Neighbor wrote on May 15, 2008 10:34 PM:After 10 years of hell with Karen King at the top of NCTD, it is great news that she is out of here. My condolences to Bakersfield, they have no idea how much trouble they have signed up for.

Lets see... wrote on May 15, 2008 11:09 PM:NCTD for Bakersfield? Not "coerced"? I have a sprinter to sell you if you believe that propaganda!

Brad wrote on May 15, 2008 11:49 PM:Wow... thats quit a move up. NCTD to bakerfield. I am sure it was not forced. Just a natural step for any normal person.

BusDriver wrote on May 16, 2008 12:59 AM:Let us all take a step back, enjoy a deep breath...and pray for the people of Bakersfield.

Bakersfield commuters and bus drivers...begin looking for new employment.

ASAP!!!

Carter wrote on May 16, 2008 5:52 AM: In a spiraling upward economy, which we have always had, sometimes the upward movement happens too fast for the bean counters to keep up with it. In this case the 'takers from the rich to give to the poor' must withdraw from the benefits given to the poor. This is not the last time the givers will have to withdraw from the benefits given to the poor. How else are they going to subsidize the Sprinter? The money to operate the train will have to come from somewhere. The train must keep running at all cost to the poor. It can't be allowed to sit idle until all those involved have had a chance to get out of the county. Once having landed a good job elsewhere they can always say, It was running well while I was there.

Yokozuna wrote on May 16, 2008 6:17 AM:Good luck Bakersfield. It sounds like the change was already in the works.

Why raise wrote on May 16, 2008 6:25 AM:the bus fare? The riders weren't the ones who came up with the Sprinter. Why not sue the persons in the NCTD who came up with this lame idea and levy their bank accounts. Raise the fare and I will go back to driving and fighting with the traffic might as well pay the price of gasoline.

local osider wrote on May 16, 2008 6:34 AM:its funny how many people complain about the sprinter when it is packed everyday...some mornings I can barely get a seat..at 4 bucks a gallon...NCTD had the ability to see how needed the sprinter was...all they get is flack for it...this is not about rich or poor this is about the future of public transportation and easing gridlock, this is about college kids getting to school and people taking the train and then biking to work. These are important concepts for the future of North County, something not everone has the ability to understand I guess????

John wrote on May 16, 2008 6:44 AM:AMEN! This so-called "director" should have been AXED a long time ago! She has ZERO sensitivity to the needs to the ACTUAL RIDERS OF THE BUSES! Perhaps an insurrection (e.g. a "Bus Riders Union") is needed down here! As more and more people stop driving, and get on public transit, they will see how truly insane NCTD transit is! Made even worse by an executive director, and a board that DO NOT EVEN RIDE the bus routes that they decide will run, not run, or when, or where!

Ralph wrote on May 16, 2008 7:09 AM:Look out Bakersfield, here she comes. Karen King, the queen of service cuts is coming to bus route near you. While the Board goes through the motions and social niceties of bidding Ms. King a fond farewell and searching for her successor, it is the rest of us who will have to endure her legacy for years to come. Ever since the implementation of “Fast Forward” [an oxymoron right up there with military intelligence] nearly a decade ago, NCTD has debased the service to the public under King’s rule. Route numbers were changed, routes were reconfigured, and then new routes were created for a time to replace the service which had worked for years and been eliminated while under the watchful eye of Stefan Marks. Under King’s masterful administration we now have a half billion dollar train which precipitated the demise of reliable bus service along the 78 corridor and now they’re planning to eliminate much of the service that brings the captive passenger load to it. The elimination of the 386 was a topic of interest, briefly, at the Board meeting on 15 May. The delegate from SANDAG declared Ramona to be a “rural area” and therefore undeserving of public transportation. Have you ever wondered why Ramona doesn’t have a representative on the Board? Do you really think that Bakersfield will enjoy its new train one day?

Jane wrote on May 16, 2008 7:21 AM:thats what you get when promote a bus driver to be your executive director. Axe the Planning Chair Jerome Stocks while your at it.

Im Impressed wrote on May 16, 2008 7:29 AM:Bakersfield! What a jewel in her cap of advancement! As long as the Board continues to have Sprinter Line problems like FEMA investigations and malfunctions they can really lay it on you now that you are gone! Great scapegoating maneuver for the Board! Doesn't do a thing for your resume Ms. King! Good riddance! You can blame it on the heat out there! Now who will answer the phone?

Joke wrote on May 16, 2008 7:32 AM:The only thing running through Bakersfield are jack rabbits,freight trains and heat waves! What a step up!

Email Bakersfield wrote on May 16, 2008 7:35 AM:Be sure and forward your blogs to the Transit District in Bakersfield! Maybe just call them and tell them to read these!

bike rider wrote on May 16, 2008 8:13 AM:if the NCTD was really interested in mass transit, they wouldn't have axed their plans for a bike path along the Sprinter. Or was that just a ruse to get the Sprinter ok'd?

Ralphs wrote on May 16, 2008 10:23 AM:It amazes me that a public official like Ms. King can leave one job in absolute chaos and just move on to another cushy job somewhere else. No accountability at all. We the citizens need to look at how these "fine employees" get jobs that pay hundreds of thousands of dollars with out so much as a slap on the wrist for fouling things up. I feel sorry for Bakersfield and I have no doubt that in a few years they will be in the same shape as NCTD. It will be interesting to see if the others that were fired follow Ms. King to yet another source of income from tax payers. Am I bitter, you damned right! Hundreds of millions of our tax dollars were flushed down the toilet and those who are to blame just run away. You've got to love our system.

John E wrote on May 16, 2008 10:28 AM:"bike rider," don't forget that NCTD also proposed a rail trail paralleling the Coaster. Construction of most links of that has been delayed and obstructed by PUC requirements for fencing. Blame our litigious society and all the suicides along the rail line.

I am neutral regarding Karen King's departure -- I want to see who replaces her and what he/she can realistically accomplish, given the severe funding restrictions. If the Sprinter is already overwhelmingly popular, why not boost its fares by $0.50 or $1.00 above those of the slower and less glamorous Breeze bus service? I think it would be eminently reasonable to price the Sprinter between the bus and the Coaster.

I use public transit (bus and Coaster) by choice, but I am concerned about those who have to depend on it for medical or economic reasons.

Umm.. wrote on May 16, 2008 10:33 AM:Consider this:

It takes 2 hours to go anywhere in Oceanside, one way, if there's more than 1 bus involved.

The Sprinter takes an hour to make a trip that by car, takes an hour on the absolute very worse day and that hour means all the way to your destination. With the Sprinter you have to wait for another bus.

Public transportation in North San Diego county sucks.

Can I be District Leader wrote on May 16, 2008 11:13 AM:I am always late to work and find it impossible to keep a daily schedule. I am always just one step away from bankruptcy, I am what you are looking for!

George wrote on May 16, 2008 11:52 AM:If you poke around the website for the Bakersfield Californian newspaper, you'll find a letter-to-the-editor from a Sierra Club member that says "Bakersfield cannot wait for dense development before we increase bus service and plan for future light rail. It will take generations until we become as dense as experts say we must be in order to support mass transit." Ignoring the contradictory logic in those two statements, it looks like Karen King has found another agency that can use her proven "expertise" to implement another light-rail system and "enhance" the service of transit buses. Personally, I'm laying in a supply of popcorn, just like I would for any long-running disaster movie.

Cindi wrote on May 16, 2008 1:14 PM:I wish Miss King well, whatever her future endeavors might be. How can we blame her, when it is the board of directors that are supposed to be responsible for the transit system. They are supposed to be responsible to the citizens. What were they doing when all of these plans and mis-steps occured?

And what about the Attorney General's office pushing "Smart Growth," which is still an issue. Smart growth failed in the sixties, and it is failing now in many areas. We don't need people living four stories high, next to the rail-road tracks, in earthqake country. This has proved over and over to be a misuse of land and funding in many areas across the United States.

It would be nice to know who owns the land adjacent to NCTD's land along the tracks. It would be more interesting to know if it is truly legal for NCTD to be buying land for "Smart Growth" projects with our public transportation money.

Nate wrote on May 16, 2008 1:56 PM:Lictherman would make a good replacement. He has been around there for at least a quarter century. He is somewhat isolated emotionally from the peons there, but I think his managerial skills are there.

Neighbor wrote on May 16, 2008 2:31 PM:With Karen King leaving, NCTD is saving $88/hour which works out to $176,000/year. I can't imagine that Bakersfield is paying more.

ribeyek wrote on May 16, 2008 2:43 PM:Does this mean the end of the scorched earth policy along the tracks through Leucadia? Or, is it the board of directors that makes sure we get a lung full of grimy, asthma inducing dust every 20 minutes or so?

Are You Kidding Me wrote on May 16, 2008 3:19 PM:When the going gets tough the pack leader decides to skip town faster than a speeding bullet. It's rather unique that the standards of accountability are different for those in management compared to the bus drivers you see on a daily basis. When a public official such as Karen King suddenly resigns,doesn't it make you wonder what else is really going on behind closed doors. Karen King should be held accountable for departing NCTD and leaving it in worst shape now than when she got the position. When Bus Drivers are in the wrong for their actions discipline comes quite swiftly. Depending upon what wrong action the bus driver may have been involved in, their superiors hold them accountable. We many want to warn Bakersfield to break out the Peptol Bismol they're going to need quite a lot of that as soon as Karen King arrives. It's also quite a shame when bus riders get the brunt of it as fares increase or routes get discontinued forcing many of us to join car pools to reach our destinations. Many of us take public transit as we have no other means of transportation,but, as NCTD continues to make changes that don't help ridership pretty soon no one will want to ride the bus any more. Had someone actually been smart they would have included bike paths for cyclists to use going East and West alongside the train tracks. Even with the Sprinter in current use you still need to catch the bus at some point along the way. Hopefully the future Executive Director for NCTD will have a lot more common sense and actually know what they're doing.

Ralphs wrote on May 16, 2008 3:42 PM:If Ms. King is such a good leader as described by Ms. Nygaard of Carlsbad and Mr. Wood of Oceanside, why didn't she see the handsriting on the wall. Any manager at her level should have been sharp enough to pick this shortfall up two years ago. We the taxpayers will just pay her a nice severance check and wish her well. Wow, what a system.

Beverly wrote on May 16, 2008 4:22 PM:I wonder if she's being paid to leave

Tom wrote on May 16, 2008 4:37 PM:Severance pay...I sure hope we don't have to pay her to leave

Beverly wrote on May 16, 2008 5:29 PM:To Cindi:
NCTD's owns the land adjacent to the tracks. It was done in San Diego so NCTD thought they'd follow suit. "Smart Growth" projects are being paid for with our public transportation money and it's a good idea if the people doing it know what they're doing.

bat wrote on May 16, 2008 8:03 PM:As far as the budget, what are these people smoking? Revenues up? I don't think so, not with all the cuts. What about all these employees they are laying off. This budget doesn't show any of this. How dare they think the public is so stupid. Everyone of these politicians need to go. They are so pompous and arrogant. Why aren't they asking these questions? Who's leg is the staff at NCTD pulling?

LAWSON............ wrote on May 16, 2008 8:08 PM:Eisenhower was not a great general, but surrounded himself with great generals. Likewise, Karen King was surrounded by very talented people at NCTD. Case in point: the district will feel a severe loss by losing Pete Aadland. He will be missed more than any other of the departees. The Sprinter and the Coaster were not the brainchild of Karen King. They were voted on by "YOU" the voters and only carried out by the powers that be at NCTD. If you do not like the Sprinter or the Coaster, which are both packed, blame the voters.

Vista citizen wrote on May 16, 2008 8:17 PM:There has been Caltrans money allocated specifically for bike paths to the different cities, yet nothing gets done.
The Sprinter tracks have double fencing on one side suitable for a bike path, yet it remains off-limits. Why is our bike path money being diverted to cover Sprinter cost overruns? Can't we vote to repeal the city councilmens 500 dollar a month car allowance? Give them free bus passes instead and get the damn bike path built.

Walt wrote on May 17, 2008 1:27 PM:Leadership shuffles at one or one hundred mass transit agencies for San Diego, or the nation, will not correct mass transit's disconnect with urban transportation needs. Agency managers are just trying to carry out the flawed concept that ineffective big box buses and trolleys to "get people out of cars" have priority over needs of non-drivers. Kudos to North County travelers for pointing out in real, and personal, terms the utter failure of that mistaken policy which has been the principal reason for out of contol congestion on roads as well. Perhaps Sprinter has a mission after all! Point out in real world numerical terms the region and the nation needs to reorganize transportation priorities.Both drivers and non-drivers want and need personal treatment.

Randy wrote on May 22, 2008 3:57 AM:Fact: Karen King got to NCTD after the Sprinter project was approved. It was conceived by Dick Fifer some 15 years ago, and approved by the Board of Directors, (not the voters) when the Santa Fe right-of-way was purchased for the Coaster.

The planning staff cooked up numbers that were beyond belief at the time. I was there. I fought to maintain local bus service for the elderly, handicapped, student and non-driving population, but the "choice rider" who can drive to a train station is more desirable than the "great unwashed" that used the local routes.

After 28 years, I was fired. So much for trying to do the right thing.

Fortunately, there IS life after NCTD, as the soon-to-be laid off will discover.

tax payer to jane wrote on May 22, 2008 12:21 PM:yes king was a bus driver. yes she was not a good politician. however i would rather have a bus driver running nctd because they know how transit realy worcks. i am glad that king is gone though. some poeple forget there past and king was one of them. find another bus or train operator with a worck ethic and install them as ceo.