenue. So much for that 100 percent increase in fares going
anything long term to close the budget gap.
Frank


-----Original Message-----
From: bscb-l-bounces at acb.org [mailto:bscb-l-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
Annmarie Strazzullo
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 7:04 PM
To: bscb-L at acb.org
Subject: [bscb-l] ride stories

Hi all.  

Since the news about the fare hikes and the doubling of ride fares, I have
had one exasperating incident with the ride.  It didn't take long.  

I was going to Cambridge from Boston (anyone who uses the ride will know
which vendor this is) and I used the automated system to find out
approximately when my ride would be picking me up.  Hahah, no ride listed,
just the one going home.  When I called, I was told that they changed my
driver and that's why it was not there and my driver would be there in ten
minutes.  Hahah to that.  I waited over 15 minutes and I had to call again,
and this time, different dispatcher, I was told that there was no driver for
me and that they couldn't find one yet.  I had less than 15 minutes to get
from Boston to Cambridge by now.  I was told there was a waiting list for
people to get drivers.  At the end of this conversation, it was less than
ten minutes to get to Cambridge.  Well, I did call and I did get a driver to
come get me in less than ten minutes.  I only got picked up 44 minutes later
than my scheduled ride and arrived in Cambridge at my destination a half
hour later than my reques
 ted appointment time.   It's not the first time this vendor has told me
that they couldn't find a driver for me and I would have to wait a long
time.  It's also not my assigned vendor but I was going out of my territory.


A formal complaint was made and one of the higher echelon of this particular
vendor called apologizing profusely.  I commented on this being very bad
timing considering the announcement of doubling fare rides.  

Congratulations to the person at Transportation Access who really helped me.
She was really angry that this whole incident even happen and she jumped
right in to settle the issue.  I did send an email complimenting her about
how she handled this matter.  

Nothing like bad timing for something like this, considering they want to
double the fare ride by 100%.  Hmmm!!!  

Annmarie
***
Music is a healing force all living spirits sing.--Joanna Shenandoah



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