Quote:
Originally Posted by wilson1010
People get around now in an orderly fashion, at least everywhere that a street car has been proposed.
1. A streetcar is just a little politicians toy. A pocket watch. A parrot in a cage. Something that politicians can say: "see what I did?" It has no relevance other than political relevance.
2. Taxpayers will fund the repayment of the bonds and they will subsidize the operations and a bunch of incompetent public employees will be added to the public dole. And, at best, a few people who could use the walk will ride free from one part of the city to another.
3. We have the finest air conditioned, quiet, fast express buses that money can buy. And, there is no one left standing when the bus pulls out from the stop. There is plenty of room for all riders. No one is left behind. The whole fleet covering three counties did not cost as much as a streetcat that is projected to go a couple of miles in the city.
|
Good points - but they may be refuted, with a little expansion.
1. Streetcars (or any rail based transportation system) are not "toys". They are the most efficient land based mode of transportation, and far out perform all others, in terms of fuel consumption, surface area consumption, resource consumption, and have minimal waste and pollution. That the first age of urban rail was destroyed by skullduggery is not in dispute.
The video, "Taken for a Ride", may be found around the 'net.
Taken for a Ride - How General Motors (GM) Conspired to Destroy Rail Trolley Systems
The Streetcar Conspiracy - How General Motors Deliberately Destroyed Public Transit (http://saveourwetlands.org/streetcar.htm - broken link)
2. Using taxpayer funds to build / rebuild urban rail IS a misuse of funds. Government intrusion into transportation is a recipe for disaster. It was certainly bad when the progressives / socialists took over, in the early 1900s. It was partly the government's fault that our rail systems built between 1890 - 1920 were destroyed. It would be far more efficient to grant a zero tax liability to any company (and its investors / employees) who are 100% involved in building, operating, maintaining or repairing electric traction rail mass transit.
3. Funny thing about buses - folks really don't like them if they have an alternative. Which is not the same thing people feel about rail. Would it surprise you that the "Great Streetcar Conspirators" knew it, too? They wanted to drive up demand for automobiles, first, by eliminating their rival, the streetcars, and then by substituting the more inferior buses (smelly, cramped, and certainly not as smooth riding).
But the best argument to restore electric traction rail mass transit is so we can transition away from fossil fueled modes. (We currently import over 70% of our consumption!)
A transportation system that relies on a "non-renewable" resource is bound for collapse - the only question is whether we adapt in time, not whether we need to adapt. --- Strickland.
==================
References in support:
strickland.ca - transportation energy efficiency (fuel consumption)
The Oil Drum | Multiple Birds – One Silver BB: A synergistic set of solutions to multiple issues focused on Electrified Railroads
:: Excellent article on the benefits of electrification of mainline RRs
NARP: National Association of Railroad Passengers
Rails - New Mexico's Passenger Rail Action Group (http://www.nmrails.org/index.html - broken link)
Rail-Videos.Net - Online Railroad Video Database
THE TROLLEY STOP :: Great introduction to the history of electric streetcars / trolleys / trams
Welcome to world.nycsubway.org :: Though NYC is emphasized, there is a great collection of photos from all around
http://www.apta.com
RailroadForums.com - Railroad discussion forum and photo gallery
LRTA - The Light Rail Transit Association site
The National Electric Railroad Initiative