Update: LANTA board member Ann McHale has been kind enough to email a news release that details both the need for temporary improvements as well as a long-term solution. Here's what LANTA has to say.
Lehigh Valley, PA – At their regular monthly public Board meeting this past Tuesday, November 13, the Board of Directors of the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority was asked by a number of Hamilton Mall merchants and bus riders to make some accommodation for service along the Mall.
Service along Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown was changed on September 4, 2007 with the opening of the Allentown Transportation Center (ATC). Part of the benefits of the ATC is that buses can be routed in a more efficient manner through downtown Allentown with the central focus of transfers being the new center between 6th and 7th Street. One of the outcomes of this change was the reduction of the number of buses traversing Hamilton Street between 9th and 6th Streets. Eliminating the many bus trips from this narrow and congested area was an effort to streamline operations in and out of the central business district.
Mall Merchants and some bus riders stated at the Board meeting that their businesses were negatively affected due to a reduction of bus passenger patronage, and that navigating to the new ATC was causing hardship for some riders.
During the discussion, members of the Board expressed concern that any immediate changes not confuse transit riders, and not negatively impact long-term decisions on the downtown routing patterns and the effectiveness of the Allentown Transportation Center. However, based on a desire to take action, as may be appropriate, to address the concerns raised, LANTA will move forward with the following.
Immediate Action
1) Merchant Marketing Program. LANTA is willing to assist in a marketing / promotional effort of the merchants along Hamilton Street. The Authority is prepared to meet with merchants to discuss such a program.
2) Downtown Circulator / Holiday Season. LANTA will operate a downtown circulator service which will connect the Allentown Transportation Center to Hamilton Street (between 9th & 6th) throughout the holiday season. The circulator would begin service Wednesday, November 21, 2007. It would operate Monday through Saturday (exclusive of holidays) starting at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. The last day of service will be Saturday, December 29, 2007.
The estimated net cost is $14,000. The cash fare for the circulator will be 50 cents. Passengers with day passes and senior citizens will have free access. Transfers will be accepted. The fares are the same as those for other LANTA circulator services – the Whirly Bird and Rover.
Future Action
A more complete review of downtown operations has begun. This includes a review of the experience during the first months of operation to the new Allentown Transportation Center and the potential for improving stops on North – South cross Streets between 9th and 6th at Hamilton. The intent is to include the results of this review in the next operating schedule board set for implementation in early February 2008. A report will be presented at the December 4, 2007 meeting of the Operations/Metro Committee.
An analysis of the information being presented to LANTA customers relative to the ability to board and alight LANTA Metro services in and about the Allentown Central Business District will be completed as well. Better information will assist the transition to the new center city Metro operations. The results of the circulator service will be evaluated as well.
"We are pleased to be able to offer these actions to help the merchants and riders in downtown Allentown," stated Armand Greco, LANTA Executive Director, "It was clear from the passion expressed by those at the meeting this week, that some effort needed to be made and made quickly. We are happy to assist in the short term with these temporary improvements, as we continue to complete a long-term analysis."
I interpret this news release to indicate that this extra service evaporates after the holidays. Not sure how long the marketing campaign was to go on.
ReplyDeleteSo then, in January, are the merchants back to where this all started...no stops by their shops?
I hope I missed something.
In a move of arrogance Lanta announced they will operate a shuttle between their Transportation Center and Hamilton Mall. Hamilton's merchants were adversely affected by the removal of three transfer stations. The bus riders, while waiting for a bus, would patronize the stores, always having the option of conveniently taking the next bus. Will they make a trip from the Transportation Center to the mall and then back to the Center? Although running the shuttle will be an extra expense to Lanta and not help the merchants nearly as much as returning one transfer station, it allows the bureaucrat to appear responsive.
ReplyDeletefrom molovinskyonallentown
WhetherVain & Mike!
ReplyDeleteYou folks posted your comments before I had the news release. What LANTA is doing right now is just a quick fix, something to help the merchants during Christmas. But they are working on a more permanent solution, too, and hope to implement it in February. And that just might involve moving a transfer station.
So let's give LANTA a little credit for giving the merchants a short-term solutioon while they work on a permanent fix. The ones who will tell us whether this is working or a failure will be the merchants themselves.
The real challenge about this temporary service, in my opinion, will be getting the word out to all the riders, and possible riders.
ReplyDeleteThis temp service is a start, and will hopefully provided some breathing room for the merchants.
bernie, i appreciate your trying to be fair to me, but after reading the later lanta release my opinion has not changed. realistically downtown shopping is not a destination, but a convenience. it's not exactly a clientele that responds to surveys. anything less the restoration of at least one transfer station will not increase the foot traffic, and thats the bottom line.
ReplyDeleteMM:
ReplyDeleteMaybe the business owners should consider serving a different clientele?
Please don't tell me that their current customer base is all that exists downtown. There are thousands and thousands of office workers within 2-3 blocks in all directions and thousands of middle class residents spread throughout the neighborhoods to the west beginning right next door in Old Allentown. Many businesses such as the Freeman’s, Soloman’s, Roboto, the Federal Grill, and others have been doing just fine catering to that market for years.
Heck, maybe they should consider helping grow that market by renovating the upper floors of their buildings for loft apartments or condos. This certainly would be a more viable option now than a few months ago with the busses removed. With a little bit of homework and some decent credit, they may find they no longer need to work in the retail business at all if they choose not to.
If anything is certain in the universe it is change. It happens.
damien, the business's you mention are not doing fine, but as building owners remain. i'm sure the older restaurants resent the subsidies given on the 800 block. they still haven't filled the farr lofts in 3 years. those merchants don't need homework or credit repair, only an administration with a better grip on reality.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the business owners should consider serving a different clientele?
ReplyDeleteYeah, and then they can buy ads on your blog, too!
Now you're a business expert, too! Let me clue you in. When it comes to making money, those Hamilton St merchants know more than you, me and MM combined. They don't need your advice. Instead of giving them your uneducated business advice, you ought to be giving them your support. Many of those places have been around between 20 and 30 years.
But in truth, it does not matter to you, Damien. You've already claimed, several times, that you don't want these businesses at all. Remember? You're the cheerleader whose LTE sneered at them. You slammed them in comments at MM's blog. Remember? Now you have some advice for them?
Do you realize how condescending you are?
You're an elitist whose vision of Allentown is askew. Five minutes on your blog gives that away. At a time when these merchants were canceling health insurance, you were writing pieces to promote "dancing in the streets," just a block away. When these folks were laying people off and getting robbed because of the reduced pedestrian traffic, you were puffing some goofy Halloween dinner at ABW and a "progressive" night on the town.
You're a lot of things, but "progressive" is not what comes to my mind.
You want to gentrify Allentown by sweeping the poor out of the way. Remember, it is you who advised us not to feed the homeless or we'll just attract more of them.
You'd rather have a publicly subsidized Dunkin' Donuts than a small business with local dollars.
I have no problem w/ the ABW but I do with people like you, who think it's OK to step on others if it helps you get your way. Now that LANTA and even Pawlowski are trying to help the merchants, your advice is that they should be more upscale. Gee, thanks. So much for diversity.
Don't you have some puff piece to write?
Damn, Bernie, do I have to old you back?
ReplyDeleteBernie:
ReplyDeleteThe moment you advocate your own community, Nazareth, do something for the betterment of the poor or come here and live among them I will consider giving some thought to your critique of me.
Until then then it is meaningless to me.
Your ilk would love to see Allentown and everything in it remain (or become) miserable so you can use it as a political platform and point the finger at others so you can feel good about yourself for doing so. Unfortunately, it works, but not with me.
What makes this even more interesting is these business owners are not even poor. They may be working class like us, but not poor.
Do you assume that because people are minorities they are poor and disadvantaged? I take offense to that. Don't you dare ever assume or imply that my daughter has fewer opportunities and/or the ability to succeed in this world because her skin is a shade or two darker than yours. This is the view I have come to believe you have deep down and it is a very hateful and inaccurate perspective of the world.
Side note: As I have asked you before, DO NOT PARAPHRASE ME. You are now paraphrasing your inaccurate summery of me and it is not only inaccurate but it is unethical.
And another thing . . .
ReplyDeleteHow in the world can you justify judging me as an elitist who sneers at working people and the poor? I just got home from my second job to read your comments before I get up and do the same thing tomorrow so I can pay my mortgage and maintain my home and family here in Allentown. What is your contribution Bernie? I have had one (yes 1) full day off in the past 3 months.
I have invested myself, my time, and my money in this town as have thousands and thousands of other working class folk. If anyone is hurting working people it is YOU by disrespecting our community and leveraging issues within it for personal gain. To date your "activism" has done little more than further tarnish the image of a city and people working hard in real tangible ways to better itself.
Looking for problems to highlight with the hope that someone else will come along and solve them is no solution.
damien, i will leave your major differences with bernie for you two to resolve, or not. however, i would like to comment on one statement you made; "If anyone is hurting working people it is YOU by disrespecting our community and leveraging issues within it for personal gain." you have been almost a consistent advocate for the administration, i have been almost a consistent critic, we are both sincere with different viewpoints. i think it's important that criticism never be dismissed as a vehicle for personal gain, etc.. few governments or plans are so enlightened as not to benefit from scrutiny, that certainly is the case in the Lehigh Valley.
ReplyDeleteThe world according to Mr. Damien Brown, where you can advertize your own business, if you're snooty enough. He doesn't like being paraphrased, so I'll quote him.
ReplyDelete"While it was never officially stated that the intention of the transfer center remove the poor from Hamilton Street it certainly will be a result. It happens to be a result I applaud ... "
PLUS
"The way I see it is the current administration has set a goal of remaking Hamilton Street and they have decided to do what has to be done to make it happen."
PLUS
"Everyone wins [from the Hamilton Street changes] from pretty much any angle on this one Bernie (except maybe a merchant or two on Hamilton selling overpriced junk food)."
PLUS
"It would be a true disappointment to see any of the recent progress compromised due to a few growing pains."
PLUS
"the population of homeless people in and around Logan Circle has increased many fold over the last couple of years. At first one would think this must have been caused by a slump in the economy, a natural disaster, or maybe an epidemic of some sort of mental illness, but no.
The cause of this large permanent congregation of homeless on the parkway is more likely (certainly) due to the suburban church buss that arrives every other day offering sandwiches to these poor souls."
PLUS
"I did not state that free sandwiches cause poverty, I simply implied that they attract poverty and cause people to become trapped in it."
PLUS
A 10/2 post on his own blog to promote a dancing in the streets celevbration when nearby businesses are buth being shut out and are suffering.
PLUS
A 10/10 post on his blog promoting the publicly finded ABW when the small and minority-owned businesses are dying around it.
EQUALS
Elitist.
Thanks to the world Damien Brown is helping create, he will be hurting both his own daughter as well as my grandson, who is half Asian and half black.
Damien, you accuse me of speaking up for Hamilton St merchants to advance my own personal gain? What personal gain is that? I lose time and money when I advocate in Allentown and gain nothing for myself. I think about my grandson and the people I love when I do what I do. I don't want them to ever have to face a lilly white LANTA board or deal with some of the racist remarks I read at the MC forum. That is what motivates me. I don't sell ads to local businesses on my blog. I don't have to curry favor w/ ABW. I have no political agenda in A-town, either. I don't think you can make that claim. You're a cheerleader.
I am simply concerned that Allentown's Hamilton Street merchants are being pushed out of the way by elitists like you. And you admit it. It appears that LANTA and the mayor are finally starting to listen to these merchants. So contrary to what you have stated, the advocacy may be working. If it does, it will be a victory for Allentown and its Hamilton St merchants, not me.
As far as being tough on Nazareth is concerned, you obviously don't read my blog. I believe that local governmment requires close scrutiny and honesty instead of the pom poms you like to wave.
If Damien is selling ad space on his blog, is it ethical to question whether or not his writing is what he truly thinks and/or believes, or that he writes only to create profit?
ReplyDeleteAlthough the MSM creates a firewall between their news/editorial and advertising departments, they are constantly accused of being influenced by their advertising.
ReplyDeleteIn blogging, there is no divide. The blogger can be as pecuniary as he or she wishes. The advertiser is also the editor and writer. That's a problem. I made the decision long ago to accept no local advertising because I write primarily about local issues.
I do question Damien's agenda. He does publish ads from three local businesses. He also writes about local issues. Perhaps he makes no charge to these businesses, but it makes me wonder. Some of his recent posts have shamelessly promoted ABW, one of the businesses that has been favored by Allentown.
Damien accuses me of getting involved in this matter for "personal gain," but I'm not the one publishing ads from local business. Actually, my blogging has cost me a lot of money in terms of lost income. Ask my creditors, but don't tell them where I am.
I'm still having a hard time understanding how it is the bus company's job to ensure that the sales of individuals' businesses remain forever the same. I just can't wait for next month when the indoor waiting area is open at the transfer center, complete with that Dunkin Donuts and mini-market.
ReplyDeleteUs riders will really appreciate it when the weather gets cold and snowy. Sure beats cramming into that glass thing in front of LCCC/KU.
Also, doesn't anybody remember all the politcal leaders for years and years trying to get the evil buses off of Hamilton? Where is the mayor's business development person Janice Marin in all of this? Haven't heard from her at all. They all took bows at the dedication.
Anon 2:45,
ReplyDeleteLANTA does not exist " to ensure that the sales of individuals' businesses remain forever the same." But it should not be used as part of a gentrification scheme. I have no problem taking buses off Hamilton, but the buses should not be rerouted in such a way that there is no one shopping between the 700 and 1000 block of Hamilton.
Are ytou tel;ling me the new transfer statioin is open and there is still no indoor waiting? That Dunkin Donuts and minimart are publicly funded and create an uneven playing field.