Coleman Talks About Light Rail Request
Mayor Coleman sits down with NBC 4, talking candidly about his proposal for light rail.
COLUMBUS, Ohio —Mayor Michael Coleman requested $334.5 million last week from President-Elect Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package.
$200 million of that federal funding is earmarked for a 13-mile light rail system that would travel from downtown Columbus to the Delaware County line.
NBC 4 viewers sent emails and wrote comments about the multi-million-dollar projects. Some of those emails praised Coleman, saying, “The system has to start somewhere … a comprehensive system takes time and doesn’t come overnight.“
But others questioned the use of the funding writing, “The last thing this city needs is a light rail system. Who is going to ride this train?“
For a week, NBC 4 has been trying to take your questions to Coleman and Friday, he sat down with NBC 4‘s Mikaela Hunt for almost an hour—to give you answers.
“I felt it was important to at least ask or we shall not receive … and I don’t know if we’ll see a dime,“ Coleman said.
Coleman was very candid about his request for the light rail money.
The federal stimulus money is most readily available for infrastructure and “green” requests that invest in Columbus’ future.
“What makes our need for light rail in Columbus so great compared to some other things out there? Maybe if you could explain that to people who might wonder,“ Hunt asked.
“Well the future of our country—the future of our competitive cities or cities that are competitive—will be those that consider job creation, economy, environment, transportation,“ Coleman said.
Coleman said a light rail system could mean a potential 11,000 jobs in the Central Ohio area.
“If we get it, we’ll have a look at what the timeline will be. It won’t be next year. We won’t build tracks next year. There’s engineering studies and all that. But we have a good foundation on which to build,“ Coleman said.
He understands the hesitation of some Central Ohioans about the project.
“I know people are going to have to talk about it, get used to it, have a community discussion,“ he said. “If Columbus is left behind, we’ll be a system far worse off than we are today.“
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Reader Reactions
Uh oh, onmybike must be riding in the cold weather, I think his brain (?) is freezing up again.
My Dearest Knucklehead,
Because you are no challenge to me, my bordom grows with each of your mindless posts. I will be brief, sparing you of what you really deserve, my kicking you around. Anyway, I’m tired tonight, so just try to soak this up in your paper towel brain:
I refered you to MOPC’s website because that’s where the stimulus projects from multiple agencies were consolidated into one listing. MORPC did not project the choo choo cost, COTA did. Do you even know what MORPC does? Please don’t answer this because I know you don’t.
Dude - here’s reality: Every city with choo choo’s, (which is a small list) is either cutting service, raising fares, raising taxes, or a combination of all. See, that’s why we opponents to choo choo’s call this project a boondoggle money pit, because that’s exactly what they are. We don’t want this cra* in Columbus. Instead, we strongly encourage you to move.
Look at you whining about how am I gonna solve population growth and density over the coming years. Density? Have you ever traveled? If you think Columbus is dense, then you are dense. If you are whining about the lack of density, you are whining to the wrong guy. Again, (and god I am getting tired of repeating the same message to your numbskull brain) go whine to Mayor McCheese and City Council for approving all that sprawl.
No one in the region has aggressively annexed more land over the past few decades than Columbus. The same officials who killed downtown, now want us to cry over it. And now they portray themselves as heroes and innovators for suggesting such stupid ideas as choo choo light rail and streetcars. They are geniuses for suggesting that after years and years of poorly managed development, hey, why don’t we put in sidewalks and street lights? Wow, we are so smart.
See, this is why Portland and Columbus are no comparison. Portland passed laws that limit sprawl, that prevent sprawl. They did this years ago. Columbus? Duh.
We ain’t Portland, we ain’t New York, we ain’t Chicago. All these cities are going broke with their transit systems.
You are such a moron. You keep asking why don’t we put the split on the ballot. Seriously, you are a piece of work. For the umpteenth time, let me try to explain this to you: It won’t go on the ballot because it would be a complete waste of time. It would pass like 99% to 1%. What are you proposing, that we ignore overcapcaity freeways? Face it el stupido, it’s gonna happen, it needs to happen, it will happen.
Choo choo’s in Columbus? It isn’t needed, and ain’t gonna in our lifetime. Period.
Now, get out of my sandbox and go ride you bike. Don’t forget your gas mask!
If by answering you mean insulting anyone with an opinion that does no reflect your own…
In one post you direct us to MORPC for the total cost estimates, yet when I mention MORPC on another matter their numbers can’t be trusted.
In another you link to a newspaper article on a study about a light rail line, I link to another that claims the exact opposite. But mine can’t be believed.
I link to a study that at least publishes it’s research methodology and cites it’s sources, you link to countless newspaper articles that have no research cited and could be just as easily biased.
You expect everyone to take your opinion as the sole authority and anything that bolsters your ideas are to be treated as gospel truth.
You really just sound like a child in the sandbox unwilling to share.
You never did get around to telling me how Columbus will handle population growth and density over the coming years. Some of our downtown business owners are already finding issues and concerns about how downtown will be affected by the split. And why don’t we put that project on the ballot? What’s good for the goose, right?
Whoops…in my previous post, I wrote:
“See, if Battelle creates 200 jobs, and the State, City, Ashland, Pfeizer, GM, etc. cut thousands of jobs, unemployment goes down, not up.“
See onmybike, you are rubbing off on me…I’m starting to think stupid, just like you. I meant unemployment goes up, not down.
My bad, but I think you get my point…
Can’t answer your arguement? What the he*l do you think all of my posts have been doing? Onmybike, I’m convinced that you:
a)live alone - renting, with no real financial responsibilities, and
b) At some point in your young life, you fell off your bike and landed on your head - without your helmet or gas mask on.
You wrote:
Yes, the economic times are tough. But Columbus is one of the few, if only, Ohio cities to post population gains as well as gains in business and jobs. Did you see Batelle’s recent comment to add more?
Seriously, you are so pathetic I can barely type. Columbus is posting gains in jobs? Yeah right…dude, look up the unemployment numbers, they are going up, not down. See, if Battelle creates 200 jobs, and the State, City, Ashland, Pfeizer, GM, etc. cut thousands of jobs, unemployment goes down, not up. In total, we are not even close to posting job gains. Again, you are pathetic. Hey wait! I just hired a little kid to shovel my driveway - wow - Columbus is posting job gains!!!
Spare me the lecture about the minority opinion. #1, there will be no money for the choo choo from the feds, because there is no MAJOR support for it. Further, if it goes to the ballot, it will be defeated by a MAJORITY vote. And guess what? Bye, bye, minority - go home and suck your thumbs, cause you ain’t getting the choo choo train. Your elderly and disabled can be transported far cheaper by taxi, carpooling, or other more viable and far less costlier means.
Lay off the crack Jack, but don’t forget to wear your gas mask!
Can’t answer my arguments, can you?
So how do you see us combating future congestion issues? How is spending 1.6 billion on 3 miles vs. 900 mil on 13 not the bigger waste?
Yes, the economic times are tough. But Columbus is one of the few, if only, Ohio cities to post population gains as well as gains in business and jobs. Did you see Batelle’s recent comment to add more?
I wish I could live in your fantasy land. Yes, majority rules. But you miss a key component of our system which is a respect for the minority opinion. Our representatives aren’t elected to represent the winning side, but all sides and the community as a whole.
I don’t think cars are evil. Just that we should diversify and grow the city smartly. Again what happens when we fix the split again in 30 years? How much will it cost us then?
Our trucking and freight companies are gradually switching back to rail for a good number of reasons. Even though you can’t see the writing on the wall, it’s time we take a more balanced approach. Helping connect our region through more than just freeways only makes us stronger.
It’s easy to sit at a computer and tell someone to simply move closer, but it’s out of touch with reality. Having a better transit system gives someone who has just been laid off better options to find work and trim their budget. For someone who owns a house and needs a new job, it can help ease that transition without packing up and moving. It helps the elderly have a good quality of life, independent from “needing” someone else to drive them to appointments and errands. It allows students (without access to cars) to access internships, jobs and other opportunities.
Choo choo, chugga chugga chugga, choo choo, chugga chugga chugga - hey look! It’s the new boondooggle choo choo train and no ones aboard…wait! I think I see someone - he’s holding his teddy bear…he’s sucking his thumb - its onmybike!
Ohhhh, cars are so evil…evil evil, evil!!! My gosh, how did the world ever evolve with these blasted things! Imagine if you would, a world that once had trains before cars…trains that took you to all the major places. Imagine trains that even went up and down High Street right here in Columbus. No cars - just trains!! Huh, wha-wha-what? You mean, we did that already? Choo choos went up and down High St., Broad St., etc.?
Yes knocklehead onmybike, your little fantasy has been played out once already, spare us of your sappyiness. Cities grew because of cars, dummy. And why do we need to fix the split? Because people drive, masses and masses of people want to drive! It saves time, provides personal safety, etc. etc. The biggest pushers of rail (which is a small number) are either hypocrite, rich politicians who will never use public transit, or are weenies like yourself.
And oh, MORPC is projecting population growth and more jobs huh? Well, they certainly didn’t project this economic environment did they? I don’t remember seeing their projections for job losses and government deficits. See, they are planners. i.e., guessers. Little bikey boy, past results (growth) are no guarantee of future results. You are probably still drinking warm milk onmybike, but for god sakes, grow up.
Because it takes you an hour to get from campus to Easton for a job, we should build a $1,000,000,000 boondoggle train that still won’t get you to Easton? Here’s a clue: Get a job closer to campus! Even better - get a car! Hey - you can even ride the little trolley bus they have at Easton - maybe you could take your girlfriend on the bus and ring the bell.
Get this straight: Building a boondoggle stupid choo choo train that bleeds taxpayers with continually increasing costs, higher fares, higher taxes and little use, having little to no impact on congestion (which Columbus has little of), is not a model for success.
Don’t forget to wear your gas mask tomorrow!
The reason I support mass transit is that I don’t buy into the stupidity of our current auto centric transit policies.
We’re spending 1.6 billion to expand a 3 mile stretch of roadway that will need to be redone in 30 years. Tell me how we are going to do that? Drive through the split now and there is barely enough room for their current plan.
MORPC is projecting positive population growth over the next few decades and a significant increase in congestion on our major roads. Tell me, where will we find the real estate to expand those roadways? Without killing businesses, forcing people from their homes and making more of our city unfriendly to anything but cars?
Buses are great for short trips. But try commuting from downtown/campus to Easton to work a job by bus. It takes well over an hour with our current set up. Riding the bus from campus to downtown or any short distance trip isn’t that bad. What we need is a reasonable alternative that can compare favorable to the commute times of automobiles. Provide a way to move the congestion from our roadways and into something more sustainable.
Paving under half our city is not a model for success.
COTAstinks,
I think I can sum up what onmybike and the others are really trying to say.
Mass Transit = Sheeple.
Liberals LOVE Sheeple.
The more Sheeple, the more they NEED their government to look after them. More Sheeple = more government. More government = more happy liberals.
But…..remember this - Government does NOT create jobs because government does NOT create wealth. Government IMPOUNDS the wealth of private business and individuals to distribute it to others. This is NOT job creation and it is NOT wealth creation. So when Mayor McCheese says this will create X number of jobs (it is always changing), it is done on the backs of private enterprise and individuals.
The only problem with looking at transit vs. commuters in mode split is that you are ignoring the larger community transit can serve.
Tsk, tsk, onmybike, my what a web of deceit you have spun this time. I’m trying to help you dude, but instead, I feel like I’m just punching around a little boy (who fell off his bike), who doesn’t know when to pack it up and go home. Oh well…
First, nice article about Charlotte that deals very little in facts. And the story is based on the opinions of Bob Morgan, president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, the leading proponent of light rail in Charlotte. Did you really expect him to say something else? That would be like interviewing Mayor McCheese and asking him if light rail is a good idea in Columbus. People like that (and yourself), will just never accept reality. Sad, very sad. Granted, Wedell Cox is strongly opposed to light rail, but the other article (which I wanted you to read) was from Charlotte’s main newspaper, and dealt with facts.
Next, you have the audacity to write:
And in 2000, 88% (not 97) were driving.
That’s 9 year old data, so should be taken with a grain of salt. COTA has been doing a lot of work to improve service and visibility; transit numbers are up here and express pass (commuter market) sales are up 44%.
“A better estimate of mode split would probably be 80-20. It’s not a perfect comparison, but keep in mind 700,000 + population and 14 million riders in 2007.“
How decitful will you go? Are you really that naive to think 20% of commuters (again knucklehead, mode splits are based on commuters, not toal population) use transit? Transit is 3% - why don’t you admit it? Yes, the mode split is shared by vanpoolers, carpoolers, bikers, and walkers, but transit is still a tiny, tiny, fraction - 3%. Quit wasting your breath on this.
And the 14 million trips number is about as underwhelming as you can get. Let’s see, divide that number by 365, and you get an average of just over 38,000 trips (not people) per day. So, we know that most bus riders take at least two trips a day, many take 4 or more (don’t forget to count transfers knucklehead, as they are included in your little 14 mill number). Dividing 38,000 by say 3 trips per person (I’ll go easy on you) = <13,000 USERS A DAY. Whipdee frickin doo. It’s pathetic!! Thanks for giving me the chance just to prove how few citizens (compared to the total amount of commuters) actually use or care about transit. Not to mention most of the riders are low-income or out on parole.
Do you read my posts? There you go again touting that express pass sales are up 44% - big deal! 44% of what? You lie with percentages my friend - why don’t you state how many express passes are sold? Again, going from 10 to 14 is a 40% increase. Is that what you are saying, COTA now has 14 express riders? You know transit ridership is a joke…if not, you need your head examined.
Face reality pedal boy.
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