gildone

I'm glad Strickland is doing this. If there is a state agency that is in dire need of an enema, it's ODOT.

While I agree that some changes need to be made to the Innerbelt, the best way to really enhance development in Cleveland is to think more outside of the highway box.

The provisions in this bill are a vital first step to really start moving things forward with intercity passenger rail. It makes some important structural changes to Amtrak and requires USDOT to develop a national transportation policy-- something they were supposed to do when they were created in the 60s, but never did. What can you do for the revolution today: Easy-- ask your Reps and Senators to support this bill (although I don't think it has been introduced in the House yet, but it will be).

per my comment about being advertised to everywhere I go: Anywhere the Eye Can See, It’s Likely to See an Ad http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/15/business/media/15everywhere.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Unless trains are going to layover in the station, three tracks would probably be sufficient for the Ohio Hub.

Well, I was alluding to KJP's Lakefront Bypass study that he did a couple of years ago. So technically, all the insight is his :-D

This is what I thought. It's not an engineering problem, it's one of price and institutional barriers, plus an important operating consideration: at one point some years ago, Amtrak said that using CUT would increase the running time of the Lake Shore Limited by 1/2 hour. It's a shame it was lost, but at this point, we're probably better off with pursuing the Lakefront Bypass and building a nice, new station (possibly along with an expanded convention center) at its current location.

How very, very true.

I pretty much don't like any billboards, especially out in the country. They just mar the landscape, plus I'm just tired of being advertised to everywhere I go. One of these days I expect to come home, lift the lid on the commode, and see a sign on it that says "Do the Dew" or "Drink Ovaltine".

Having a commuter train would also connect the region to the Ohio Hub. Consider the large student population there too. It may help reduce the need for car ownership among students. The junction in south Columbus, can a fly-over be put there?

See aerial photo of the area here: http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=17&X=2209&Y=22969&W=1&qs=West+3rd+and+Superior%7cCleveland%7cOhio%7c&Addr=W+3rd++W+Superior+Ave%2c+Cleveland%2c+OH+44113&ALon=-81.6954000&ALat=41.4988000 I'm speaking from solely an engineering perspective here, not necessarily a practical one: Would it be possible to get rid of the two buildings by the Federal Justice Center (which would require buying out Sherwin-Williams-- probably impossible) and the stone building next to the draw bridge (an historical building, I know, but again, just speaking from an engineering perspective), then reconfigure Red Line bridge in order to bring tracks in there again? A very expensive proposition, I know, but it doesn't appear to be an engineering problem. Or am I missing something? When you consider that some urban freeway projects have cost as much as $120 million per mile, how far out of step would it be as far as cost?

Sorry for the double post...

The article below is actually related to peak oil, eventhough it doesn't mention it anywhere. The global geopolitical game being played out as we speak is being done, in part, with peak oil in mind: http://www.globalpublicmedia.com/articles/836 http://www.postcarbon.org The Rise of “The Axis of Oil”—Big Trouble for the United States In Brief: Richard Bell, Communications Director for Post Carbon Institute, reports on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' hearing into “The Geopolitics of Oil.” Just how bad are the geopolitics of energy, from the perspective of the United States? This morning the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources launched its New Year with an unusual hearing into “The Geopolitics of Oil.” The consensus conclusion of the witnesses: the United States is in deep, deep trouble, facing the emergence of an “axis of oil” that threatens to recreate the bi-polar world of the Cold War, complete with Russia as a principal actor.

If there really was a free market where energy is concerned, there would be more conservation.

I have no problem with making I-80 a public toll road, or any other stretch of interstate where it's feasible. I have a problem with privatizing, however. All that does is contract out the political will to raise tolls. Why should we enrich yet another multi-national corporation when we could use the money for other transportation needs?

KJP: When did the last commuter train run between Cleveland and Youngstown?

USA Today: Cities Rediscover the Allure of Streetcars: (Go to the link to see a pic of a Portland streetcar) http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-08-streetcars_x.htm Cities rediscover allure of streetcars Updated 1/8/2007 11:15 PM ET By Haya El Nasser, USA TODAY The streetcars that rumbled and clanged through many American cities from the late 1800s until World War II helped shape neighborhoods. More than a half-century later, streetcars are coming back and reviving the same neighborhoods they helped create....

Is anyone else going to send an e-mail to George Dixon too?

pope: the link doesn't work.

Here's my letter: George F. Dixon III President, Board of Trustees Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority 1240 W. Sixth St. Cleveland, Ohio 44113 Dear Mr. Dixon: As a Cuyahoga County resident and RTA user, I would like to express my support of the proposed Lorain-Cleveland commuter rail project. Not only does the greater Cleveland area need better transportation choices, we also need to embrace new ideas to reverse the region’s economic difficulties. Greater Cleveland is suffering economically in large part because the population of the region (which has been stagnant since 1960) continues to spread outward in auto-dependent development patterns. This has greatly increased the infrastructure costs of the entire region while destroying the tax bases in Cleveland and many first-ring suburbs. Successful metropolitan areas have successful urban cores. We cannot build a successful urban core in Cleveland without offering quality transportation alternatives to driving. The most successful cities in the 21st century will be ones that increase their liveability by offering transportation alternatives to the automobile and encouraging “new urbanist” style development. This is already evident in cities like Portland, Oregon. Lorain-Cleveland commuter rail presents a great opportunity for the greater Cleveland area to begin embracing this trend. It will make Cleveland more attractive to employers, and it will help attract and retain residents. Some erroneously believe that the project will increase sprawl. The sprawl is already there as nearly all of the land along the proposed corridor is developed. This project will densify the development and create more attractive and liveable neighborhoods around the stations. Another erroneous belief is that the project will compete for transit funding to the detriment of RTA when in fact, RTA’s money is not needed for this project as I understand it. We need to look at ways to broaden the constituency for public transportation so that we can in turn increase support for transit funding in general. This project will help accomplish that. Commuter rail in Cleveland is a sound idea that is long overdue and the most logical route to start with is Lorain-Cleveland. I ask that you and your colleagues on the RTA board support the project at RTA’s January 16, 2007 board meeting. Now, who else is going to send one?

I agree. Kunstler does have an arrogant streak and I think that hurts him a bit.

Taiwan Launches High Speed Rail Service: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/01/05/ap3301317.html

James Howard Kunstler: Making Plans for and Oil Scarce Future Orion Magazine, 1/4/07: http://www.orionmagazine.org/pages/om/07-1om/Kunstler.html

I'm drafting a letter supporting the project to George Dixon on the RTA board in advance of the 1/16/07 meeting. I'm writing as a Cuyahoga County resident and RTA user. I'll post it here once my final draft is complete. I urge others to do the same: CONTACT INFO (from RTA website): George F. Dixon III President, Board of Trustees Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority 1240 W. Sixth St. Cleveland, Ohio 44113 Direct phone calls and e-mail to: Board Secretary 216-566-5187, [email protected] Magyar: that's what I'm doing for the revolution today.

Fortunately, Blackwell isn't the one being inaugurated on Monday. Strickland has so far opposed privatizing the turnpike. We'll see if he changes his mind.