Air quality deteriorating in Twin Cities: Ramsey Cty gets "F"

[west336]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

If this was an easy problem to fix, it would be fixed. Lot of things are part of the solution, but one train is not even going to make a blip on the map to cleaner air. I wonder if they bought up 2 billion worth of hybrid cars and gave them away if it would have more or less effect than spending the money on a train system.

Also, be careful when reading agenda based articles that present one side more fairly than the other. Used to be some journalistic standards but now editors print whatever they feel like. Not saying air quality is not an issue, but the article was far from objective representation of reality. It belonged in OP-ED because it was basically an opinion in disguise of a news story.

Light rail is not a profitable entity but it's certainly better than a 0% return on investment! It may be more like 90%-95% revenue to expense ratio, which is FAR greater than freeways or gas taxes generate, especially on a per rider basis!

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by west336

Light rail is not a profitable entity but it's certainly better than a 0% return on investment! It may be more like 90%-95% revenue to expense ratio, which is FAR greater than freeways or gas taxes generate, especially on a per rider basis!

I meant with regards to air quality rather than revenue. Just saying more or less what you did earlier. Train and the $ involved is not necessarily a no brainer because there are perhaps other things that money could do to more effectively reduce emissions.

[ManBearPig1]

Didn't mean to imply that a couple trains and few less cars would solve air quality woes. Just meant to point out a couple recent manifestations of the pertinent broader unsustainable policies many in the legislature are pushing, given the irony of the timing.

[xandrex]

Trains are no more the only solution than everyone getting a hybrid is. Instead, we should be encouraging increased transportation by train and bus, more fuel efficient cars, higher efficiency homes and businesses, greener energy sources (I include nuclear here), and more foot/pedal power. Not one piece of that puzzle alone with solve our problems, but taken collectively, they could do a lot of good.

[gearedtowardssalad]

Even more reason for me to move to New Mexico and live in the mountains.