Port Authority Seeks $80.7M in Stimulus for Bus Network (Philadelphia: for sale, house)

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by bethany12

Nothing like wasting $80 million on dying towns. I had relatives in this weekend (that own cars and drove in to Pittsburgh). They were shocked at the condition of the area. I laughed when they asked me how it is that Pittsburgh lands on national top 10 lists routinely and it looks so run down. They suggested that we use the money to fix the road system first. I laughed again and told them it wasn't going to happen.

Maybe you should ride back home with them.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Maybe you should ride back home with them.

Don't feed the you know whats. I know, I'm one to talk, but I'm trying to turn over a new leaf.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by creepsinc

...but I'm trying to turn over a new leaf.

We all could benefit from doing that now and then!

[bethany12]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Maybe you should ride back home with them.

Maybe the haters should try to come up with realistic ways to improve the city instead of going along with the same old rust belt union mentality of pushing money into worthless projects.

[Copanut]

Somehow, Ms. B-12, I think if Pgh became the next great city with thousands of people and jobs moving in, you still wouldn't be happy.

I won't argue about the union mentality, but I believe that only exists in the city proper, those of us in the 'burbs tend to realize there is no such thing as a free lunch.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by bethany12

Maybe the haters should try to come up with realistic ways to improve the city instead of going along with the same old rust belt union mentality of pushing money into worthless projects.

OK, so then what realistic ways do you have?

[bethany12]

Originally Posted by raubre

OK, so then what realistic ways do you have?

Don't put any money into the bus system. Use the $80 million to improve the existing infrastructure of Pittsburgh ONLY in areas where there is growth. The outlying areas of Allegheny County could really use the money. Because of the growth in population, some of the roads are like parking lots during peak hours.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by raubre

OK, so then what realistic ways do you have?

Have a brief (albeit unscientific) IQ test before joining City-Data (or anywhere else one can post one's opinions). Double digit= no membership. Wait, this is about the bus system. Sorry.

[BrianTH]

Trying to relieve congestion in outlying growth areas with more road-building has failed over and over again in many cities. The basic problem is that it just induces new building right next to whatever road you build, and a little while later everything is congested again.

Meanwhile, investment in rapid transit in the right corridors has in fact worked to stimulate high-value development in many cities. Ironically, this is something post-industrial cities have recently NOT been trying, in part because recently federal funding for road-building has been much easier to get than federal funding for transit.

So bethany12 is actually doing the opposite of what she suggested: she is actually promoting the continuance of the policies that have recently failed post-industrial cities, instead of looking to new ideas that have proven successful elsewhere. And there is nothing "realistic" about insisting on continuing failed policies.

[creepsinc]

Using logic to battle illogic is as hopeless and nonsensical as widening roads to battle congestion.