From the
Santa Fe New Mexican.com - Miguel Jose Trujillo of Chimayó has his nickname, "Stoney," tattooed on the side of his neck. Trujillo, who has worked on Harley-Davidsons since the age of 13, is covered in tattoos -- a dragon, a Viking ship, Papa Smurf, Pepe Le Pew, and two saints to honor his deceased parents. And over his heart, "my chuey" (Jesus). Now 63, Trujillo has slowed down and mostly stays home and takes care of his Chihuahua/dachshund-mix puppies. Without a car, he gets to Santa Fe to take care of business and to Española to pay his bills on the blue buses operated by the North Central Regional Transit District. Taking Trujillo from Chimayó to Española costs the district -- which is funded by a gross-receipts tax and federal grants -- an estimated $25 each way. It doesn't cost Trujillo a penny because the district wants to build its passenger base without the burdens of collecting and accounting for fares. To Trujillo, who rode the bus from Chimayó to Española to pay his cable bill one morning in December, the service is invaluable. "Porqué, if I don't have nothing to look at I go on the drunk," he joked. The transit district has faced criticism from some elected officials of its member counties -- Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Taos -- since its inception. High costs per rider, excessive administration and a lack of fiscal oversight are among the gripes.
Read more
Santa Fe Blue buses a vital link for many, but regional transit district faces criticism over costs
From the Santa Fe New Mexican.com - Miguel Jose Trujillo of Chimayó has his nickname, "Stoney," tattooed on the side of his neck. Trujillo, who has worked on Harley-Davidsons since the age of 13, is covered in tattoos -- a dragon, a Viking ship, Papa Smurf, Pepe Le Pew, and two saints to honor his deceased parents. And over his heart, "my chuey" (Jesus). Now 63, Trujillo has slowed down and mostly stays home and takes care of his Chihuahua/dachshund-mix puppies. Without a car, he gets to Santa Fe to take care of business and to Española to pay his bills on the blue buses operated by the North Central Regional Transit District. Taking Trujillo from Chimayó to Española costs the district -- which is funded by a gross-receipts tax and federal grants -- an estimated $25 each way. It doesn't cost Trujillo a penny because the district wants to build its passenger base without the burdens of collecting and accounting for fares. To Trujillo, who rode the bus from Chimayó to Española to pay his cable bill one morning in December, the service is invaluable. "Porqué, if I don't have nothing to look at I go on the drunk," he joked. The transit district has faced criticism from some elected officials of its member counties -- Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Taos -- since its inception. High costs per rider, excessive administration and a lack of fiscal oversight are among the gripes. Read more
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment