"Public Transportation is for the little people."
Posted on 09/04/2006 9:36:25 AM PDT by calcowgirl
Stretching from mountain to ocean, threading through shipping ports that connect us to the world, our two dozen interstates form the spine and sinew of the California Dream. They helped make us who we are, fueled our love of freedom and passion for thinking big, then told our story to the world through cop shows and chase films. They've spawned a monster economy linking America to China, India and beyond.
More changes are coming. . . .
Planners are scrambling to steer the aging system around a crisis that threatens the economy and the lifestyle it spawned. Just as California was molded by the mobility these roads once routinely provided, it is being convulsed as congestion brings them closer to a standstill.
"Interstates have taught us to be comfortable in a car for long periods of time," says transportation educator Martin Wachs. "But we're lessening their effectiveness by creating congestion from our own behavior. The only way to address this is by charging for them or limiting their use, or else we'll all just be stuck in traffic."
A lot is at stake -- from the nation's competitive advantage in the global marketplace to the cost of a box of cereal ...
In many ways, Californians have been spoiled by the low prices made possible by this holy trinity of interstates, trucking and the big-box store. But, says Poole of the Reason Foundation, "all these things we've come to take for granted as affordable, wonderful choices at Wal-Mart, we can't ensure will continue."
[Former Santa Clara County Supervisor Rod] Diridon, the Silicon Valley transportation guru, says cajoling motorists out of their cars and onto mass transit and moving more freight over rail lines are crucial steps. Otherwise, he says, "our whole economy will falter."
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
PING
The California "Planners" have been busy.
We need more freeways and more lanes on the freeways we have now.
Quite simple really -- the social engineers need to be removed from the transportation agencies.
"Public Transportation is for the little people."
Where has SmithL been? I hope he's okay and this is just a long vacation. He is missed.
"The only way to address this is by charging for them or limiting their use"
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No, the way to fix this is to build more roads.
That's why we need the infrastructure bond, although I am afraid that is not enough. There should be an initiative to force the CA government to spend taxes collected from gasoline, car registration and other fees ONLY on road construction and repair.
"We're going to take things from you for your own good"
That article said darn little in 3000 words. I was hoping to hear some ideas by the planners, and all they can do is shake their heads and tell us to use transit?
I think it's about 2.5% of Californians who use transit, and trust me, 90% of those folks would rather drive.
Why put the cost of freight on the freeways, which are shared by all? Why can't more freight go on the railroads?
D
You got it!
FO, the Infrastructure Bond is exactly what will implement this 'progressive' socialist plan!
Read the dang thing, would ya?
Prop 1B is a DOG! (Apologies to the good canine out there).
Yes, exactly what I want in an age of terrorism... to paint a large bulls-eye on my back...
Well, that's the problem when we we have a Dem Legislature, in order to get 20% useful tihngs, we have to agree to their 80% pork. But the roads are at a crisis point. So what do you suggest, other than the alternative suggested by the idiot in the article to "limit their use".
Send it to Mexico and let the railroad haul it north...
The railroads in CA are at or in some cases, beyond capacity. While BNSF(former Santa Fe) lines are in good shape, the former SP lines, now owned by UP, had much of their capacity reduced in the last 25 years that SP existed.
Alot of it is transported on rail to the inland empire, then tranfered to truck for the east bound trip,local is on the freeways. i used the bus in 04 for about 6-8 mo(no car) and it took me longer to get to and from work then it does taking the freeway.
NO, we don't! It's a shame that you would support such waste and abuse.
So what do you suggest
I suggest the voters say NO to all of the pork ridden bond measures, including Proposition 1A that just masks even more borrowing and allows exceptions for raiding the transportation fund.
I suggest you write your representatives, (local, state, and feds) and tell them exactly what you want.
I suggest we all put the heat on all legislators in each and every election, asking them exactly what they will do to FIX AND EXPAND THE HIGHWAYS.
I suggest everyone support the Initiative qualified for the 2008 ballot which, unlike Prop 1A, will actually require that gasoline tax revenue actually be spent on transportation (NO exceptions!).
I suggest getting involved in various activist endeavors to STOP Agenda21.
... etc., etc., etc.
I will NOT accept a Pork Filled Socialist Initiative known as Proposition 1B.
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