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
Sigh..once again the citizens of Columbus remind me why Cleveland and Cincinnati (a small river town!) are known by their names, while Columbus needs the obligatory OHIO. On the surface, Coleman’s request does seem out of place, even absurd. We are in the middle of a recession, cuts here, cuts there, and he wants a couple hundred million for light rail. Shouldn’t the money be used for schools, rec centers, etc? Of course we do not want to see those services lose funding. But this is government. The name of the game is ALLOCATION. If we are all so concerned about the budget cuts to those services, next time a road needs repaired or widened to meet automobile-centric needs, tell the city, that money should be used for the rec centers, not road widening!
Let’s face it, within the next 10-20 years, the personal automobile will be a relic of the 20th century. When gas is never mind $3-4 a gallon but $5-10, you will be wondering why you were so against the light rail project of 2009. No, the money now for a light rail system is not designed to be an investment in tomorrow, next week, or even next year. This is about the city’s long term future. If people would start to think a little more forward than the next 6 hours of their own lives, maybe some of the city’s problems now would have been dealt with years before they became problems. Having lived in cities with much more extensive transit systems, I guarantee residents in those cities are not complaining now of the startup costs now that they are reaping the benefits.
dickface…I hold Jackets season tickets. If you don’t like hockey, don’t watch. As for Ohio high schools and hockey teams, if you ever step inside Nationwide’s main concourse you will see the hockey jerseys of over 80 high school programs around the state. The world isn’t all about football, regardless of the crap Columbus media forces down our throats.
This is not a political issue; its an issue of moving people from place to place in the most efficient and economical manner. There are plenty of red states with light rail systems in the works or those that already exist (Dallas, Birmingham, Little Rock, etc.) The North Corridor is the most densely populated and heavily traveled area in our city. Light Rail is simply the right kind of transportation system to relieve the congestion of 71/315/High Street and provide an alternative solution for folks to get around. Its a start on a broader system that will eventually reach those residents in other areas of our city. If you question where Im coming from, research COTA’s 2020 plan. Its all out there folks, Coleman is just trying to get the ball rolling (finally).
Unfortunately for you, the 1000 middle managers will end up paying much more in income taxes than the 100 investment bankers. We need both to thrive. Don’t be caught up in the educational rhetoric. I have two degrees, am still young, and am proud of my talent and service to this community.
Arrogant…I’m 45, have a BA in International Relations and work for a multinational pharmaceutical company. My 12 year old son is being raised with an appreciation for the necessity of higher education. My beef is that the people who really need mass transit will not be served by this rail line. No matter, the wish list being presented to Obama is seemingly infinite, including a small town of 194 souls in Alabama requesting $375 million. As Susan Powter used to say, “Stop the madness!“ This is about Mike Coleman’s ego as much as anything.
ehhhh, I guess, but being that I did not grow up in the state of Ohio, that is probably lost on me. Regardless, I feel bad for those who are untalented and menial workers because the young generation like myself, are not slowing up for you to catch up. So no, we should not cater to untalented people with nothing to offer, that is the past, cater to the future. I would rather have a 100 investment bankers, security traders, research analysts, etc. in Columbus, than 1000 useless old middle managers staying in their dead end job until they can collect their pension.
I did. But aren’t we the Buckeye State anyway without having The Ohio State University? Yes, I believe we are.
“Arrogant, nothing was said about educated people.
However, I believe there are many talented, older people who can continue to contribute and not burden the infrastructure. Stay in Detroit. I can assure you, none of us Buckeyes would be caught dead moving to that city.“
Us Buckeyes? I surely hope you graduated from The Ohio State University, or else you should not consider yourself one. As for buckeyes moving to Detroit, it is funny, I moved here, and so did my boss. We both graduated from Ohio State. I wonder if you did?
That boat, is a boat for losers. I dislike the trendy artists in the short north as much as I dislike the uneducated, disgruntal union factory worker who is upset because he is unemployed. Oh wait, that just means I do not like democrats, because that is what the democratic party is comprised of.
quoting stevestifler
“Arrogant…You demonstrate snotty class warfare at its worst. So, in your opinion, the city belongs to juvenile metrosexuals and pseudo-intellectuals. Aren’t you just so “progressive!““
I am neither a juvenile, nor a metrosexual, nor am I anywhere near what one would label a “progressive”. Heck, I was the most staunch anti obama person you have ever seen. That does not change the facts that uneducated, untalented people are not taking any city into the 21st century. Facts are facts, and my suggestion is to go back to school and get an education if you want to survive in this world. I am not sure of your age, but are you telling your children (if you have any) not to pursue higher education? I do not care about the so called “working man” nor do I care about these liberal “progressives”. I put them both in the same boat.
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