And Now, a (few) Word(s) from Chris Hamilton
An introduction from the editor of Above the Fold to Chris Hamilton, and his Substack, Streets for People
One of the things I believe in is letting people who do something better than I do, do it — and when it comes to mass and micro transit, that person is Chris Hamilton. He is an authority on the subject and publishes the Substack Streets for People, where he covers car-free Key West and its transit system better than anyone.
His latest piece — on the city’s plan to scrap Key West Rides in favor of an hourly “Island Hopper” loop — follows below.
He was much kinder than I would have been.
City Manager Brian Barroso made a command decision to kill Key West Rides — the innovative, multiple-award-winning transit program that was a cross between Uber and a regular bus route. In its place, the city is rolling out a substandard, hourly, contra-rotating fixed route that isn’t going to work for anybody — and will actually decrease service by two hours a day.
Transit in Key West is a mess, and it is not KWTA Director Rogelio Hernandez’s fault. Since taking over the department, Hernandez has made significant strides improving the agency’s service and product.
It is a shame that a city with more than $1 billion in assets and zero liabilities relies on grants — grants that are drying up — rather than funding the paltry sum it would take to operate the Duval Loop, Key West Rides and maybe even a rebirth of Conch Connect, running from Truman Annex to Big Coppitt.
Read Chris’ full piece below.
And please follow, like and subscribe to Streets for People.
— Ted
Thank you for the kind words Ted. We need more people to care about public transit in Key West!