What 'things' / businesses do you want to see come to the Boise area? (for locals only please) (Meridian: homes, purchase)

[kristinl5]

What I'd really like is for an upgrade to the infrastructure from the northend of Boise/Meridian to the South end..and vice versa....Eagle is becoming a pain!

[Jarndyce]

I thought I answered in this thread in June. Here's my assessment of what Boise needs.
1. Chipotle. I even know where it needs to go. Either by BSU or on corner of Cole/Fairview. PLEASE CHIPOTLE COME TO BOISE

2. Trader Joe's would make a nice companion to Boise Co-op. Albertson's and WinCo leave a lot to be desired. I'm a single guy, 30s, so my needs are different than a family's.

Boise does not need an InNOut. Boise has a MUCH BETTER OPTION. "Good Times" on Milwaukee. FAR SUPERIOR to InNOut. Whenever I eat a Good Times bacon cheeseburger I laugh at the double double I used to think was "the shizzy" at InNOut...

Spoons was garbage. Chili's and Applebee's are better. Though I used to like TGIFriday's best and I went to one on Milwaukee recently and the food was pricey and garbage. They are off my list...though I've found LOCAL places which are FAR superior to the chains. Support Sockeye!!

We have REI which is cool. It'd be nice to have something other than Dillard's in terms of upscale clothing. Yes I'm advocating a Nordstrom's (and a Nordstrom Rack)

[Need2Leave]

Originally Posted by boi2socal

Unfortunately, commuter trains and wide open spaces don't go together.

Unfortunately true... neither does a 1 hr. drives to go 20 miles, go together with what qualifies as a desireable comunity.

I'll stand by my statement, there is no reason a valley that needed (and had) a passenger train a century ago can't put a comuter train on existing tracks that see little use, and happen to paralell the most cloged roadway in the state. If there is one thing this valley needs it is that train.

[Jarndyce]

Originally Posted by Need2Leave

Unfortunately true... neither does a 1 hr. drives to go 20 miles, go together with what qualifies as a desireable comunity.

I'll stand by my statement, there is no reason a valley that needed (and had) a passenger train a century ago can't put a comuter train on existing tracks that see little use, and happen to paralell the most cloged roadway in the state. If there is one thing this valley needs it is that train.

A commuter train running over those tracks sounds like a fantastic idea For one thing, with gas at $3.70/gal here and with no hope of it going down anytime soon, especially given the decade-long timeline needs which the Drill Baby Drill crowd fail to discuss, a commuter train sounds like a more "realistic" option to get congestion off that Interstate within 3 years and put gas money back in Boisean/Meridean/Eaglean pockets...

[newspud]

I agree with the commuter train idea. Funny that I happened across this post because I was just asking my aunt if the city has thought about it. With Boise growing at the rate that it is, I think future planning to provide for transit from the outerlying areas towards the center of the city would be a great idea for years to come.

[boi2socal]

...and without a local tax option it is unlikely as well.

[Need2Leave]

Originally Posted by boi2socal

...and without a local tax option it is unlikely as well.

so true, and so sad. Legislature see's a great talking point but no action. I left Portland 10 yrs ago and the buses and trains were sooooo great to have. When I got here the drive was no trouble, not even a second thought was given to the drive. Now Nampa to Boise is such a pain in my... AHEM....we realy need a train bad.

[boiseguy]

I think the one factor that changes the wide open spaces vs commuter rail is the high price of gas...
I do not think its unrealistic for a commuter train from nampa/caldwell through meridian to boise. My take on it all is, If they had planned for the commuter rail 10 years ago.. we wouldn't have to be spending all this money on widening the freeway, and infrastructure like rail is a VERY useful tool in curbing sprawl...
This is america, so we can't tell people NOT to build houses here or there because it not economical or "green". American's tend to baulk at such notions... BUT if you are ahead of the curve in building proper infrastructure you can certainly make it less desirable to build houses in those area's you don't want them...It works well in many other countries.. if you want a good example... take a trip to any canadian city that is similar to boise's size or bigger...
Dropping dollars to bend over and pick up pennies seems to be the mentality of most american cities when it comes to managing growth...Getting the average joe on board takes a lot more than pushing a "green" agenda... it takes hitting him where it hurts.. his pocketbook...

[boi2socal]

Originally Posted by boiseguy

I think the one factor that changes the wide open spaces vs commuter rail is the high price of gas...
I do not think its unrealistic for a commuter train from nampa/caldwell through meridian to boise. My take on it all is, If they had planned for the commuter rail 10 years ago.. we wouldn't have to be spending all this money on widening the freeway, and infrastructure like rail is a VERY useful tool in curbing sprawl...
This is america, so we can't tell people NOT to build houses here or there because it not economical or "green". American's tend to baulk at such notions... BUT if you are ahead of the curve in building proper infrastructure you can certainly make it less desirable to build houses in those area's you don't want them...It works well in many other countries.. if you want a good example... take a trip to any canadian city that is similar to boise's size or bigger...
Dropping dollars to bend over and pick up pennies seems to be the mentality of most american cities when it comes to managing growth...Getting the average joe on board takes a lot more than pushing a "green" agenda... it takes hitting him where it hurts.. his pocketbook...

I agree with the idea of commuter rail. I am pro-transit. I just don't see it happening in Boise. Too sprawling and the other cities have little interest in combating sprawl. Planned communities are a step up from the traditional subdivision but it is still sprawl. I'm not saying it won't ever work in Boise but how about trying to form a half decent bus system first. Then HOV lanes on the freeway for Express Buses. Jumping right to commuter rail without a decent bus system is like jumping from elementary school to college (without a high IQ).

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by boi2socal

I agree with the idea of commuter rail. I am pro-transit. I just don't see it happening in Boise. Too sprawling and the other cities have little interest in combating sprawl. Planned communities are a step up from the traditional subdivision but it is still sprawl. I'm not saying it won't ever work in Boise but how about trying to form a half decent bus system first. Then HOV lanes on the freeway for Express Buses. Jumping right to commuter rail without a decent bus system is like jumping from elementary school to college (without a high IQ).

The local bus system has really started stepping it up and there are more routes, times, and stops. Ridership is also at an all time high because of high gas prices. I am not saying the local bus is great but it is getting better because there is more of an awareness. I don't think Boise sprawls, in fact the city of Boise is pretty tight and compact and has density and the open spaces between Boise and the smaller towns: Meridian, Kuna, Eagle is fast filling up with homes and business so no..I would not say Boise sprawls.
Heading into Canyon County is a different story but come on..Canyon County is farmland with towns dotting the landscape so it is just the way it is.
Take it from me, someone who lives in Boise that there is change in the air, and I think a commuter line is more realistic than cynics will think.
But that commuter line will most likely be born as the downtown trolley/rail system which is planned and the city of Boise has secured federal funding to build a transportation center in downtown which is supposed to start construction next year.