Posted on 01/10/2007 4:01:24 PM PST by SJackson
Mayor Dave's trolley plan is an extremely weak idea.
The trolley will make only a tiny difference in overall transit ridership, but cost tens of millions of dollars to build and operate. The feds won't help.
Far less costly alternatives exist that can exceed the trolley's ridership, but these are being ignored by the politically stacked committee reviewing the issue.
Building the trolley would also drain the bus company budget, hurting Metro bus riders over time. In almost every case, you can increase transit usage far more, per dollar of expenditure, with bus than with rail.
Most trolley riders would be former bus riders so what is being achieved?
Most taxpayers don't want to have to fund two transit services trolleys and buses. Why should they?
Many people who take transit don't own cars in the first place, so you wouldn't be reducing auto congestion.
Madison has many more important pressing needs like affordable housing and addressing crime. The trolley would drain far too much money from the city coffers and harm the other city departments' budgets.
Trolleys are slow. They only move at about 5-9 mph. Trolleys will get in the way of pedestrians, car traffic, delivery trucks on State Street, and bikes and will increase congestion, thereby adding to air pollution. During the Farmers' Market the buses are detoured to the outer ring of the Capitol Square. However, you can't move a trolley line.
Laudable land use objectives like increasing density can be achieved through the city's zoning powers and do not require building a multi-million-dollar trolley system. After all, the mayor appoints members of the Plan Commission, and he can veto legislation. Besides, a lot of development is occurring without a trolley line.
The mayor fails to mention the tremendous subsidies and tax exemptions that fostered trolley line developments in the other cities. In the case of the Portland trolley line, almost a quarter of a billion dollars in subsidies and a 10-year tax exemption were apparently required to entice development, fleecing taxpayers.
Portland schools, police, public health, and other essential services have all suffered budget cuts so that the city can sustain its subsidies to developers along the streetcar line.
Portland has even cut both bus and light rail service even as it has expanded its streetcar line, resulting in a 21 percent reduction in the number of downtown workers who commute by transit since the streetcar opened in 2001.
The mayor talks about the advantages of having a permanent trolley route to influence land use objectives. However, bus lines are essentially permanent as well. When was the last time that a bus line was moved or discontinued?
We can grant amnesty to illegals, and they'll clean up after the horses, which are pollution free.
Other than the stuff that has to be cleaned up.
Horses over 20 will receive social security benefits if they've worked in Madison 6 quarters.
Donkeys will have no rights at all.
This is a funny one. Trollys putting bus' out of business.
Oh, for God's sake!!
This is a BIG country you union bozos - There's room (and work) enough for BOTH!!!
GROW UP!!!!
A classic example of the "static analysis" fallacy. Obviously, those people would be more likely to get cars in the absence of a convenient alternative.
Boy, do you know the Socialists in Madistan or what? LOL! I swear those d@mn trolleys are Topic One every d@mn day on local talk radio.
Mayor Dave seems to be backpedaling. He just needs to move to Oregon or Washington State and be DONE with it, already! He can ride around on heavily subsidized trolleys all day long that way!
Did you read about his recent "divorce" from 'Progressive Dane?' Even Mayor Dave is realizing the folly of his ideas and how much of a Moonbat he appears to be. He's trying to be more "mainstream" this time around, now that he has THREE competitors for his job come April. :)
What?! That's amazing. The feds always want to help. Isn't there some politician trying to get re-elected?
I like these transit systems they put in for $50 million or so and they pick up 25 riders a day. Just think, it'll be paid of in a million or so days! That's only 3000 years.
Do you remember about 10-15 years ago Madison passed their trigger lock ordinance. Then an anti-gun group immediately demanded the State Police stop cars on 90/94 where it passes through Madison to check for locks. Can't stop every car, so look for orange clothing. I'd love to have a link/article about that.
Yes, I remember that. That was when we moved out to the country AWAY from Madistan and started hunting on our own land. ;)
Buses were the downfall of trolleys decades ago, it's only fitting that trolleys get their payback :). Yes I know that the rubber companies were behind the trolleys downfall, but the buses are what used the rubber(tires).
Maybe some of the Viking Kitties could be hired out to the bus system to take care of the troll ies.
They are cutting bus routes in Houston and increasing congestion by removing lanes for rail. But we've got ourselves a "world class city" now in Houston (despite Tom DeLay's attempts to block Federal funding on the couple miles of rail). Of course we've let the violent crime rate go through the roof and have a high accident rate for the limited milage of rail we have but good onya that other cities have decided to follow our lead! < /s >
Big Rubber strikes again!
Choo Choo train ping.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.