Atlanta Streetcar (Downtown Loop) progress (Morgan: salary, realty, expenses)

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JPD

Lower emissions.

Why don't we get a fleet of these?

They have zero emissions, a range of 150+ miles, and can be recharged overnight in 6 hours. There are solar panels on top which assist the battery.

According to Wikipedia, they're offering a lease program backed by the China Development Bank so they should be pretty affordable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BYD_electric_bus#Policies


BYD eBus K9 Introduction - YouTube

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Why don't we get a fleet of these?

They have zero emissions, a range of 150+ miles, and can be recharged overnight in 6 hours. There are solar panels on top which assist the battery.

According to Wikipedia, they're offering a lease program backed by the China Development Bank so they should be pretty affordable.

BYD electric bus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


BYD eBus K9 Introduction - YouTube

Nooooo! They've already started building the first segment of the streetcar. There is no turning back. There's no choice but to build even more streetcar lines now. It's kind of like throwing a crazy house party when your parents are out of town. After your friends smash everything in your house to smithereens, does it make any sense to throw them out and start cleaning up? Hell no! You turn the party up! There's no point in mitigating the damage when you're going to get in trouble for the damage that's already occurred anyway. You might as well go all out, have your fun, and worry about the consequences later.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Many of the areas in Atlanta that have been regarded as the most walkable and pedestrian friendly haven't had any rail transit at all. Examples include Virginia-Highland, Buckhead Village, Poncey-Highland, Little Five Points and East Atlanta.

Actually many of those neighborhoods you name were built around streetcar lines:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetcars_in_Atlanta

[kferq]

Originally Posted by #1MARTAFan

Streetcar doesn't need ROW? If it isn't being built with ROW, it is going to get stuck in traffic no different than a bus would. What is the benefit at this point other than satisfying the choo choo love of some?

Why would having reliable transit that moves at a faster speed kill density? Are the existing structures going to be bulldozed in favor of single family homes? Nope. While this might not encourage development as much as the choo choo would (which is debatable), it provides a great transportation solution at a reasonable price.

The Streetcar eventually will have its own ROW. Remember that the streetcar is going to connect to the Beltline. However, the right of way on the Beltline is very narrow and BRT takes a regular sized lane. You could not run BRT on the Beltline.

[#1MARTAFan]

Originally Posted by kferq

The Streetcar eventually will have its own ROW. Remember that the streetcar is going to connect to the Beltline. However, the right of way on the Beltline is very narrow and BRT takes a regular sized lane. You could not run BRT on the Beltline.

Where are the streetcars on the Beltline going to run? They going to fly magically through the air?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Actually many of those neighborhoods you name were built around streetcar lines

Those streetcars have been gone for 60 years or more.

Yet the neighborhoods have carried on, through thick and thin. You'd have to look far and wide to find anybody who moved there or located their business there because of streetcars.

In recent decades these areas have enjoyed a great resurgence, despite the complete absence of streetcars. It's other factors that make them attractive, not rail transit. There isn't any.

[BajanYankee]

[quote=arjay57;29782580]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Actually many of those neighborhoods you name were built around streetcar lines:

Those streetcars have been gone for 60 years or more.

Yet the neighborhoods have carried on, through thick and thin. You'd have to look far and wide to find anybody who moved there or located their business there because of streetcars.

In recent decades these area have enjoyed a great resurgence, despite the complete absence of streetcars. It's other factors that make them attractive, not rail transit. There isn't any.

Uh oh. This presents a real conundrum for streetcar advocates. Time to get the popcorn ready.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

Nooooo! They've already started building the first segment of the streetcar. There is no turning back. There's no choice but to build even more streetcar lines now. It's kind of like throwing a crazy house party when your parents are out of town. After your friends smash everything in your house to smithereens, does it make any sense to throw them out and start cleaning up? Hell no! You turn the party up! There's no point in mitigating the damage when you're going to get in trouble for the damage that's already occurred anyway. You might as well go all out, have your fun, and worry about the consequences later.

Don't get me wrong, Bajan. While I'm not crazy about the current streetcar project I am willing to give it a shot. I am optimistic that it will be a positive factor in the Edgewood/Auburn Avenue area.

However, if we're looking for true transportation solutions it's clear that the lines will have to be extended into our busy commercial corridors to the north.

[kferq]

Originally Posted by #1MARTAFan

Where are the streetcars on the Beltline going to run? They going to fly magically through the air?

Really? Street cars are lovely little choo choos, but they aren't magic and they don't fly. They run on the right of way next to the trail. Go on the Beltline Eastside Trail and you will see an area with no trees planted to the West of the trail about the width of a single trafic lane. You could not get BRT in that space, but the tracks allow streetcars to pass closer together and they can fit.

[MDAllstar]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

What does that have to do with rail transit that's currently not there?

It's actually a really dumb idea to put streetcar lines in Adams-Morgan. First, the Circulator already runs up there and it's well ridden. Second, the neighborhood can't really get much denser than it already is, so the "development" argument doesn't come into play here. Third, the yuppies in Adams-Morgan already ride the local buses so they don't need any additional incentive to hop onto transit. And fourth, the streetcar will do nothing but tear up the streets and cause major traffic delays in neighborhoods that are already dense and vibrant while adding very little in the way of a fast and effective mode of transportation.

If they're going to cause more grief with construction along 18th or Columbia (as if there hasn't been enough already), they should truly make it worth it and save all of the headache for a real Metro heavy rail line.

????

Adams Morgan can get way denser than it is. Adams Morgan is headed for a Logan Circle/Shaw type of transformation. Look for most of the store front buildings to be replaced with 6-8 story buildings when the streetcar arrives. If you want to see what is going to happen to Columbia rd, look at 7th, 9th, 13th, and 14th streets. There was a development overview done for all streetcar lines. The 1/2 mile buffer for all lines will be lined with highrises across the whole city. Bajan, you have seen what is going on across DC, what makes you think Adams Morgan is built out? It's time to build up.