Taking notes on Tennessee's test run
Would Charleston-area commuter rails have same problems?
The Post and Courier
The Music City Star in Nashville, Tenn., carries fewer than half the predicted number of daily, round-trip commuters.
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WATCHDOG: THE GREAT TRAIN DEBATE
The Post and Courier
Nashville's Music City Star, a commuter train similar to one proposed for the Charleston area, offers a cautionary tale for rail supporters here.
The good news from Nashville is that the Music City Star was put into service in 2005 for just $41 million, making it the least-expensive commuter rail project in the nation.
The 32-mile train serves six stations along a busy highway corridor, and ridership has increased sharply from a year ago, up by more than 35 percent in tandem with gasoline prices.
The bad news is that despite the increased ridership, the train carries only about 350 round-trip passengers daily, fewer than half the number predicted in studies.
That means operating subsidies are higher than expected, around $4 million a year, and local governments have been asked to contribute more money to keep the train running.
"We are working on legislation that would allow us to collect a tax, when the region figures out what it wants to do," said Allyson Shumate, Music City Star project manager.
A test case
The Music City Star is a Tennessee test case, potentially the first of five commuter trains serving Nashville.
"Until this funding issue is resolved, I doubt we will see more commuter rail here," said Ed Cole, chief of environment and planning at the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Federal funds to reduce congestion and improve air quality are helping to cover the Music City Star's operating costs for now, but those funds are available for only the first three years of operation, which are coming to an end.
Ridership, initially projected at around 740 round-trip passengers daily, was to be considered a key measure of success.
"We still haven't met projections, but ridership is steadily increasing and we've had to add some buses," Shumate said.
Downtown shuttle buses are provided at no cost to train riders, who take them from the Nashville train station to their destinations. Parking at train stations in the suburbs also is free.
As with Charleston's proposed train, Nashville's system was designed to serve suburban rush-hour commuters who work downtown. Two downtown Nashville universities, Vanderbilt and Belmont, provide free or reduced fares for employees and students who rides the train.
Lessons for Charleston
"I think the most important lesson is to be very realistic in estimating rides, and consider the funding sources," Cole said. "We don't have a dedicated funding source, and that's an issue we're having to deal with."
Charleston's 2006 rail study estimates that a train serving Charleston, North Charleston and Summerville would attract more than 1,600 round-trip passengers daily. Jennifer Humphreys, author of the Charleston study, said the ridership estimates are conservative.
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, chairman of the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments' rail subcommittee, said he also is comfortable with the passenger estimates, despite Nashville's experience.
"I believe our numbers are very conservative, and not just because the price of gas has more than doubled since the 2006 study," Riley said.
He said the geography of the region, with rivers and marshes that limit transportation options and the availability of downtown parking, supports the projections for high train ridership. Nashville's population is significantly larger that Charleston's, but the rail line proposed in Charleston would serve a more densly-populated area.
As for having a dedicated funding source, the other issue raised by Cole, no funding source has been identified to cover the ongoing operations of a Charleston-area train. The estimated subsidy needed is at least $1.4 million yearly.
Another lesson involves shuttle buses.
Nashville offers free shuttle buses from the downtown train station to passengers' final destinations, and something similar would be needed in Charleston. The problem Nashville faces is that, as more people ride the train, more buses are needed, and they can cost more money than the additional train fares generate.
"That's not a cost-effective way of doing it," Shumate said.
And a final lesson: Federal funding paid most of the cost of Nashville's train, and Charleston-area planners have discussed seeking federal transit funds as well, but involving the federal government can be cumbersome and slow.
The process of winning federal appropriations and completing required studies was one reason it took nine years to get the Music City Star up and running. New Mexico relied on state funding and completed the first phase of its Rail Runner train in less than three years.
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Comments
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
Gee, that's only $117,000 per person for the startup cost and $12,000 per year per rider after. Actually that $12,000 per rider is the subsidy part of the cost...those riders are also paying for tickets, $12,000 less each than the tickets actually cost. Sounds like a great use of federal tax monies to me! Anyone in summerville want to fork over about $15,000 a year to get to North Charleston and walk or bus to work instead of driving their car?
Even if their projection was correct and the ridership doubled, It would still cost each rider about $9000 per year to take the train. Of course, they aren't gonna pay that much money, so taxpayers would get to pick up 2/3 of the actual cost. The 350 riders they have now wouldn't ride if they had to pay the actual cost of the ride. They didn't mention if that subsidy covered the "free" bus ride once they get downtown either, so that may be a subsidy hidden in the bus system costs to make the actual amount of subsidy for the rail lower.
Hey! I've got an idea! SKYTRAN! LOL
July 10, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillytheKid (anonymous) says...
26 needs to have more lanes and the exits need some work. We have a bus service that needs support, find out where the people are that will ride the bus and have a route that gets to them.
Also, fix the traffic lights so they are in sequence.
A train? It would need major repairs before we could pay for it.
July 10, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
karmann (anonymous) says...
For years Americans have been encouraged to buy and drive cars. Even w/ the gas embargo of the 70's, the push for car pooling and and smaller cars lasted only as long as the crisis lasted. Now w/ another gas crisis the move is, again, toward smaller cars, car pooling, and public transportation. Why is there such surprise that so many folks are reluctant to change when our government has not had the backbone to pursue change for so many years, until it may now be too late.
July 10, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
We just can't do anything inexpensively - any time the gov. is involved, costs go thru the roof, with all their special interest requirements. Some sort of mass transit from Summerville to Charleston, down thru the spine of the area, would be good, but the costs are just crazy.
Also, between our leaders letting us down and the wide swings in energy costs, nothing gets done on the energy problem.
For the short term, I say, start drilling off shore - S.C. could use the money that would come from activity off our shore - who cares about a few oil spills, the beaches are already polluted from all the population density, such at M. Beach.
July 10, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Riptide (anonymous) says...
A rail system only makes sense in areas with high density populations and even then they are subsidized by taxpayers who don't use rail systems. The low country does not fall into this category. A train is groovy and so European but is it practical? I lived in cities where they have rail systems and they're okay if you just so happen to be going in that direction. If you live at point A and the train goes to point Y, it's a great form of transportation. Most people live at point B, C, D, E, F, G, & H and work or shop at points J, K ,L, M, N, O, and P. Grant you, most people travel down the same corridor as the train traveling to point Y but again if you're going to places where the train doesn't go it doesn't make sense to travel on the train. I don't think there is a rail system in this country that is running in the black, most if not all is in the red.
Then there's another problem, wait 'til they break down. A train can't pull over and wait for a toll truck. Every train that uses that track has to wait until that train is fixed or moved to a station. If you have ever been on a crowded train, wait until the homeless people start boarding the train. How long can you hold your breath or keep their head lice from jumping onto your clothing.
July 10, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Rip
I also have lived/stayed in areas with train systems and agree with most of what you have said, except for breakdowns - I have never experienced one and I suspect they are rare. A more comon interruption is a strike of transportation workers, who always seem to be unionized.
People should realize that where a commuter systems is a sucess, all walks of life use it from Wall street folks to service workers.
People who are off network will still use cars, bikes etc. The net effect is less traffic.
July 10, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justjerry (anonymous) says...
I would like to see a study with ridership numbers based on what it would cost to break even on the cost of rides vs operating expenses. Planning to subsidize is not the right approach to go into a project such as this. Why go into an enterprise that you know from the start will lose money? If you cannot operate it at a cost that will cover expenses then it is too expensive.
July 10, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zekemire (anonymous) says...
These systems never work as planned! First, the projections, even though put forth as conservative, are always overly optimistic! If you think there will be 1600 trips daily, you had better use 600 or maybe 800 as a basis point! Next, do not propose a dedicated funding source such as a transportation tax that unfairly places a burden on hudreds of thousands of taxpayers that will not use the trains! Next, make it convenient for riders to get to their ultimate destination, and, to be able to move about the area during the day for other needs! Nashville has done part of that by giving free shuttle service to riders final destinations. However, if the rider needs to go to another location in the area during the day for business or personal reasons, that must be addressed also! Next, a law enforcement team must be constantly available and on the trains and in the stations to insure the safety of passengers! That is a major problem! Next, these methods must be totally self sufficient, fares must fully pay for the operation of the system, no subsidies to cover the lack of income from fares or to pay for the management team! Lastly, IT MUST BE ON A DEDICATED RAIL FOR USE ONLY BY THESE PASSENGER RAILS, NOT ON EXISTING FREIGHT RAILS! This is purely a safety issue, plus it is not Constitutional to confiscate private rail lines for public use!!
July 10, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Riptide (anonymous) says...
Nep:
I have experience them on the west coast and I agree they are rare, but it all depends on the age of the rail system. I forgot about the unions. They can be expensive and the also the least productive. Like I said it makes sense in areas with high density populations or where a city or country experience it's initial growth with the rail system already in place or the rail system was part of that growth. Europe and NYC are good examples. Again, it wouldn't make sense for the low country.
Like most things in life once the genie is out of the bottle it's hard to put her back in. I can not imagine myself without a car or how life would be without one.
July 10, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Riptide (anonymous) says...
Be careful of studies, the planning commission in my hometown study this one traffic problem for over 30 years and once everyone agreed to a solution they found the studies cost more than the solution. Politics is not cheap.
July 10, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Zek
True, the system will never lives up to expectation - disregard comments by joe on this subject as his last big project - the aquarium has problems.
It is my understanding and I believe others have touched on this - transit systems will not break even and must be subsidized. But look at the overall benefit of savings to the consumer (not stuck in traffic jambs, accidents, gas costs, cost of more cars, etc.) and less need to build new expensive roads (we are running out of space for them).
July 10, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pompusmaximus (anonymous) says...
Fair point Neponset.
Anyway, widening roads only provides, immediate, short term relief for just a couple years or so. The first part of this series touched on that but a lot of people on here are too lazy to read back.
Anyway, once gas prices get to unreasonable levels, we will have more political will for commuter trains. The problem will be that we may no longer possess the resources to construct such a thing. This is why it would be in our best interest to build it now so that we have a secondary means of transport to rely on later. Otherwise we are going to be riding horses on our crumbling interstate system.
July 10, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bstairley (anonymous) says...
I have read all of these other comments. I want to know what other people have experienced who have lived in places already using light rail. If it has not work, we need to know that. But if you feel it does not work, do you have any better ideas? This area really does need to get some of the polluting cars off of the streets. Our air quality is pitiful and getting worse daily. We really do have a traffic problem. It, too, is getting worse daily. It the solution should not incorporate light rail in you opinion, what should it include? I thought that was part of the point to being able to respond was to talk out what will work.
My two cents-
July 10, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
bs..
Good questions, eather we come up with a mass transit system (lite rail, buses, bikes or whatever) or we go into grid lock in a few years. I have used mass transit in larger cities and it worked for me quite well, but I don't know what it cost to the tax payers. The current system just does not work with the population density we have. We are running out of space for roads and the money to pay for them. Lets get on the bus, and leave the driving to them.
July 10, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BrownBomber (anonymous) says...
We're talking about the cost of subsidies for the commuter train being way too high, but at $30 million per mile - adding one extra lane to I-26 does not sound like the answer. It will provide temporary relief - perhaps a year of reduced congestion - but is that worth $300 million for 10 miles? And who do you think is paying for that?
There has to be more than one solution - one lane is not going to do it. I think adding an extra land between Ashley Phosphate and I-526 is needed, but south of 526 is a waste of money. For it to pay off at all, one lane needs to be dedicated to Bus Rapid Transit and High Occupancy Vehicles only. Additionally, a regional van pool/carpool program would help.
As far as the commuter rail, it can work. With gas prices escalating - and folks, it will never be cheap again - there's going to be demand. Local gov'ts (Summerville and North Charleston, possibly GooseCreek & Moncks) need to make sure they allow high-density mixed use development in the vicinity of commuter rail stations. CARTA needs to ensure logical and frequent bus routes serving those stations - and even better would be a transfer system, where a commuter rail rider can transfer to CARTA bus, and vice versa. It may take a few years to achieve the needed ridership, but it will eventually be there.
That's my $0.02
July 10, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
common_sense (anonymous) says...
The fly in the ointment: Public transit (including trains), will never be self-funding, efficient, or practical for most people.
This dog won't hunt in Chas.
I'm just sayin...
July 10, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
clemtiger10 (anonymous) says...
It only won't be practical for those who refuse to make it practical.
July 10, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
clem
It will take a major adjustment for most folks to accept a new way of getting around.
July 10, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
You can't stop people from driving their cars! Where would they put the "My childs an honor student" decal?
July 10, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
crank
Good point
July 10, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
clemtiger10 (anonymous) says...
I really think that it is not the convenience that hinder people from riding public transportation, but more or less the perception that only poor people should. Too many comments the last few days expressed concern over the safety of the bus system and the availability of busses and for one, I have never witnessed a perilous situation on a bus and also the busses can only run according to demand which is hindered by perceptions. With a little bit of personal and governmental will, the bus system could be extremely efficient and can start being able to start light rail projects. Then we could all stop wasting money on gas.
July 10, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
common_sense (anonymous) says...
With a little bit of personal and governmental will.....
I don't want any governmental will. Matter of fact, it would be best if they interfered less in our daily lives.
It's a shame how pervasive the entitlement mentality has become.
I'm just sayin...
July 10, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
clem
Well said. As I said earlier, where mass transit works, folks of all walks of life use it, from Wall street types to poor folks. Also, I remenber on the commuter train out of Boston, they would have a club car on in the afternoon (ie you could get a drink on your way home).
July 10, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pompusmaximus (anonymous) says...
higher density development is created through commuter rail. Please read the charlotte story again.
July 10, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BruceC (anonymous) says...
Be prepared to spend three times the budget to start up and operate your train, and expect 1/3 the projected ridership.
If this is a government project it will be a money pit tar baby.
Have you read about the debacle with the Music city Star on the 4th of July?
Check out the press in the Nashville daily paper.
Bruce in Nashville
July 10, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Riptide (anonymous) says...
With the exception of my childhood, I've lived almost my entire adult life in cities and megalopolises. I prefer the small town atmosphere of the low country over the big city any day. The people and city fathers of this area will need to make a determination as to the future growth of this area. With growth comes growing pains. Sure there will be opportunities and money to made but it comes with a price tag. Uncontrolled growth brings all kinds of problems. If an industry leaves or dies out, find another one to replace it but keep everything in balance. Mass transit is exactly that mass transit. Light rail system are people movers of large quantities and with it comes masses of people moving into the area. Do you want that or a small backwater town away from the people that are in your face giving you the riot act.
July 10, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Cold Beer
Perhaps my use of the phrase "Wall street types" leaves the wrong impression, I simply meant all classes use a good system.
Perhaps San Francisco is a better model where some parts are low rise and they have a bus/trolley system that covers the area - keep in mind that it has been a long time since I was there.
It will be interesting to see what our great leaders "give us". But at the rate things are going, we will be in grid lock soon.
July 10, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
common_sense (anonymous) says...
Neo, we won't be given anything. That's the point. If rail comes, it will be heavily subsidized (read: the taxpayers will pay to scoot a select few people from point A to point B).
Transit of any sort never operates in the black. It's designed to be in the red, so it can receive more gubmint money (read: taxpayers money). Sorry, I don't have anymore I'm willing to give. That's one reason I don't live in Charleston County anymore.
I'm just sayin...
July 10, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
People...what makes South Carolina ...DIFFERENT ????
We have never been high density! Do we want to be HIGH DENSITY ??
Why do people live or MOVE here?? We need to embrace what makes US different. No body thought WE could go to the MOON until we had a challenge. SKYTRAN or similar solution to transit fits the solution criteria. We need to think totally different to answer OUR problems. For the money that we are talking about ....install a SKYTRAN or similar system for the peninsula ONLY at first. If...IF it fails then dismantle and sell off the parts to then pay for a commuter system or what ever. Our so called leaders are cowering to special interests instead of LEADING. Use this system for public transit AND school bussing on the peninsula to start with and see how the numbers REALLY add UP?!! We all KNOW that any rail will need to be subsidized...PERIOD. At least with a SKYTRAN or similar system you would have MORE revenue streams to draw funding from. Charleston has always been different by its VERY nature. SO... DARE to be different in solving OUR transportation problems.
http://www.unimodal.com/PlaySkytran.html
July 10, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
I find it interesting that NO ELECTED official has been on the record with this article. ROCKY D laughed off SKYTRAN or similar solution because he couldn't ride, touch or see one. Well...President Kennedy had never been to the MOON and never got there but he LED our nation to put their minds to it and get there.! If this system or similar was implemented; would the auto people be hurt?... NO ! Would the rail people be hurt? NO. Would local businesses be hurt? NO. Would our school system be hurt if this system was used for school bussing? NO. Would the MAGNOLIA project still be built...YES. Would AMTRAK still run here? YES. This is about a small number of entities controlling DENSITY GROWTH..when in reality LOW DENSITY is what makes our STATE different. If SKYTRAN ..BROKE EVEN; think of the businesses that would want to relocate here?? We know that other rail solution have NOT ..so WHY would ANY business move here if they knew their taxes would fund a MONEY LOSING rail system built like so many other cities!! We need to DARE to be different and work together to make it successful on its OWN to DRAW businesses here!! If we could get a handle on the costs to run OUR school busses using SKYTAN or similar solution...think of the budgeting streamlining alone.? What if a portion of what we spend on FUEL now for busses was used for TEACHER PAY?? What type of teachers would you draw?? Imagine using NUCLEAR and coastal WIND FARMS to power the system to further "manage" the system costs?!
Energy and LOW DENSITY....FREEDOM!!.. is the key to OUR lowcountry remaining anything like we grew up with?? I bet people thought the designers of HILTON HEAD were wacko when they talked of the island build out? I bet people thought WALT DISNEY was wacko for putting Disney in the "middle" of Florida? Was Riley wacko for fighting for the bike and walk path on the Ravenel Bridge??
What other solutions CAN you think of besides RAIL?? WHAT?
Cabled Gondola..like ski lifts? WHAT?? I'm all ears.
July 10, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chucktownexpat (anonymous) says...
Some people on here say a train would need to be subsidized, that none break even. Well, are highways break-even propositions? Airports? Shipping terminals? I'm not advocating for a train, but every form of infrastructure today requires some government investment in capital and operating expenses. (I can't believe federal and state gas taxes pay all the costs of building, maintaining and policing roads; I'd love to hear from someone with an answer on this.) The question is whether the collective community benefit is worth the public investment. Unless there's something about the Charleston-area plan -- using existing tracks? -- I can't see the usage lowering the cost enough to be worthwhile. People in the Lowcountry aren't going to give up their cars just yet -- traffic isn't that bad.
Nashville's train sounds like Buffalo's, which, from my memory from several years ago, is or was basically one line for a few miles from downtown to the U of B area: Kinda cool and quaint and a nice try but irrelevant for the vast majority of people in the metro area. Charleston, given its geography, might, repeat might, have a better chance. I'd say the thing to do is keep options open in municipal, county and inter-county planning, and assume that somewhere in a generation or two it will make financial sense. Now, though, improvements in the roads and bus service seem more cost effective. Even at $4-plus a gallon, most Lowcountry residents will still prefer to have their cars, and, as annoying as the bottlenecks and parking are already, they don't seem bad enough for most people to give up driving daily. Commuting by train works in New York, the granddaddy of commuter-rail cities in North America, because you have to be rich or nuts to relay on your own car to get around daily. As much as I like the idea of a train and its ability to reduce air pollution and sprawl, I just can't see Charleston like that in the foreseeable future.
July 10, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Mayor Riley is so confident, why doesn't he use his own money to build the system? He has wealthy friends and good credit, why does he wish to put this on the backs of te taxpayers?
July 10, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Spartan (anonymous) says...
If the rail idea won't fly now until we have a broader population base, why not get an alternative road built like the extension of the Glenn McConnell. Even take it further down US 17 to Red Top or Ravenel, bring it back into 61 around south of Summerville,over to Givhans and Ridgeville and into I-26? I mean this is really a no brainer. The land is almost all undeveloped, the right of ways would be appraised at like cheap, hell, one or two major land owners would probably give you the R/W land for the road. This will greatly relieve our only interstate, I-26. Where are the planners? Where is little Joe when you need em? This really needs to happen soon.
July 10, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
clemtiger10 (anonymous) says...
Spartan, do you realize that your proposal would open up more land farther away from the urban core and make the problems we are seeing today get worse.
BTW, Why are we still living in the white-flight era where the American dream turned from urban living to having 5 acres 3000 square feet and 3 cars in the driveway with a nice 45 minute drive to work? I don't think this country's economy can survive many more decades of this ignorance and irresponsibility.
July 10, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cid95 (anonymous) says...
Density = successful public transport
We don't have it.
Park and ride stations are the closest we can hope for and that will be halfass.
July 10, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
patricycle77 (anonymous) says...
Zekemire, you posted this comment: "it is not constitutional to confiscate private rail lines for public use." Actually it is. Eminent domain is covered under the 5th amendment. The requirements are only that is fall under a legitimate police power (of which, transportation is) and the party be justly compensated. As of now, many of the lands required for this rail already have easements in place. And since, most of the rails already exist, this is a reality.
In my opinion, a commuter rail could work. Would it work if implemented tomorrow? No. But it is future looking and by the time the project is complete perhaps more people will be forced to consider it for what it is, a viable alternative. It is important to consider the costs of roads when complaining about the subsidies needed for mass transit. We receive federal funding for roads, and with subsidy requirements for most transportation initiatives, this argument holds weight.
I recognize that not everyone who disagrees with the rail fundamentally disagrees with the concept, but rather b/c of density concerns. However, Berkeley County alone is expected to grow from 110,000 to ~260,000 by 2010 according to the BCDCOG. And although the train is not planned to travel it that direction, the statistic shows a highly relevant element is this discussion - our region's population IS growing exponentially.
Some of you DO seem to have a fundamental problem with mass transit. Some b/c of convenience concerns, others for what seems to be more socio-economic reasons. Until those of you who oppose for these reasons start to rethink things, our (transportation, environmental, quality of life) problems will only continue to grow.
Since tracks, for the most part, are established, and the populations outside of the city are exploding, a commuter train is a more than reasonable consideration.
I have a question for those of you who have made comments about the availability/safety, etc of CARTA. Have any of you criticizing it ever genuinely looked at the schedules, costs, etc? And for those of you praising its possibilities, have you ever actually ridden CARTA? I ride the bus on a regular basis from DT to the navy base for work. It takes more time and a little more planning, but it is not that much of an inconvenience at all. I have never witnessed an altercation or any unsafe activity on CARTA. In many ways it enhances the quality of my life. This time can be used to read the morning paper, start your work day early, or do homework.
As many people above have said, increasing roads is NOT the answer. I already have a hard time breathing. A commuter rail is a progressive step in the right direction.
July 11, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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