Coleman Asks For $200M For Light-Rail System
Alternative content
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.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at
.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
actually, i live on the south side and not on the proposed streetcar or light rail line. And I’m confused, are taxpaying residents in Clintonville and the Short North who support this not “working people”. Liberal entitlement…really?
I support this because the overall benefits of such a system will benefit the city as a whole; and when its proven to be successful, im confident the line will be extended to my neighborhood. Hilliard and some of the other suburbs are not dense enough to support light rail. Besides, the suburbs have the entire 270 loop, which serves them already.
The northern corridor is the most dense area of the city, so the rail line is necessary to relieve congestion on 71 and 315. Research the 161 expansion project; the cost is comparable and basically only serves New Albany. This proposal serves many of the most densely populated areas of our entire state.
steve_stiffler….. How dare you assume that the people who live in The Short North and Clintonville are not working people. The suburbanites of Columbus get WAY MORE than they pay for. How about I-270 for crying out loud. Any idea how much that costs? And we center city people don’t use it at all. All those freeway interchanges, miles and miles of roadway, sewer lines, the list goes on and on. You suburbanites are sucking our city dry. And if you work out in Hilliard or Whitehall YOU DON’T PAY COLUMBUS TAXES. This city is built on catering to the auto-oriented suburbanite, and it’s about time we do something to attract young, talented, urban professional who will actually push this city forward, rather that suck it dry.
osupleasure…I see why you would approve. You probably live near the proposed rail route. So the “progressive” denizens of the Short North and Clintonville get the benefits. Isn’t that special? How about the working people from Hilliard, Whitehall, and heaven forbid, the South side? They’ll pay and get no benefits. At least with highway projects, everybody benefits. Liberal entitlement is pretty ugly.
This is outrageous! 200 million dollars for a light-rail system…just another great example of incredible, unnecessary waste! Our economy continues to weaken, and this is the best Coleman can come up with? He’s been after this crazy light-rail system for a long time now; isn’t he supposed to look to the needs of his constituents and not what he wants?
Fellow Columbus residents… you think this is a waste of money…really? How bout the $1 BILLION DOLLARS of state money to fix the stupid 70/71 split. Thats right, BILLION, 5 times the amount of this entire rail system to fix a 5 mile segment of highway. How bout the tens of millions of dollars it takes to construct just one freeway interchange! This is a modest public investment; and the best part—-it has direct payback with fares and rising property taxes!
You must think big picture and do your homework. Columbus is one of the only large metropolitan areas in the ENTIRE COUNTRY without some sort of rail transit system…is the rest of the country wrong??? We are also ranked dead last in sustainability amongst the largest 50th metro areas in the US. Why do you think this is? Our bad habits: sprawling wasteful development patterns, overuse of individual automotive transportation, and dependence on fossil fuels… We need an alternative and rail is the most efficient, has the greatest ROI, and is the least invasive of these options! Think of a future Columbus where we have a central city we can be proud of and strong neighborhoods all linked together by fast, modern and efficient transit… Think beyond yourself, be aware of how our future residents and visitors use our city!
By the way…renters and poor folks pay property taxes too…Its part of our rent!
The people have already said no to this project repeatedly. Coleman insist he will have his way somehow. He continues to feed the fat cat developers and leave the kids without rec centers and the police without replacements to help the home owners protect what is theirs from the thieves and vandals. And then there is the trash that will be piling up around his pretty downtown area with his name plastered all over everything. He should have listened to Obama when he siad the money is to help the many, not the few!
coleman is brilliant; not only is he creating tens of thousands of jobs, but he is connecting our city, helping the environment, stimulating downtown, and bringing us up to speed with the rest of the country! we are the only major city without some kind of light rail system, making it extremely difficult for tourists or those without cars to get around. it is time that we invest in this infrastructure which will put people to work and stimulate the economy - which will then create the money to continue investing and improving our city for years to come.
The last thing this City needs in this economy is a light rail system. This Administration needs to stop and think. I can’t believe a city councilman also agreed. Surely the Mayor and his Administration can think of something more worthwhile than light rail to help this economy. Start with re-hiring some of the people you are laying off.
We shall see if NBC4 is actually fair and balanced. Will they report the feedback they have received?
I think we need to think big picture here. The Coleman plan to have a trolley car run down High Street is a total waste of money—I’m glad Coleman is at least thinking bigger picture. I believe that we need a major rail system that links us to major cities. Most major cities have a subway system or a rail system. It’s too bad that if you want to take a train from Columbus you have to drive 2 hours to catch a train. It would be great if we could hop a train and get to Chicago or Detroit Or Pennsylvania and other cites-I say we be a little open to the idea-at least it better than Coleman’s half-baked idea to resurrect the trolley cars that died many years ago. Let’s catch up to the modern world Columbus.
Thanks
Advertisement