I visited Toronto this week on business. There are mixed feelings about streetcars in Toronto. If undergrounding streetcars into a subway system were inexpensive, people there would go for that. Yes, accidents involving streetcars and streetcar tracks are a significant problem. What they are doing that's new is buying and re-introducing articulated buses to relieve congestion on bus routes. Here's a link to a photo of one of the new articulated buses to go into service in October. They're also purchasing new streetcars to replace existing streetcars.
Next month I'm visiting Las Vegas. I'll let you know about the transit system there.
Ted 22204
21 comments:
If a senior citizens travel program became a major financial oversight disaster, how are they gonna handle a $400 million streetcar construction program?
Only in America do elected officials push a transit system that's 8 times more expensive as the alternative.
Toronto's new articulated buses will cost about $950,000 each. No tracks, no wires, no power stations, can be repaired by bus mechanics.
But let's not let reality intrude on the County Board of Tax, Borrow, and Spend and it's Chamber of Commerce allies.
Appears that the major "accomplishment" of Barbara Donnellan's tenure as County Manager, Deputy County Manager, and County Finance Director was to find the means for County Board Members to go ahead with extravagant spending for vanity projects.
County Board can't be trusted not to waste $200 million of the $400 million. Buy advanced BRT vehicles that people will want ride and end the ongoing Pike transit fiasco.
Ten years ago it was major league baseball, today it's streetcars, in 2023 there will be something else the County Board will want to waste hundreds of million on.
Appears that a huge amount of time, human resources, and money was spent covering up gross financial incompetence by Barbara Donnellan and her staff, as reported by the Post on May 1st.
The senior travel fiasco consumed at least $1 million in staff and County employee time over 9 months to 'facilitate' a coverup of Donnellan's incompetence.
Revenues for the $treetcar $ystem?
Post reported today that hospitality industry revenues (from which the County receives hotel tax and meals tax) are significantly down compared to other metro areas.
Can't fire Barbara, she not only knows the hundreds of places our tax $$$ are squirreled away, she's the Chief Squirrel.
So they are up to $80 million per mile...for what? A canyon of ugly brick buildings with 400 parking spaces under every building and streets that are choked with traffic? Seen the Pike at 5:30 PM lately?
$80 million per mile and $40 million per streetcar. Let's follow the Democrats' own Mantra - Kick 'Em Out, starting with Fi$$$ette.
Squirreled away? Incompetence? Don't be surprised if there is no street paving until after June 30th, start of FY 14.
While we're giving Donnellan her retirement papers how about firing the urban village idiots in Economic Development and Planning.
Next County Board meeting is May 18th. Public comments start at 8:30 AM.
So, guess who trashed the Mayor of Toronto for trying to find transit alternatives to streetcars? Mr. Sun Gazette Chamber of Commerce Booster. A so-call 'journalist' with fond memories of present and past dumb growth places he's visited that he expounds upon daily.
If there is little growth in the hospitality industry it also means there are fewer employed by the hospitality industry who need to be subsidized in various ways to maintain a subsistence living. Corporate welfare is alive and thriving in America.
Corporate Welfare? Starts with the Federal Government. Go to irs.gov and read the Form 1120 Corporate Income Tax Return for 2012. See who really gets the entitlements.
So Arlington buys 20 articulated buses for $1 million each for the Pike and has $380 million left over for new infrastructure like double-tracking the Orange Line tunnel under the Potomac. Can't do that, it's too sensible.
Tell your state senator and delegate that what we need next session of the General Assembly is a tough recall election law.
It's "Everybody Ride a Bicycle Everywhere All the Time Day".
Watch out for non-residents commuting one-to-a-vehicle from the outlying 'burbs.
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