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Letter of Pain to CATS

To CATS,

I'd like to tell you a few things. I get up very early like many other people to ride this transit system. Today, not being the first day, on route 27 I was passed. I'm sure the bus was full but I wasn't even acknowledged and I was looking right at the bus. Luckily I was waiting for a while because the buses are so inconsistent. 

Also the bus the goes outbound for the 27 has been moved to detour. For a few times last month I was passed and had to walk home. I was even passed at night time and had to walk home at 11 pm. As it were, I didn't have time on a Sunday to wait 45 minutes to an hour. Luckily that is my short trip from the Metropolitan to Briar creek, I can't imagine how much more frustrated people who live at the end feel. Oh and I even took the 15 once to get off near Laurel and but through Elizabeth but ended up getting lost because the 27 bus passed me. I was so irate that day. 

I feel my route is the most inconsistent route, I get out there early when I'm being responsible and the bus may have come already because it was ahead of time or it will come 15 mins or later sometimes.

As for drivers, my drivers have been better overall but I've pulled the chord and they've passed my stop due to talking with a passenger or possibly being tired. Passengers really shouldn't be allowed to carry on conversations with the driver. I've even seen non working employees chat with the driver. It's just distracting for the driver. 

Monday the driver for the 56 off of the Arrowood stop started to pull off when the riders were getting off the train. We had to flag them down to not take off.

I'm sure there's a shortage of drivers and I certainly know my limitations as a driving individual but train our drivers a little bit more or differently. My driver one night asked another driver if the 7th street detour was still going on but didn't call dispatch and wasted time driving towards it then had to take a detour to the detour. I've waited for drivers to come while there was a bus sitting in the bay to take off past the take off time. I've even sat long excruciating periods of time waiting for the 27 to pull into the bay with no bus for 10 - 15 mins shouldn't a bus be sent to replace it so it leaves on time.

I've had to ride around the Epicenter to get to the other side instead of letting the passengers off before changing route names and it was time costly. It does seem more drivers are changing that now. We got off without turning into the center or driving around today. 

Well something I do enjoy is the light rail line. It brings me joy to see expansion. The drivers seem to be pretty on top of things.

Well, I figured I'd write you first and not be a social media whore. 

Thank you for reading this,

Joshua Harke

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