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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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.
“All the problems associated with building light rail in Charlotte, N.C., pale in comparison to the benefits already pouring in from the 1 -year-old system, the city ’s top business leader said.
Traffic congestion, cost overruns, schedule delays, a lawsuit and a recall referendum seem less significant now, Bob Morgan, president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, told local leaders in Norfolk, where a similar line is planned.
“It’s amazing how quickly people forget the short-term nuisance of construction,” he said.
That’s because about $1.8 billion of new development has been announced along the rail line and ridership is about to shatter 20-year projections. Now, there’s a push to fast-track extensions.
“The face of Charlotte … will be totally different years from now because of our investment in transit,” Morgan said.“
Always two sides to every story…
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/12/light-rails-success-outshines-woes-charlotte-exec-says?page=2
Hey onmybike, see ya got another dose of those car funes today!
Wow you really hit the nail on the head with your last post - I’m sold on light rail (Sshhhh…everyone, don’t say anything…onmybike is probably thinking I really meant that..)
Yeah, yeah, light rail…let’s balance things. I mean, 97% of the people drive, 3% use transit, so let’s keep them in balance.
Let me address your stupidity in order:
In my previous posts(s) I’m talking about personal safety, not accidents. Remeber, wear you gas mask when you go outside…
Concerning the I71/71 split, is it really a surprise, based on construction materials inflation, that the price hasn’t gone up? Do you really think boondoogle light rail projects are immune from this? They aren’t. At least ODOT is being forthright about these increases.
Look at the few cities across the country that have built choo-choos, and you will see that they have all had cost overruns, and usually raise fares or taxes just to keep the thing alive. How about Charlotte:
http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=5030
Projected cost - $227 million, final cost - $522 million, more than double the “projected” cost. I’m begging you on my bike, please read this article.
I already cited St. Louis’s mess in a previous post (with link to story). They built it, now they can’t afford to run it.
Oh yeah, more on Charlotte:
http://www.publicpurpose.com/charlotte.htm
How about Denver:
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9546240
Trust me onmybike, this story is the same in every city with light rail. I can see you pushing for bike improvements, but for god sakes, drop the light rail fantasy. You’ll thank me later.
I’ll take the APTA study, given the research and the citations over most of the links you’ve posted, given the research that went into it. Beats a second rate newspaper online article.
Safety and crime issues? Are you really deluded enough to think that driving keeps you safe from this?
Speaking of money pits, anyone see the split project got finalized today? Over 1 billion in spending, twice the amount original amount slated in 2007, several businesses are being displaced and construction is slated to last 6 years. All for a 30 year fix that will cost another billion or more, displace more businesses and erode more of our city.
Are trains and buses the complete answer? No. Are cars and highways? No. There has to be a balance between the two and a recognition that repaving and expanding the roads every 10 years isn’t a long term solution.
Onmybike, either you’ve been studying too hard, or those auto fumes are really getting to you. Didn’t I tell you not to go outside without your gas mask?
Let me be as clear as possible. I do trash public transit as one of the worst subsidized programs in American history. In my previous post, I only said continue with buses et. al., because they are much, much, much, cheaper to run than a boomdoggle choo choo train, and are much more flexible. Even with busses, you still have highly absurd cost subsidies for transporting so few people, and the crime/safety issues, but if it will shut you up, I’m willing to allow some buses on the road. Heopfully, you will ride them and stay outta the way of my car.
Now, regarding your B.S. analysis of economic development directly tied to fixed guideay, this is a farce. For example, in Portland, it is well documented that most if not all of the development that rail has taken credit for would have happened with OR without the rail. Do you really think all that undeveloped land would have gone untouched if they didn’t put in the fixed guideway stuff? Give me a break. If your absurd (yeah, use APTA, they have pretty independent views)arguement were even slightly true, you are saying, “Pay for transit that the masses won’t use, so that developers can get rich.“ Wrong.
And you still don’t get “how it’s ok to fund one system of infrastructure and not the other.“ What don’t you get? For the umpteenth time, let me get this into your head: THE MASSES DRIVE. THE FEW USE PUBLIC TRANSIT. BUILD YOUR CHOO CHOO TRAIN AND CREATE A BOONDOGGLE MONEY PIT, AND GUESS WHAT? THE M-A-S-S-E-S STILL WANT TO AND DO DRIVE.
You also measure the success of systems by the percent increases in ridership (which are now beginning to decrease again). This is wrong as the mode split for transit is a complete joke, even with an increase in ridership. See, going from 10 to 12 is a 20% increase, but when compared to 1,000,000 it is nothing…get it, nothing. That’s what public transit is as a mode: very little, next to nothing. The masses who drive shouldn’t be paying for the few whackos who get their jollies on the trolley.
Here’s the bottom line biker boy: The north corridor ain’t gonna happen. Guaranteed.
First time I have ever been accused of being liberal. I love that you took my entire argument and boiled it down to a simple, sarcastic line. I actually lean quite right-at least libertarian-but do see the need for government involvement and spending in some aspects. Infrastructure, including transit, amongst that.
I just found this study online, which has been an interesting read so far.
http://www.apta.com/research/info/online/rail_transit.cfm#_Toc84986602
I’m still not seeing how it’s ok to fund one system of infrastructure and not the other. Why don’t we just go to complete private ownership of our roadways? We can let GM run 71, Ford run 70 and divvy the rest up. Maybe Nationwide should run High Street? If the problem lies in government subsides, then why not let the private sector do the work?
And rather than telling me to go to another city, why don’t you folks head off to a city without any transit?
“cotastinks” you are clearly a confused individual. You have been arguing for almost a week about how much you hate public transit and how its a waste of your money, and on and on. Today, you say in one sentence “Problem is, public transit is a proven financial disaster as a solution. Then you say in the very next sentence “Keep the buses…out there”.
Clearly then, you do actually agree with the principal and the value of mass transit… You see, light rail is a component of mass transit, and where there is significant density and/or there is grade separated Right of Way available (e.g. north corridor), light rail has been proven to be a very efficient and cost effective transit solution.
Have some cities put it in places where it was doomed for failure? Yes. Have other cities placed it in correct locations where ridership has consistently been excellent and it has spurred additional economic development…of course! (DC, Portland, Dallas, Phoenix, Charlotte, to name a few)
“The American Public Transportation Association reports that, on average, $6 of private money is invested along a new transit line for every $1 of public money spent.“
http://hamptonroads.com/node/443621
Here is a whole report for you to read:
http://static.marylandpirg.org/reports/railtransitworks03.pdf
How bout some more quotes:
Charlotte
“about $1.8 billion of new development has been announced along the rail line and ridership is about to shatter 20-year projections. Now, there’s a push to fast-track extensions.“
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/12/light-rails-success-outshines-woes-charlotte-exec-says
Norfolk:
“Developers of three projects – Wachovia Center, Belmont at Freemason apartments and a Residence Inn – said the city’s starter light rail influenced their business decisions.“
http://hamptonroads.com/node/443621
Dallas:
“A study of the economic impact within a quarter mile of the light rail in Dallas found the value of retail properties increased 28.3 percent, industrial properties by 13 percent, residential properties by 32.1 percent, and office properties by 24.7 percent, committee officials said.“
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/10/06/daily43.html
“Millions of square feet of mixed-use development could be built near Dallas’ light rail stations in the future”
http://www.commercialpropertynews.com/cpn/content_display/regions/southwest/dallas/e3iffab62725e964a29d774a90c1404c518
Portland:
“More than $6 billion in development has occurred along MAX lines since the decision to build in 1978.“
http://www.trimet.org/about/history/maxoverview.htm
Salt Lake City:
“Salt Lake City’s TRAX Light Rail system carries over 65% more daily riders than predicted.“
http://www.planetizen.com/node/11000
Theres plenty more out there if you want it. Just google “light rail benefits”. Now i know you can use google, your whole argument against light rail comes from googling “light rail costs”. hahaha.
I was done posting here until I read another precious comment from onmybike that pretty much sums up what liberalism/socialism is all about.
This quote “I can’t predict the future (and if you can, please share the winning lotto numbers with all of us)“
You see, onmybike isn’t interested in YOU knowing the lotto numbers and keeping the money to yourself and spending it as you see fit…...he wants you to share it with EVERYONE.
FROM those, according to their means..TO those according to their needs. (or in this case, their WANTS)
Okay onmybike, let me hold your hand again. I’m afraid the mode split for transit in Franklin County is 3%. Keep searching the Cenusus web site and you will find it - that’s your homework assignment.
Now, a little math lesson for you. When you calculate mode splits, you don’t use a total population figure. Do you see little kids driving around in cars? Noooo. Do you see 14-year olds driving cars? Noooo. See, mode split figures provided by the Census are based on work trips…do your research.
Refering back to the Magic Kingdom (Portland), 80% of the people still drive, even with all the choices, even with all the diversity, biking, walking, light rail, etc. See, these are all mode options. So, your logic is completely wrong. #1, Columbus is nothing, repeat, nothing like Portland. #2, even if we had all these choices for transportation, including the money pit choo choo train, guess what? The MASSES still drive! Why? Because the MASSES want to drive.
Granted, we have the outcasts like yourself that keep squeaking until you are so frickin irrating people give in. Not this time my friend. Your ilk numbers are so small that honestly, I don’t know why I waste my breath on you.
#3, it still all comes down to m-o-n-e-y. You are obviously a youngster, and its sad to see all these bailouts and stimulus plans because you probably continue to think money grows on trees. Don’t worry, when you go downtown to shop for that urban condo you always dreamed of having, and you find out is costs > $400,000, you’ll wake up.
Heck, I’ll agree with you on one thing - driving is not for everyone, and I understand that. Problem is, public transit is a proven financial disaster as a solution. Keep the buses, taxis, rental cars, car and vanpooling out there, but for god sakes get off the choo choo train kick.
If the addiction is too strong, then honestly, do yourself a favor and move to a city that has rail (and is going bankrupt).
I don’t know how accurate your 3% estimate is.
2000 Census Data has Columbus at just over 700,000.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3918000.html
COTA lists 14 million passengers in 2007
http://www.cota.com/facts_and_figures.asp
with anywhere from 5-10% increases in 2008, if you reference my previous links AND that ridership is holding steady.
I can’t predict the future (and if you can, please share the winning lotto numbers with all of us) but I see a number of things:
Over the last 4-8 years we have seen how vulnerable our current energy policy is. Based on the numbers, I have to believe that people began making the shift to transit when we reached the $3.50-4/gallon mark and those numbers haven’t slacked since gas lowered. Gas will probably go back up. At least GM’s president believes so. With express pass sales up 44%, I have to believe that there is an available market for commuter rail options.
If driving is your thing, I have no issue. But the reality is that it’s not for everyone. For a lot of reasons. Alternative fuel vehicles can be a solution, provided you can afford the new vehicles. If you can’t, what then?
Any savvy investor will tell you to diversify. In a city the size of Columbus, which is the only major Ohio city to see positive growth lately, it only makes sense given recent history to begin diversifying or transportation policy and making the investment for the future.
Investing in good alternatives now creates a better Columbus in the next 20-30 years. It creates a city that can compete for jobs and industries with Chicago and NYC and still provide a low cost of living and wonderful quality of life.
One of the thing’s I love about this city is the diversity of choices. You want an urban lifestyle? Live downtown and in that vicinity. Want great schools to raise your kids in? Any number of great school systems a short drive away from our job centers. Now we just need better diversity in our transportation options.
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