Coleman Asks For $200M For Light-Rail System
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Colemans Asks For Light Rail Funds
Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is asking for $200 million from the federal government to build a 13-mile light rail system.
Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is asking for $200 million from the federal government to build a 13-mile light rail system in Columbus as part of a $334.5 million economic stimulus package funding request.
Published: January 8, 2009
Updated: January 9, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is asking for $200 million from the federal government to build a 13-mile light rail system in Columbus as part of a $334.5 million economic stimulus package funding request.
In a letter sent to President-elect Barack Obama last week, Coleman said his proposal would integrate the best elements of the 2006 North Corridor Light Rail Plan and the downtown streetcar plan.
The federal funding could provide for 70,000 jobs, officials said.
Tell us your thoughts on Coleman’s request and what you think by posting a comment blow.
A total project cost is not provided, and Coleman’s letter said the remainder of funding will be requested through federal, state and local sources to be determined over the next two years.
The proposed light rail system would stretch through the Short North, The Ohio State University campus and past Polaris Parkway.
Patrick Preston: “Is light rail the city’s top priority?“
Councilman Andrew Ginther: “You’ve got a couple top priorities. Light rail/mass transit is one of them.“
Ginther said that at a time when the city faces a nearly $96 million budget gap for 2009, the city needs new jobs and new tax revenue.
“The best way to help short- and long-term is to put people to work so they can pay income taxes on the jobs they’re doing,“ Ginther said.
Other major funding requests include:
- $26 million to renovate the old police building in downtown Columbus.
- $25 million to improve the infrastructure around Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
- $20 million for roadway and park improvements in the River South District.
But all other projects combined don’t add up to the investment the city is asking for in building a light rail system.
“Light rail/mass transit is where we need to go as a city and a region,“ Ginther said.
Coleman traveled to Washington, DC Thursday to take part in a briefing with Obama, alongside several other mayors and governors.
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Reader Reactions
The light rail plan is ill conceived. The largest portion of the population is on the far north and far east side. Cota’s light rail route should focus on getting people in those area on light rail where they can be taken into downtown where they can transfer. There are 16 stops on the route between the north point of the proposed route and downtown. Why? There is no good reason for light rail to pick up people who are south of the Ohio State campus as they currently have many Cota bus routes. The light rail should focus on getting the majority of people where they need to go….Ohio State and downtown….without all of the ridiculous stops along the way. Start one arm of the rail at proposed Lazelle point with two stops to downtown. Start another arm at 270 on the east side with one stop into downtown. Anywhere in between, focus on providing connecting bus service to the rail. Park and ride should rule…not front door service
sorry kids, there’s no food in the house, but the good news is we have 200 mil for our trip to Disney!
I don’t know the specifics of the grant but I’d think city vehicles going hybrid like cruisers and those big Fords they drive would be a better investment.
I think it is a wonderful idea! I am from Denver and have been here in Columbus for 7 years now and we got Light Rail back in the mid 90’s, so Columbus is a bit behind. It was great for people commuting to jobs or school downtown. There were park and rides located all the way out to the suburbs where you could park your car and take the light rail all the way downtown. I am all for it as long as we can afford it and it will benefit the city!
Catinthehat…Excellent points. If there is such a project, it should be either East side and South Side first. Then West Side, and finally to the North. That’s just common sense, therefore, it will never be considered by our so-called public servants. (I would have said elected officials, but Columbus City Council doesn’t fit that definition.)
joshuajustinz, every day we are lectured on nbc4 about finding the best value for our money, but when applied to this we are greedy? Why SHOULD residents of Delaware County benefit first while most of Franklin County has to wait? Are my Eastside tax dollars less valuable than the North Corridors? Are the traffic jams of I-70 less worthy? No one made all those people move north of Polaris. Someone suggested this project begin in the South End. I can live with that if I can’t have the Eastside be first.
stiffler…Like it or not, the federal government is appropriating funds for “green” transportation projects. If Coleman does not ask for this money for a green infrastructure project (aka light rail), we wont see a dime of it while the rest of the country benefits… Read the news, this money is not for city operating expenses like police and fire personnel. Coleman is doing the right thing, going after a piece of this pie that is going to be delegated regardless of your complaints about it being “our” money. Oh, by the way, this will create jobs and make our city more liveable…
joshuajustinz…You said, “Guess what? We don’t need your vote.“ Straight out of the leftist, totalitarian playbook. You people dance in the streets when the courts overturn initiatives voted on at the polls by those of us you consider serfs.
planner…You must be a liberal and then some. You say this money would be “given to us.“ Say what? Where do you think money comes from? Like a child, do you believe it grows on trees? That money belongs to American taxpayers, including those in Central Ohio. It’s OUR money to begin with. And as far as “the project has to start somewhere,“ then why not the South side, where transportation options are limited for many wage earners who may not own their own cars. The vast majority of people in Clintonville and the Short North are much more able to reach downtown without rail. This whole project is about Coleman’s ego, and liberal High St. entitlement.
there is always something better to use the money for besides a light rail train
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