C-J graciously gives credit where it's due

After mostly criticizing Miller Trailways, the C-J was objective and had mostly good things to say after Miller delivered at the Derby-- in an editorial and in a story by Sheldon Shafer...

The editorialists handed out roses and thorns for various things. Miller was granted roses:

Roses: To Miller Trailways, which seemed up to the job in its first year of providing bus shuttles to and from Churchill Downs. The fares are too steep, and maybe that can be remedied next year. But fears that the private carrier couldn't match TARC were unfounded.

They complain about fares, but that's nothing personal-- just a matter of an interesting worldview. The editorialist is either unaware-- or strangely prefers-- that TARC receive more taxpayer money rather than being somewhat more self-sufficient.

Here's an excerpt from Shafer's story...

Miller Trailways "performed very well" in its first year running the express shuttle-bus service for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs' operations chief said yesterday....

Sweazy said that Churchill's deal with Miller was for this year only and that the service will be bid again next year. Two other private companies bid to provide the service this year, but the track has declined to identify them, except to say they were from out of state.

Sweazy said that one change the track is considering for next year is requiring that vendors use only coaches for the shuttles -- no school buses.

Miller said his company will bid to provide the service again next year. But he said additional coaches might have to be leased and that could make the cost of operating the shuttles prohibitive....