Riley affirms backing of commuter rail
By David Slade
Charleston seeking ways to go green; Panel could lead to initiatives, regulations, published 10/06/07
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley reaffirmed his support Tuesday for creating a commuter rail line to the suburbs.
"It's not some futuristic thing," Riley told more than 100 people attending a meeting of the Charleston Green Committee at John Wesley United Methodist Church in West Ashley. "We need it right now."
The Green Committee is devising a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the city.
"It would remove huge amount of greenhouse gases from our region," Riley said.
Riley has been leading the push to create a commuter rail line from Charleston through North Charleston to Summerville.
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments is preparing a funding application for the potential rail project for the State Infrastructure Bank.
At the same time, BCD-COG is working on a third study of the feasibility of commuter rail between Charleston and Summerville.
The Green Committee will consider commuter rail as it prepares recommendations for the city, which are expected next year.
The committee's goal is to help Charleston meet Riley's 2005 pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions throughout the city by 2012 to at least 7 percent less than the emissions in 1990. It's a daunting task with a deadline four years away.
"This is a movement, and change always happens with people's movements," Riley said. "One of the things we can do as part of acting locally is to bring commuter rail to our community."
Charleston is taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions out of concern about global warming, which among other things is expected to cause a rise in sea levels.
Most scientists agree that carbon dioxide emissions, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels for power and transportation, have been raising global temperatures.
Rising sea levels, hotter summers, stronger storms and habitat disruption are among the expected results, and in South Carolina, coastal regions are considered particularly vulnerable.
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DoaMM (anonymous) says...
Blah, Blah, Blah...
It won't work. We are not metropolitan area and there would not be enough commuters using it to support the money required to build/run it.
End of story.
September 10, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
Yeah, that's always made me wonder.
Why does an ocean-side city have to build an aquarium? I mean, you've got the ocean RIGHT THERE with all the creatures in their natural environment. You coulda saved some money and built a big cinder block wall in the shape of a circle out in the ocean and been done with it. There's your aquarium.
Idiots...
Any bets on if the "rail system" will go by the aquarium?
September 10, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
With all the controversy in Washington over the evils of earmarks and the call to eliminate them, Mr. Riley plans to stick his face in the hog trough of public tax money. Why, you ask. He is attempting to find funding for a more than $500 Billion "High speed train to NOWHERE"
This is to assume that the downtown City of Charleston is a desired destination for 20,000 - 40,000 local residents a day.
As we look on the traffic cams for 1-26 and I-526 we find the heavy traffic on 526 - Daniel Island to West Ashley. I-26 going into the City of Charleston is extremly light.
Is Mayor Riley looking to remove the stress suffered by a few thousand residents of Summerville (not really a town, just a small Suburb of the City of Charleston) that drive into the downtown City of Charleston on Monday - Friday?
September 10, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
Sorry, meant to say more than $500 Million start up cost. Though it could easily grow much higher.
September 10, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
I would hope that Keith Summey, Mayor of the City of North Charleston, will check the pulse of his city before buying into such stupidity.
A sinking ship can take down more than just person with it.
Mayor Summey, you need to explain all the ways this will help the lifestyles of the people who elected you into office.
September 10, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drp7773 (anonymous) says...
First it's the start up cost then its we are not making enough money so we need to raise fares and this will happen every year, then you will have he crime at each parking place to ride it, then you will have the corruption because its not what you know but its hiring by race and gender (look at head start)Then there will be a special tax on one of your utility bills to offset some of the loss (backdoor tax) Then there will be the lawsuits from bad drivers again hire by race and gender and who ya know not experience. Get ready folks
September 10, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
Commuter rails are a good idea for Charleston (with some careful planning). It will reduce the number of cars on the crowded roads and more importantly the pollution that is now draining into the creeks, rivers and marshes. It is not a question of if, but rather of when.
September 10, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
mkirs - Where are the crowed roads that you and Mr. Riley so fondly refer to??:
September 10, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ffwife (anonymous) says...
When Riley talks about people's "movements" doesn't it make you think of people taking a dump?!?! Kind of like what we've gotten used to getting from Riley whenever he does something - "dumped on"!
Sorry, it just struck me funny when I read it.
September 10, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LYNX_Rapid_Transit_Services
As the cost climbs and climbs.
September 10, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cid95 (anonymous) says...
Public Transport in theory: Good.
Public Transport in practice: Good where there is DENSITY.
For Charleston, a station downtown with feeder buses going to key destinations (Citadel, MUSC, CofC, Gov't Bldgs, the Market, etc) seems reasonable.
But where would the trains go to/from?
Park and ride is maybe the best hope (similar to Boston?). One train to a station in Mt Pleasnt (maybe going all the way to the beach on IoP?), another to Summerville, etc.
It's a real planning challenge. We have low density everywhere and downtown is not "the" place where most people are working like in a lot of cities. Lots of offices in N Charleston, West Ashley, Daniel Island, and Mt P.
My office in Mt P had people driving in from Summerville, West Ashley and North Charleston to work.
September 10, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
konphidence (anonymous) says...
with the port exspanding, norfolk southern has enough room to place one new line of track to carry freight. do you think NSRR will allow some commuter train to screw that up. so that means the tricounty area will have to buy right of way to place the train. You must have areas for the train to stop at the station, parking and all the amenities that goes with it. How do you power the train? with the prices of diesel fuel, wow. if you running the train by electricity, boy talk about expensive. the city of charleston wanted to place overhead electrical lines underground from US17/Wesley Drive intersection to Folly Road near the South Windimere shopping center. the cost? $2,856,000.00 for 1500 feet. Mr. Riley wants to go to Summerville.........wow.Okay before that you gotta do a environmental assesmentimpact statement to tell the feds how this is going to affect the environment. With the amount of water crossing, marshes, endangerd species assesment, rare frogs, salamanders, birds and wetland "ditches that have been designated by Army Corps of Engineers" as juristictional wetlands, Conservation folks, OCRM permits.... man, I love for my company to get this job....... it will be awhile before this get off the ground. How much are you willing to pay? for the right amount money, back room back slapping a few drinks at magnolia, it can be done. but it gonna cost ya.
September 10, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PalmettoDP (anonymous) says...
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) would be more practical than rail for the purpose Riley is talking about. It could happen sooner and at less cost than commuter rail.
Rail might work with the densities downtown (with tourists, some commuters, etc.) if the right-of-way could be found for it.
September 10, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slimbo6969 (anonymous) says...
"If you build it they will come..."
But what happens when they get here, how are they going to get 20,000 - 40,000 people from these drop off points to their jobs...
More buses, which brings more pollution and crowded streets: Not everyone will be able to use this transportation we will still need to have cars: More buses means more TAX DOLLARS to purchase and maintain the buses....
Again this is another money pit that Joe Riley is willing to spend City of Charleston TAX PAYER $'s on...
September 10, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
...very well said, konphidence!
September 10, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
If these "100 people" want to put up the money, they are more than welcome to do so! I hope they see a good return on their investment!
Just don't force people to invest in something they don't believe will work.
September 10, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Global average temperature increase stopped in 1998.
The mayor needs to update his info.
September 10, 2008 at 10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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