bcbingman

so what you're telling me is that COTA's budget comes from: 1. sales tax 2. property tax? 3. other? I am definitely in favor of gas taxes going to R/D in appropriate transportation at federal, state, and county/city level.

Though I disagree with Mr. Lhota's comments, I'll accept them for the sake of argument. When gas prices go up, food prices go up. People cut back on "going to the mall" in order to "go to the supermarket." When gas prices go up, people have less purchasing power. When people have less purchasing power, the city doesn't receive as much tax revenue. When the city doesn't have enough tax revenue, they cut services, such as COTA funds. Wouldn't it be advisable to COTA to invest significantly in light rail, streetcars, etc. NOW while the revenue is there, rather than later, as Mr. Lhota says, when fuel prices are even higher (and the economy slows down even more). Is it really so difficult to understand the chain links of: gas prices->people's expendable income->tax revenue->COTA's bankroll to invest in more appropriate transportation ?

I live in Nashville, TN. I was born in Riverside Hospital and raised outside Columbus. In the next few years I would like to move back to Columbus and open a sustainable business along the proposed streetcar corridor. If the streetcar doesn't happen, it will be a big discouragement to me not following through on my dream. I would like to believe that there are more people like me "out there" who are no longer in-state because of better economic prospects in other places, but hoping to "come back home." Who can I write within the city government to voice my opinion?

oh yeah, if I could add on to my question above: specifically as it relates to YOUR local community in Ohio.

I've skimmed over most of these 46 pages of posts and am shocked to see that no one has brought up the biggest issue of all: Food Supply. When all the economic ramifications of PO hit the U.S. (some already are starting to) feeding ourselves will be priority no. 1, NOT getting from the burbs to our downtown jobs. The average meal travels 1,500 miles from farm to mouth. 2,500 in Canada. Not only the is the transportation of food in jeopardy, but even the modern practices of farming are very energy dense. Diesel to run combines/ tractors. Petrol and nat. gas based pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers. Gasoline fueled irrigation machines, etc. etc... Any thoughts on the issues of PO from this angle?