Thursday, July 3, 2014

San Antonio Residents Fight Streetcar Plans, Collect Signatures for Referendum


Hello, Yupette,

I was in San Antonio on business last month. The Arlington Yupette blog should be aware that almost the same battle is being waged there against a downtown streetcar line (at a projected cost of $280 million). Same entrenched Democratic machine committed to 'New Urbanism'. Same entrenched transportation bureaucracy. Same group of chamber of commerce and development-for-the-sake-of-development boosters. Same 'economic analysis' paid for by the City of San Antonio that 'proves' a streetcar line will generate $1.3 billion in economic benefits from development and redevelopment.

Difference between Arlington and San Antonio is that San Antonio residents are much more vocal and are collecting petition signatures to put a streetcar referendum question on the ballot in November. Same concerns about streetcar safety, traffic jams, and various costs to residents. So check it out on the Web.

Jason, 22204

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

As in Arlington, it's all about development and redevelopment, not about transportation.

Anonymous said...

Another difference: San Antonio media aren't completely in the pockets of the chamber of commerce.

Anonymous said...

Do a Web search on: 'San Antonio streetcar opposition'

Anonymous said...

Streetcars are not about transportation. Like Arlington San Antonio has a good bus system, that keeps getting better.

Anonymous said...

Time for a "National Coalition Against Stupid Streetcars".

Anonymous said...

If there is a referendum in San Antonio it may be meaningless because the City Council already voted to go ahead with construction. Sound familiar?

Anonymous said...

So every urban area of a certain size has to have a streetcar?

Anonymous said...

Another $300 million mis-spent on legacy lunacy.

Anonymous said...

City of San Antonio paid $75,000 to a non profit that reached the usual conclusion after careful cost/benefit analysis: streetcars are good for the city council whose members paid for the analysis.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Zimmerman and Smart Growth America are involved?

Anonymous said...

Kansas City will be holding a voter referendum next month over streetcars.

Anonymous said...

Do a Web search on "opposition to streetcars".

Anonymous said...

Aachen Germany held a referendum about streetcars 2 years ago, and streetcars lost.

Anonymous said...

Regarding Kansas City and streetcars, someone in KC nailed it, referring to streetcars as the "latest urban development fad".

Anonymous said...

Urban Development Fad = New Urbanism = Resegregation Through Gentrification

Anonymous said...

Check out the totally modern bus service in Aachen...regular city buses, single articulated buses, and double articulated buses. We don't need no outrageously expensive and dangerous streetcar system in Arlington.

Anonymous said...

Latest urban development fad....at $300 million and up.