tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post1512689931465519263..comments2023-11-05T04:34:10.303-05:00Comments on The Naked City: How Charlotte competitor builds its streetcarUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-61147779459933357602010-08-03T17:35:37.036-04:002010-08-03T17:35:37.036-04:00Arguably blacks in Charlotte are more than TWO to ...Arguably blacks in Charlotte are more than TWO to ONE against the streetcar<br /><br /><br />The Charlotte Post readers are MORE against the streetcar than the arguably mostly white and liberal Charlotte Observer Readers........<br /><br />Is the streetcar a good idea? 69% NO 29% YES<br /><br /><br />City Council voted to apply for a $25 m federal grant to complete the first section of the 1.5 miles city?s $37 m streetcar project from Presbyterian Hospital to the uptown Transit Center. Is spending at least $24.6 m per mile a good idea?<br />No. We have more serious funding issues to be concerned with.<br /> 41%<br />No. We should be funding expansion of the light rail project.<br /> 19%<br />No. We need to be developing a more comprehensive DOT program.<br /> 9%<br />Yes. It is a smart investment that will help with job creation.<br /> 5%<br />Yes. It will help with economic development in that corridor.<br /> 14%<br />Yes. Federal government funding opportunity needs to be seized.<br /> 10%<br /><br />http://www.thecharlottepost.com/index.php<br /><br /><br />*******************************************************************<br /><br />Poll<br />Do you support a streetcar line for Charlotte?<br />Yes<br />1485 38%<br />No<br />2399 62%<br />Total Votes: 3884<br /><br /><br />Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/09/1551938/city-wins-25m-to-build-streetcar.html#storylink=omni_popular#ixzz0va1XI6ZFDale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-35807802595547510462010-08-03T10:49:24.930-04:002010-08-03T10:49:24.930-04:00Wiley & Larry,
This is off topic, but wasn...Wiley & Larry,<br /><br />This is off topic, but wasn't Wiley & Larry 2 of the "Three Stooges"? I could be wrong.<br /><br />Anyway, which part of the plan did you like? The Las Vegas style cheerleaders at every stop or Charlotte invading North Korea?<br /><br />My fiscal conservative friends have said that if the Streetcar plan includes stopping the "toys-for-tots" program and other expensive giveaways, they can guarantee 100% support for the Streetcar.<br /><br />With your support Larry & Curly, this thing is as good as built.consultanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212860754280555647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-80055162792482146052010-08-03T06:46:20.903-04:002010-08-03T06:46:20.903-04:00Consultant.
Your 69 Billion story is also told on...Consultant.<br /><br />Your 69 Billion story is also told on the www.Recovery.gov story in which your guy gave it to non-existent districts and no one knows where the money went.<br /><br />And just look at the other waste of money on expensive pot holes. <br /><br />At least the war has kept them from blowing up anymore building, and killing any more citizens here on our soil.<br /><br />So look at your guys spending and note he will be in 23 trillion at current spending and we can not even afford the interest on the current debt.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07977808657926308272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-49134132142502527222010-08-02T23:33:20.648-04:002010-08-02T23:33:20.648-04:00Consultant,
It's obvious that Bush Derangemen...Consultant,<br /><br />It's obvious that Bush Derangement Syndrome has consumed you.<br /><br />All of the Dollars you quoted about "Bush's wars" also apply to Obama.<br /><br />Furthermore, you seem to forget the current Idiot in Chief occupying the White House has racked up trillions in new debt with his unpopular pet projects that have been rammed down our throats.<br /><br />Your failure to acknowledge those facts render your comments moot.wiley coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01674905924582409585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-65766624246071318252010-08-02T22:45:24.607-04:002010-08-02T22:45:24.607-04:00"Glad I don't think that lowly of my fell..."Glad I don't think that lowly of my fellow citizens--and if I did, I certainly wouldn't post that I did......."<br /><br />I forgot to add that in that 150 billion dollar streetcar plan, a part of it would have Charlotte invade North Korea (that way we would get the Republican vote).consultanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212860754280555647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-40327775016113174442010-08-02T22:34:56.549-04:002010-08-02T22:34:56.549-04:00Which makes me think transportation planners have ...Which makes me think transportation planners have failed by thinking too small. They should come out with a light rail plan that cost 150 billion, with station stops at every corner, fresh beer served each morning on the trains and cheerleaders when you get off at each stop.<br /><br />That ballot initiative would probably pass with about 90% of the voters approving.<br /><br />**************************<br /><br />Glad I don't think that lowly of my fellow citizens--and if I did, I certainly wouldn't post that I did.......Dale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-70916506410854611332010-08-02T22:11:48.303-04:002010-08-02T22:11:48.303-04:00You know you want it! You know you'll ride it...You know you want it! You know you'll ride it! Raise my taxes a bit to pay for forward thinking mass transit!<br /><br />Facebook group supporting the Charlotte Streetcar and Light Rail Expansion:<br />Link:<br />http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlotteans-for-the-Streetcar-and-Light-Rail-expansion/146636445353948?ref=tswilyoathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18103796571553237607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-24219330681749313642010-08-02T21:15:19.062-04:002010-08-02T21:15:19.062-04:00Larry,
Just to be clear, are you an independent, ...Larry,<br /><br />Just to be clear, are you an independent, conservative or a Republican?<br /><br />Do you support spending that supports the many or the few?<br /><br />What about infrastructure other than roads? Dams? Bridges? The electric grid? Water? There are many things ALL OF MUST SUPPORT. Why the craziness over a few million for a streetcar?<br /><br />The 69 billions we just threw away on the "wars" could have built brand spanking new mass transit in the top 20 metro cities in America. The roughly 1 trillion Bush and Cheney dropped into these wars could have built passenger rail to every city and hamlet in America, along with extensive mass transit to ever part of the top 50 metro areas in America along with a gob of money left over for a transportation trust fund.<br /><br />We've thrown away ridiculous sums of money on all kinds of stuff over the last decade, but people mainly shrug their shoulders while their eyes glaze over.<br /><br />Which makes me think transportation planners have failed by thinking too small. They should come out with a light rail plan that cost 150 billion, with station stops at every corner, fresh beer served each morning on the trains and cheerleaders when you get off at each stop.<br /><br />That ballot initiative would probably pass with about 90% of the voters approving.consultanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212860754280555647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-32699862448925664322010-08-02T21:12:42.131-04:002010-08-02T21:12:42.131-04:00Wouldn't it be more appropriate for folks livi...Wouldn't it be more appropriate for folks living/working within four blocks of the entire length of the steetcar line to pay an additional 1% sales tax to fund the streetcar, rather than a tax on parking uptown, as Cannon proposed?<br /><br />You think that if the folks using and benefiting from it actually had to fund it that we would have seen the same marginal level of support that we saw at the city council meeting?Dale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-3839852348434321502010-08-02T21:06:15.303-04:002010-08-02T21:06:15.303-04:00Wonder just how strong the support for the Charlot...Wonder just how strong the support for the Charlotte streetcar would have been if everyone living and working within, say, four blocks, would have to pay an additional 1% sales tax? If they could build and operate the Charlotte streetcar with only that tax and donations, I'd have no reason to oppose it.<br />**********************************<br />"The nearly $25 million from the federal government will pay for more than half the projected start-up costs of the $44-million trolley system. Last year voters living along the trolley route of Delmar and DeBaliviere passed a one-cent sales tax that generates about $400,000 to $500,000 a year for the trolley. <br /><br />Edwards tells Daily RFT that he doesn't believe St. Louis would've received the federal grant without the sales-tax initiative. <br /><br />"Ninety-seven percent of voters supported the tax, and that went a long way to proving our case to the Department of Transportation," says Edwards. "<br /><br /><br />http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2010/07/loop_trolley_a_piece_of_cake.phpDale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-15521444606563698222010-08-02T20:58:22.728-04:002010-08-02T20:58:22.728-04:00Good stuff here:
http://www.thetransportpolitic.c...Good stuff here:<br /><br />http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/existing-systems/existing-light-rail-systems/consultanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212860754280555647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-64694171799072213082010-08-02T20:49:28.596-04:002010-08-02T20:49:28.596-04:00Consultant said Republicans and Conservatives whic...Consultant said Republicans and Conservatives which I am being an Independent can not read.<br /><br />Actually we just have very little time to read as we are working so hard to pay all those taxes for all those non working liberals and liberal policies and toys you guys just lovvvvvvvvvve and throw out like it is the best thing in the world.<br /><br />www.CharlotteLightRail.com<br /><br />And we look forward to seeing you at the poll this time. We Independents have been the swing vote for every election for the last several elections.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07977808657926308272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-8475615283438216242010-08-02T20:48:57.589-04:002010-08-02T20:48:57.589-04:00Here's Kansas City's plan for mass transit...Here's Kansas City's plan for mass transit: http://kclightrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/JacksonCountyKCRegionalAlternativesAnalysisApplication.pdf<br /><br />Kansas City (MARC) and Atlanta (ARC) both have agencies that combine regional and transportation planning. However both agencies lack 2 key ingredients: power and authority.<br /><br />Neither agency can overrule the state or initiate projects on their own. Both agencies are fully represented with authorities from the jurisdictions they cover. But they mostly do studies and issue endless reports.<br /><br />Out of sheer necessity, Georgia moved forward by creating 12 districts in the state that can now come up with their own transportation plans and create their own funding mechanisms. This is a first for Georgia and a HUGE step forward in state where transportation issues in the state's largest metro area were held hostage by mostly rural legislators. <br /><br />A situation not peculiar to Georgiaconsultanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212860754280555647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-51828131020066459932010-08-02T20:02:11.261-04:002010-08-02T20:02:11.261-04:00J,
I just read your comment from a couple of post...J,<br /><br />I just read your comment from a couple of posts back. It just confirms my suspicion: Republicans and conservatives can't read.<br /><br />This is the reason they HATE public transportation. They can't read all the signs and directions around mass transit and they don't want to feel embarrassed or get lost. That's why they oppose mass transit.<br /><br />J, you are a GREAT AMERICAN! You stepped forward to show that you can be ignorant AND support mass transit.<br /><br />J, you are following in the footsteps of a lot of ignorant Americans who ignore their background and move cautiously forward into the light. J, you should be proud of yourself.<br /><br />I'm going to give you a partial scholarship to my online classes (I would give you a full scholarship but I know how you conservatives HATE handouts, bailouts, welfare, affirmative action, subsidies, the American Disabilities Act, Obamacare, women with "big" jobs and flossing).<br /><br />Classes start in September. I look forward to seeing you online.consultanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212860754280555647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-40859118491155148462010-08-02T19:55:33.354-04:002010-08-02T19:55:33.354-04:00POO--against me.
First misspelling of "Simes...POO--against me.<br /><br />First misspelling of "Simes" as "Simms", my error, I apologize.<br /><br />And where I used "SIMMS", I meant "SIMS"--kids had the game but I never played it...or knew how to spell it<br /><br />[;>}<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sims_3Dale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-2427788427528324972010-08-02T19:45:56.485-04:002010-08-02T19:45:56.485-04:00Consultant said: "Washyokytaki, isn't tha...Consultant said: <i>"Washyokytaki, isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black?"</i><br /><br />No, it's not; because I'm calling you out on it. That doesn't automatically label me a hard-core conservative that listens to Rush Limbaugh. You shouldn't assume such things when its not the case. Also, not nice to purposely misspell a user-name .<br /><br /><i>"Do you understand what that means? Why is liberalism cow manure? Why are people upset about a few million for a street car, but they say nothing about tens of billions of tax breaks for the top 3%. Tax breaks YOU will wind up paying for."</i><br /><br />Obviously touched a nerve here. I don't know what tax breaks your talking about and I bet you can't name one.<br /><br /><i>"Why are they going after Cong. Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel when the House & the Senate seem to have ZERO appetite for going after Goldman Sachs, Bank of America or any of the other architects of our recent collapse?"</i><br /><br />Maybe because they are individuals who broke there oath in office, while the companies you speak of employee thousands of people that vote.<br /><br /><i>"Let's do this. Let's build this streetcar and then we can argue about how much it cost to ride on it.<br /><br />Deal?"</i><br /><br />No deal, I will not sit idle while Mary throws up another post on the street car and pretend everything is peachy. If she's willing to continue her support for the system, then I have every right to not support it. Besides, its in Mary's best interest we have these discussions on her blog, otherwise who would read it if everybody is in agreement.<br /><br />The city should have simply turned-down the money and aggressively pursue the other transit options that are higher priority on the list... like extending the blue line to UNC-Charlotte. But then that would probably stirred a different argument all together; there is simply no win.WashuOtakuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16373968014645656779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-21150896646217630072010-08-02T19:30:13.592-04:002010-08-02T19:30:13.592-04:00WashuOtaku,
"..when you start throwing your ...WashuOtaku,<br /><br />"..when you start throwing your liberal b.s. into the mix, it upsets me greatly.."<br /><br />Washyokytaki, isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black?<br /><br />Do you understand what that means? Why is liberalism cow manure? Why are people upset about a few million for a street car, but they say nothing about tens of billions of tax breaks for the top 3%. Tax breaks YOU will wind up paying for.<br /><br />Why are they going after Cong. Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel when the House & the Senate seem to have ZERO appetite for going after Goldman Sachs, Bank of America or any of the other architects of our recent collapse?<br /><br />Walkietalkie, you make some good points, I think, and I'm glad you support mass transit.<br /><br />Let's do this. Let's build this streetcar and then we can argue about how much it cost to ride on it.<br /><br />Deal?consultanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212860754280555647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-8110685934481262782010-08-02T19:30:04.998-04:002010-08-02T19:30:04.998-04:00And Mary thinks that the St. Louis streetcar is a ...And Mary thinks that the St. Louis streetcar is a good idea?<br /><br />"St. Louis’ successful bid for a $25 million grant to partially fund the construction of a new streetcar line in the city’s Loop district is being hailed in the local press as the latest achievement of a man who has in just a few of decades taken what was once a downtrodden street and transformed it into one of the city’s most active commercial areas. Joe Edwards — the “mayor” of the Delmar Loop — started a restaurant, then restored a concert hall, then opened a hotel and a bowling alley, and recently he has been the primary proponent of this rail project...Mr. Edwards will clearly see his business improve by having streetcars run in front of his enterprises, to and from the rapid transit stations and to the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park....From an operations perspective, the project won’t do much to improve access, since its most distant station is less than a mile from an existing Metrolink stop. With nine proposed stations on the short line and vehicles running only every ten minutes, it will in many cases be faster to walk. The historic-looking vehicles will not have low floors, meaning they won’t be able to provide nowadays essential handicapped access; just as bad, they will have no capacity advantages over traditional buses (unfortunately a routine problem for most U.S. streetcar programs).<br />Edwards, the neighborhood developer, has been a proponent of eventually extending the streetcar route all the way to the riverfront, mirroring the route of the city’s old trolley network. Yet this would needlessly duplicate the services already provided by Metrolink....Moreover, whether transport planners like it or not, these systems are in reality a lot more oriented towards fulfilling economic development goals than providing increased mobility. More transportation of any sort, even if it doesn’t seem particularly useful for many people, will encourage investment in new construction or redevelopment. For Mr. Edwards and the community he’s helped develop around Delmar Boulevard, there’s no reason to complain."<br />http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/Dale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-45569476240286198812010-08-02T19:05:06.635-04:002010-08-02T19:05:06.635-04:00Randy Simes
Gender: Male
Astrological Sign: Scorpi...Randy Simes<br />Gender: Male<br />Astrological Sign: Scorpio<br />Industry: Consulting<br />Occupation: Urban Planning<br />Location: Cincinnati : Ohio : United States<br />About Me<br />I am an urban strategist. I study cities and enjoy experiencing all they have to offer. I take those experiences and share them with others through my words and photography.Dale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-90415285638070954902010-08-02T19:04:10.843-04:002010-08-02T19:04:10.843-04:00Consultant, I've traveled Asia and Europe, I a...Consultant, I've traveled Asia and Europe, I am very aware what they have for public transportation. Keep in mind you are picking all big cities with several million plus easy. These cities are not debating about putting a street car where a few people might enjoy it; they are making decisions on how to move the most people as effectively as possible.<br /><br />When you go out of the cities, the smaller cities and towns are not any better than Charlotte on public transportation. As for high-speed railways, they do beet us on that; but they choose different priorities (like you mention), that is also why most freeways in Europe and Asia are toll roads and not as complete in some countries.<br /><br />Beyond that, I would agree to some extent that we are behind the curve on public transportation; but when you start throwing your liberal b.s. into the mix, it upsets me greatly with your inability to have an intelligent conversation (or argument) without the name calling and throwing blame. <br /><br />Keep in mind, your basing everything on the idea that the "grass is greener on the other side." They have much higher taxes there, roads and rail transportation is also not cheap in several countries. They also deal with transportation issues and have similar arguments as we do here... its just they have more of the stuff already is all. When I visited Vienna, for example, people were complaining about the new South Train Terminal they were building that wasn't needed.<br /><br />In closing, I'm sorry most Americans are not as worldly as you are Consultant; but you shouldn't assume that even if they were that would suddenly agree with your point of view... I for one don't.WashuOtakuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16373968014645656779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-78281495220121158502010-08-02T19:02:14.092-04:002010-08-02T19:02:14.092-04:00First of all, I don't understand the ongoing &...First of all, I don't understand the ongoing "Simms" thing your doing. Is this some sort of reference I don't understand, or are you just intentionally misspelling my last name?<br /><br />Secondly, creating greater transit options would do nothing to restrict your life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. What it would do is greatly improve the ability for more people to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I could go on, but I'm not going to entertain the ludicrous idea that you would be forced into changing your life because of greater transportation choices.Randy Simeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272257274373604807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-51355672008812713202010-08-02T18:55:35.720-04:002010-08-02T18:55:35.720-04:00The following by Simes is just nuts:
"In fac...The following by Simes is just nuts:<br /><br />"In fact, most trips made each day are small and relatively insignificant in nature to the user. For example, someone may drive to/from work. That's two trips. But when they get home they may drive to the drug store, grocery, fitness center, or [insert any other random trip here]. Each one of these trips adds up, but does not figure in to the type of transportation planning you are advocating.<br /><br />If you create urban circulator systems, like streetcars, that connect urban neighborhoods with other urban neighborhoods you then create the ability to eliminate the automobile for all of these other trips. "<br /><br />Transit would NEVER satisfied our trip needs for my family of five. Daily and other weekly trips to two schools, post office, bank, dance, voice, theatre, church, office supply, and other commercial locations, all in about four major different directions and distances. Our quality of life and pursuit of happiness would be greatly constraint by dependence on transit.<br /><br />Creating a Simes SIMMS enviroment would greatly restrict my life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness...and I object.Dale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-47577640011385926602010-08-02T18:44:59.415-04:002010-08-02T18:44:59.415-04:00Dale:
I didn't lie or mislead about a single ...Dale:<br /><br />I didn't lie or mislead about a single thing related to the vote. I said that nearly a 2:1 majority vote in favor of the streetcar. I then provided a link to support my claim. You followed that link and were able to read the details for yourself...details which supported my claim.Randy Simeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272257274373604807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-24257215442089601092010-08-02T18:42:17.398-04:002010-08-02T18:42:17.398-04:00Dale:
That pole drew a lot of controversy even fr...Dale:<br /><br />That pole drew a lot of controversy even from those who don't support the Cincinnati Streetcar project. But for a fairly good rundown of all the discussions and debate I'll point you to this story:<br /><br />http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-20742-the-enquirers-streetcar-numbers-dont-add-up.html<br /><br />With that said, I do agree that the ballot language was misleading. Interestingly enough, it was streetcar and rail opponents that put that ballot language together...not those in favor of the project(s).Randy Simeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272257274373604807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19601020.post-91990286982834968312010-08-02T18:40:05.350-04:002010-08-02T18:40:05.350-04:00Another point of order, Mr. Simes:
The issue 9 vo...Another point of order, Mr. Simes:<br /><br />The issue 9 vote in Cincinnati was much closer to 50/50 than it was to a two to one result. (56/44)<br /><br />Man, do you always mislead folks so badly as you have here in this blog? Is your position of support for transit so weak that you have to lie about facts?Dale Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469820113953931658noreply@blogger.com