<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Despite increased ridership, we need more funding as well as support for our trains]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by green8659 http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/ Mon, 12 May 2008 15:40:05 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/1 Not Here

I'm sure where they are getting their observations bus transit is jumping but I live in the 2nd largest city in my state and we have shown little to no growth in 7 years.

Green and Environmental Website | Almighty Cleanse

]]> Not Here

I'm sure where they are getting their observations bus transit is jumping but I live in the 2nd largest city in my state and we have shown little to no growth in 7 years.

Green and Environmental Website | Almighty Cleanse

]]> Comment #2 by Colin Wright http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/ Mon, 12 May 2008 16:03:32 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/2 Certainly here...

For people who can still afford to live in Seattle, the debate rages over electric trolleys vs. streetcars vs. light rail. What we really need though is a federal electrification-of-transit project comparable to the setting up of the Interstate system.
... streetcars cost three to six times as much to build as electric trolley buses. Both are powered by electric wires, but fixed rails must be built and maintained for streetcars, while rubber-tired trolley buses run on street pavement without tracks. According to the city estimate, electric trolley construction and facilities such as power lines would cost $7 million to $8 million per mile for systems lasting 30 years. The city estimate compared that to $30 million to $45 million per mile for streetcar systems that last 40 years (one proposed line would cost more than $50 million per mile). Light rail trains, by comparison, cost between $100 million and $160 million per mile and can last more than 60 years


]]> Certainly here...

For people who can still afford to live in Seattle, the debate rages over electric trolleys vs. streetcars vs. light rail. What we really need though is a federal electrification-of-transit project comparable to the setting up of the Interstate system.
... streetcars cost three to six times as much to build as electric trolley buses. Both are powered by electric wires, but fixed rails must be built and maintained for streetcars, while rubber-tired trolley buses run on street pavement without tracks. According to the city estimate, electric trolley construction and facilities such as power lines would cost $7 million to $8 million per mile for systems lasting 30 years. The city estimate compared that to $30 million to $45 million per mile for streetcar systems that last 40 years (one proposed line would cost more than $50 million per mile). Light rail trains, by comparison, cost between $100 million and $160 million per mile and can last more than 60 years


]]> Comment #3 by The Overhead Wire http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/ Mon, 12 May 2008 18:14:28 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/3 Electric Transport

I agree Colin.  There needs to be much more electric transport.  I think however each mode has a certain function.  In Seattle for example, I believe the streetcar lines have two goals, one is quality electric transit and the other is placemaking.  The placemaking is important because it gets folks walking and biking and shopping locally.  As you can see on SLU already, it changes the land use.

It's Electric! TheOverheadWire.com

]]> Electric Transport

I agree Colin.  There needs to be much more electric transport.  I think however each mode has a certain function.  In Seattle for example, I believe the streetcar lines have two goals, one is quality electric transit and the other is placemaking.  The placemaking is important because it gets folks walking and biking and shopping locally.  As you can see on SLU already, it changes the land use.

It's Electric! TheOverheadWire.com

]]> Comment #4 by Delay And Deny http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/ Mon, 12 May 2008 23:20:19 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/4 Mass Transit=Mass Taxation


Mass transit schemes, especially of the type being foisted on the Puget Sound, are really taxation "vehicles".

The game is: structure a system that is so money wasting and costly that voters feel compelled to "fix" or "extend" it every year in order to "make it better".

But it never gets better because it was never intended to work in the first place.

End result: lots of bureaucratic jobs.

Texeme.Construct(Participant)


]]> Mass Transit=Mass Taxation


Mass transit schemes, especially of the type being foisted on the Puget Sound, are really taxation "vehicles".

The game is: structure a system that is so money wasting and costly that voters feel compelled to "fix" or "extend" it every year in order to "make it better".

But it never gets better because it was never intended to work in the first place.

End result: lots of bureaucratic jobs.

Texeme.Construct(Participant)


]]> Comment #5 by Jon Rynn http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/ Tue, 13 May 2008 00:33:26 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/5 What's the difference between streetcars

and light rail?  Do streetcars just have one car?  In some ways that sounds nicer than light rail, because it's "cuter", maybe less intrusive, and it seems to me that you could move more people that way -- if you hire more drivers than light rail.

I noticed in the article Colin mentioned that one of the factors in streetcars' favor was that Seattle has control over streetcars, whereas the county has to sign off on buses.  This is the same problem NYC had with congestion pricing -- cities should have control over their transportation needs.

]]> What's the difference between streetcars

and light rail?  Do streetcars just have one car?  In some ways that sounds nicer than light rail, because it's "cuter", maybe less intrusive, and it seems to me that you could move more people that way -- if you hire more drivers than light rail.

I noticed in the article Colin mentioned that one of the factors in streetcars' favor was that Seattle has control over streetcars, whereas the county has to sign off on buses.  This is the same problem NYC had with congestion pricing -- cities should have control over their transportation needs.

]]> Comment #6 by PermieWriter http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/ Tue, 13 May 2008 05:18:40 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-transit-surge-is-working/6 BART

Here in the SF Bay Area, we've certainly seen BART ridership climb. I don't mind standing on my commute if it means more people are out of their cars.

Eat what you grow, grow what you eat

]]> BART

Here in the SF Bay Area, we've certainly seen BART ridership climb. I don't mind standing on my commute if it means more people are out of their cars.

Eat what you grow, grow what you eat

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