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"Anyway, my point earlier was just that we need to think very critically about what benefits the streetcar provides over the bus, and whether or not this is worth the extra $200M."

I remain unconvinced that it WILL cost $200 mill more, over the lifecycle, compared to the replacement costs of articulated buses. I am all for dialogue, but what I hear from those opposed to the street car is people whose minds are mind up.

'And before anyone flips out, I am NOT saying we should "abandon every great transit project in the works to appease Tea Partiers and others calling for less government spending. I am saying that if we should find ourselves on the losing end come November, we need to be prepared to a) defend expensive transit projects like the streetcar with hard data and reasons other than "the ride is smoother", '

but the smoothness of the ride impacts the ability to draw riders to transit, the ability to handle volume, and yes, the cache of the line and its impact on real estate. Those are real factors.

As for November, I will remind folks that in Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney was an advocate for Smart Growth, non-auto modes, etc. What will happen when the etch a sketching is done, I do not know, but making our infrastructure choices based on attempt to game the 2013 political situation, rather than their merits, seems premature.

by AWalkerInTheCity on Jun 19, 2012 9:16 am • link • report