Brewmaster

^ I've thought a lot about that issue. I think, that in our sprawl-based society, a mix of both is the way to go. I would start out with a mixture of stations serving existing higher density communities and park and ride stations. Personally, I hate park and rides, but if you build them with a plan to phase them out, then I think the idea works. For instance, build fairly inexpensive surface lots. Then, after a few years, lure developers in by issuing RFPs for them to come in and develop different zones of the lots with high density mixed-use. Ideally, you would just invite them to come in and do that from the onset, but that would be difficult juggle, and wouldn't provide the developer with as much security. Just think of it as building the park and ride as a huge placeholder for the future transit oriented community to be developed.

It would be hard to imagine generating electricity in this country without using coal. Right now, coal makes up about half of all electricity generated and we have an estimated 250 year supply left. I wouldn't expect us to ignore that reserve anytime soon. The whole, "long tailpipe" theory claims that by using electric cars, trains, etc... you're just displacing pollution from tailpipes to smokestacks. This is only partially true. First, about 30% of our electricity is generated from what I would call pollution-free sources of energy (hydro, wind, solar, and nuclear). Second, ground level pollution (tailpipe) is more detrimental to human health than high level pollution (smoke stack). Most smokestacks are over 200 ft. tall and some are well over 1000 ft. Third, even coal plants are much more efficient than internal combustion engines. Newer natural gas fired plants are even more efficient at converting carbon to energy than the coal plants. This results in a net decrease in pollution. Next generation coal plants are much cleaner than those of the 50's and 60's. Coal Gasification technology has the potential to create a near-zero emission plant (google: FutureGen). Basically, I'd much prefer a few long, energy efficient tailpipes that run on domestic energy sources to millions of short ones that run on imported oil.

I see almost ZERO bang for the buck in that letter. All it amounts to is refurbishing old buses and adding a few new routes. A weak transit plan at best. It's getting harder to type as I sit here with all of my fingers crossed hoping for the Mayor's streetcar plan to come to fruition.

^ Exactly. It seems like our local leaders can't step up and make an obvious decision on major projects (like dropping the "Grand Boulevard" plan). Make a decision and keep the ball rolling!

There are some pics of the Main St. and Town St. bridges in the links (for now) http://www.theotherpaper.com/ http://www.theotherpaper.com/cover.html BRIDGE MIX Is Columbus willing to pay for three postcard-worthy spans Downtown? By Erik Johns/ July 13, 2006 Why can't we just build a bridge in this city? It seems simple enough: a couple pillars, some concrete and—bam!—you've got yourself a bridge. Things only get complicated if you care what it looks like.

^ So I take it you won that bet with your boss that crude would be $80 by the end of the year! FYI...the new record is $78.40 for the month ahead contract. It's getting easy to keep track of the record prices. All you need to do is look at the daily highs, they're the same.

Buried at the bottom of this AP article, we see our first glimmer of political hope... http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060713/oil_prices.html?.v=23

Happy Daniel Yergin Day everyone! :drunk::clap: :drunk::clap: A petroleum geologist at www.theoildrum.com, has deemed today the first "Daniel Yergin Day" in honor of the energy analyst who so often appears on TV and in print claiming that oil will be cheap and plentiful for years to come. He was quoted in Nov. '04 claiming that crude will be selling at $36/bbl in Nov. '05. Of course, he wasn't even close. Today, crude is at $76 (twice what Yergin prediction), and therefore, he gets his own day named after him. http://energybulletin.net/18111.html

That's like saying, "I didn't vote in the last election because nobody would guarantee me that my favorite candiate would win if I did." DanB - 0 DaninDC - 1

I'd love for Columbus to have Vancouver's "problems". Downtown should become an even more attractive place for businesses to be headquartered when a large population lives there. Not only do you have more access to the market, but many of your employees live in the neighborhood. Almost all businesses want to reside in a vibrant setting.

Definitely a little scary that people will behave this way over gas. Do you think they would get into fights if Allstate just gave them $30 rebate checks? BTW...nice avatar David!

^ The building is looking great from street level. I walk by there pretty frequently. I'm glad they're getting some nice press (i.e. free advertising for the remaining office and retail space). With 1,500 employees in that building alone, it sounds like they should easily be able to support a coffee shop, and a couple of lunch places. It sounds like the service building might need to be torn down and replaced with something new. It's not that attractive from the exterior, and with all of the internal columns that they are talking about, it doesn't sound like it lends itself to parking or condos.

I saw an interview with the director of this movie. He was an leasee of this GM electric car and had it mysteriously reclaimed when he took it in for some routine maintenance. Apparently no explanation was given, but he was given an offer to buy one of Saturn's quality automobiles. I guess it chronicles many people's similar experiences. Sounds like a good flick if your in the mood for conspiracy thoeries.

Sounds like a nice plan. I just get annoyed that anything Casto touches seems to take years longer than anyone else. I've learned to take a wait-and-see approach to his announcements.

That trucking article is really concerning to me. As I was reading it, I wondered how long it would take for the gov't to start subsidizing these truckers. I really wouldn't put it past their nearsighted-ness.

Don't let Paul Bonneville's pessimism get to you Columbusite. Like Noozer said, you have to start out with the routes that will be the most successful first. Otherwise, you run the risk of the system being dubbed a failure, or having the stigma of only being used by bums and scary, smelly people (COTA busses?). If the system is dubbed a failure, the likelihood of getting that North/South route ever built are slim. I also disagree with your comment on the areas on the North/South route being well developed. This line could be a catalyst for City Center, RiverSouth, and quite a few surface lots within 2-3 blocks of High St. downtown. We need to utilize the existing residents of GV, Short North, and downtown to sustain the line until the entire corridor gets well developed.

It's official...I'll be voting NO to COTA's levy increase. I'd rather wait until we see $4-5 gas and force COTA to put the light rail option back on the table for voters to pay for.

http://www.startribune.com/168/story/535007.html Drying up of oil could mean sticky problems The world is at its "peak oil" production, some say, and it's time to think of running an economy on what's left. H.J. Cummins, Star Tribune Last update: July 05, 2006 – 10:15 PM In the category of worrisome developments -- probably sometime between avian flu and an asteroid striking the planet -- will be the energy turning point futurists are calling "peak oil." That is when the world's oil production hits its highest point -- when the bell curve of supply tops out for good, and then keeps dropping until there is no more. Prognosticators see everything from doomsday to good, old human ingenuity saving the day. There is also plenty of disagreement among them on the timing of the global oil peak, including: 1995, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2040 and beyond.

Great...now go do your job on the Whittier Peninsula! :)

^ 36 pages!?!?! Great news!

I like to see this, but it seems like it's more of a PR thing to me. Just because a home has good insulation doesn't make it green. It makes them well built. While this is a good first step, I won't be totally happy until I see LEED certified homes with solar shingles being marketed by major homebuilders.

Sounds like "rainy day fund" time to me!

I used to care. Now I'm completely turned off on the whole thing. The hype might grow on some people, but it's really turning me off on them. That and the strange growth philosophy at the company. At some point you have to turn hype into profits.

^ She's not exactly unbiased. She's been "foaming at the mouth crazy" over getting a store for years and would obviously like to see one in her back yard. I'm kind of done with this whole IKEA thing. All of this talk/worship, and their management philosophy are making me dislike them and thier particle board furniture.

High comedy right there. Talk about burying your head in the sand. "Well, if I fill up twice as much, but it costs half as much, then it won't hurt as much." Ignorance really is bliss.