A Better Tip: Let Council Decide

It’s customary to tip a cabbie but not a bus driver--and certainly not a bus company. And so when Oxnard Mayor Manuel Lopez impulsively added $216,000 to his city’s $1.9-million allocation to South Coast Area Transit (SCAT), he was out of line.

But although Lopez should not have taken it upon himself to plump up the sum unanimously approved by his City Council, improving transportation options for Oxnard residents is the right thing to do. When the matter comes back to the council for belated reconsideration, the rest of the council should support Lopez’ action.

At issue is funding for the Dial-A-Ride service for seniors and the disabled started in October by SCAT, a joint venture that provides transportation services in Ojai, Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme and parts of unincorporated Ventura County.

Oxnard and Ventura had threatened to withhold $343,000 in an attempt to get SCAT to better manage its finances and to shape up that program, which has been plagued by growing pains. Riders have complained of spending 20 minutes or more on the phone trying to arrange a trip.

Lopez decided to fork over the funds on faith that things will improve under a new contract between SCAT and Laidlaw Transit, which operates the Dial-A-Ride service. Under the new, stricter terms, Laidlaw will be fined $200 for each day that scheduling and confirming a trip with a rider takes more than 10 minutes on the phone. Also, bus drivers must pick up riders within 10 minutes of a scheduled time or the company will be fined $1,000 a month, according to the contract.

City officials are right to keep a close eye on the performance of joint ventures such as SCAT as well as their own municipal operations. Withholding funding until concerns are satisfied is often the most effective way to demand improvements. In this case, the tighter contract is a step in the right direction.

If Dial-A-Ride performance doesn’t improve sharply, SCAT member cities will be right to take action again--preferably after discussing it among themselves first.