Brewmaster

I think Columbus' biggest demo was the Baldwin Tower at Grant Medical Center. It was 19 stories. Here's a link to the video... http://www.nbc4i.com/video/3284969/index.html

Way to make up for that article Mr. Doulin!!! :) Seeing that North/South route got me all excited!

I find the story even more strange seeing as how The Dispatch is one of the companies bringing money to the table.

^ That's why I'm so disappointed in the Dispatch's coverage of this story. It was on the front page with the caption "It may be a long time, if ever, before Columbus streets see trolleys like this one, which recently began service in Tampa." Ummmm...the writer conveniently left out any mention of the real transit plan for downtown that is completely independant of COTA!

Here's the link... http://www.dot.state.oh.us/7071study/ Here's the latest analysis... http://www.dot.state.oh.us/7071study/Information%20link.asp The Boulevard would actually INCREASE the divide that the 70/71 split has created. Great job city leaders! :roll:

Well ODOT is planning to put aside money for 2-3 caps (Long, High, and Front). They've already made concessions here. The crime is that the city jumped in at the 11th hour with a flawed proposal. Someone at the city needs to just swallow thier pride and go with the ODOT plan before the whole project is too expensive to build. Anybody check the prices of concrete and steel lately?

Affordable is a subjective term. 200k can "afford" a 3,000 sq. ft. home in Delaware, or a 2,000 sq. ft. home in Clintonville, or a 1,500 sq. ft. home in Grandview. So how much space does an average person need?

This whole process is pissing me right off. Someone needs to grow a set and make a decision!

Agreed. It wouldn't be hard to argue that Clinton, the elder Bush, and Reagan did far more damage to this nations future energy situation than the current administration. The low prices of the 80's and 90's, would have been the perfect time to increase the gas tax to something closer to Europe's. It would've taken a visionary with big onions in the office, but we'd be much better off right now! Bush is saddled with a very tough battle right now, and he doesn't have the popularity to pull off something drastic. At least not with the American public's knowledge of the topic. Pessimistic, but true.

^ It blends in really well against the Rock Hall and Science Center. They should add a few more. :)

LMAO at Rob's quote! I agree noozer...I keep telling myself that I'm going to quit posting there, then somone touts the Abiotic Oil Theory and they puuuuuuuull me back in! It's just a shame that we're outnumbered by the morons. I think you should have to pass a test before you're allowed to vote.

Thanks Noozer...great post!

How about a little help over here... http://www.columbusgasprices.com/Forum_MSG.aspx?master=1&category=1087&topic=89926&page_no=1&FAV=N I've been posting under the name "Urbanite" and could use some like minded people to attempt to educate others about the nature of gasoline, but have been met with loads of denial. Admittingly, I could've been more tactful, but the people posting on these boards really ruffle my feathers. If anyone wants to share more information about the topic, feel free to post :)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12934470/ Ethanol as gas replacement: Hope or hype? Despite increased production, skeptics say corn-based fuel won't replace oil By Dylan Ratigan Anchor, 'On The Money' CNBC Updated: 2 hours, 20 minutes ago As the price of oil and gas has continued to spike, consumers have been left wondering — who’s coming to the rescue? The PR campaign du jour would have Americans believe that ethanol is the Great Green Hope. “We've got to go from a hydrocarbon economy to an economy that’s no longer dependent upon oil, and that’s where we're headed,” President Bush told NBC’s Brian Williams in a recent interview. “The ultimate solution is to promote ethanol" As the president pushes ethanol as a solution to the energy shortage, corporate America is embracing ethanol to pitch its products.

Who needs a big monolithic structure sucking up prime riverfront real estate? Talk about great views of downtown that are just going to waste right now. Stuff like this should be located a few blocks off of the river with residential/retail/public space infill located on the river (think arena district).

The Rickenbacker Intermodal Hub could be a huge asset for an automaker. Hopefully one of the sites is withing close range. Here's the article from the Disptach... http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/05/17/20060517-A1-00.html Assembly plant at heart of Honda’s $665 million expansion Wednesday, May 17, 2006 Paul Wilson and Ron Carter THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ohio is in the running for a $400 million assembly plant Honda Motor Co. will build in North America by 2008 to meet the rising demand for fuel-efficient cars, a state official said yesterday. Honda confirmed plans for the plant early today in Japan as part of a bigger push that also calls for spending $125 million to expand the company’s engine, transmission and powertrain plants in Ohio and Georgia, and to invest $140 million to build an engine plant in Canada. ...

Ctownsfinest - Use the IRS' mileage rate of $0.445 per mile and calculate the distance you want to travel. If you have to drive more than 6-7 miles roundtrip, than the RTA day pass will pay for itself. It's pretty easy math. Oh...and you can factor in your parking fees if you're commuting to downtown. So theoretically, if you can park for $2 (not a chance), and you live within one mile, then taking the RTA might not pay for itself. You should probably be walking in this scenario though!

I like it. It all rolls up into market rate pricing. I'm also for raising the gas tax for the same reasons. If you want to drive an SUV, go for it, but be prepared to pay for it at the pump and subsidize alternative energy and rail projects so that others can benefit from your excess. Same basic principle here. If you are fortunate enough to afford to park close, some of that money should go to fund the parking/transportation needs of the other fans.

Or...they could park and ride on the streetcar (fingers crossed) if they didn't get the free handout on the subsidized parking. In fact, some of those parking fees should go to fund the streetcar!!!

I'm in the middle of Matthew Simmons' book, "Twilight in the Desert", and this falls eerily in line with his theory. The Saudi Oil Minister is predicting that world demand will decrease and prices will come plummetting down. He just doesn't want this spike to spur investment in alternative forms of energy, etc... http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060514/jordan_arabs_oil.html?.v=2 AP Oil Minister: Don't Bank on High Growth Sunday May 14, 2:58 pm ET By Jamal Halaby, Associated Press Writer Saudi Oil Minister Warns Arab Oil Producers Not to Expect Continued Growth in Demand or High Prices AMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- Saudi Arabia's oil minister warned Arab producers Sunday not to expect continued growth in prices and demand for oil. Ali al-Naimi said prices could plummet if an economic crisis drives industrialized nations to find other sources of energy, citing the 1980s -- when oil prices dropped by 80 percent after such nations reduced their dependency on oil and turned to alternative energy sources. "Global economic growth may not continue at the same good momentum for years to come," al-Naimi said at the opening of a four-day conference of Arab energy ministers in Amman. "We should be careful and not take expectations as indisputable, especially the continuation of big demand for oil and its prices remaining at the same level or increasing," he said.

Unless something has changed since I learned them, the laws of thermodynamics make this impossible. They are claiming the crack a water molecule through electrolysis, then somehow get more energy back when they recombine the hydrogen with oxygen. Nonsense. I think Sir Isaac Newton may also be behind this "government conspiracy"!

I hope they take safeguards against this becoming a jackpot for bike thieves. I recently had my front wheel stolen while my bike was locked to a rack. They would've stolen the back wheel too if they were smart enough to get the chain off. I'm sure they would've taken the seat too if I wasn't in the habit of taking it with me after locking everything up.

How many bands tour stadiums in the winter anyways? The U2's, Stones, Green Day's, and other bands who play stadium shows always build thier tours around the summer months for a reason. I don't get it.

Jennifer Wray has done a great job of covering this story.

That's funny. Don't herion addicts say the same thing when they go to rehab and see people just like them?