City Council to hear about streetcars on Monday

Tuesday,  April 22, 2008 5:02 PM

By Robert Vitale

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Columbus City Council will begin its deliberations Monday on Mayor Michael B. Coleman's streetcar proposal.  Council's first public hearing on the issue has been scheduled for 5 p.m. at City Hall, Councilwoman Maryellen O'Shaughnessy's office announced today.  The public will have a chance to share its opinions, too, the councilwoman's office said.

 

The hearing will focus on the funding plan issued last month by a Coleman-appointed advisory group, which recommended new taxes on off-street parking and entertainment-event tickets, an increase in Downtown parking-meter rates, and several other sources to raise the $103 million needed to get a 2.8-mile streetcar line up and running.

 

Several City Council members said last week that they felt overlooked by Coleman, who has asked them to approve $2 million for streetcar design and engineering before they've addressed the idea overall.  Coleman said the council and the public have been included throughout two years of streetcar study.

 

Full story at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/22/carmeeting.html?sid=101

Here is what I observe:

 

When you stand at a bus stop, even if a route map is displayed on the wayside sign, when is the next bus coming? Is it five minutes or two hours? Either can be the case with bus service.

 

But when you see a rail line in the street with overhead electric wires, a streetcar is bound to come along in a matter of minutes, not hours. Nowhere that I know of does a streetcar operate on headways of an hour or more. Typically 30 minutes or much is the norm. And if I've been downtown for a few minutes, I've probably already seen some streetcars going by and can judge by that observation generally how frequent the service is. Unless I'm paying attention to a bus's destination sign, all I know is I've seen buses but don't know how often a bus I'm interested in travels.

 

And I do agree there's something to the point of being able to see the streetcar tracks in the street. Unless someone has painted different colored lines on the pavement for different bus routes, who knows which way the bus goes unless you follow the wayside bus stop signs (and that requires guessing the route turns in between stops).

 

The short story to all this is that taking a streetcar removes some of the uncertainty of someone taking transit in your city for the first time -- whether that person is a life-long native or a first-time visitor.

It is a matter of frequency of service NOT a matter of the tracks being there.  What if we painted route finding lines on the pavement showing which routes go where (for buses that is), then it would be similar to the street car.  Also what if the street car served the same function as the bus, there were expresses, locals, crosstowns, etc. and you wouldn't be able to tell where a street car went until it came up to you and then you had to interpret where it went from the name.

 

Its not a matter of tracks being there it's a matter of the street car being SO expensive to build that it is built in areas where it will be able to serve high frequency.    It's a matter of providing information on the frequencey and areas of service.

 

Another point I would like to reiterate is signage and information availability.  COTA has an issue with this as do many transit agencies in the US, but if we had wayfinding signs (route maps) and times for each bus at every stop there would be a different attitude. 

 

The problem is the argument about the tracks is an unfair comparison, taking a whole bus system and comparing it to two miles of track.  Of COURSE people will trust it more its only 2 miles long, but if we had 100 miles of track winding its way around the city, taking over for the bus I bet there would be a different attitude towards the street car.  I don't buy the whole visitor thing, I have been to big cities with buses, mainly NYC and Chicago, they are easy to use and I know where they go because of the nomenclature of the buses and easy to read route maps.    I've also rode San Francisco's Trolley, I had no clue where it really went except up one street, but it was the same as the buses in NYC they go up one street.  Of course this is just my experience but I just wanted to show I'm not going about this blindly.

 

No one is going to build a street car with the initial goal of serving an area once an hour, that is why buses are so great for that purpose.  However I do think the bus system needs better wayfinding amenities.

 

Edit: How the heck did the Cincinnati street car thread grow to 129 pages? Haha it's freaking huge!

 

Edit:Edit: Again I'm not against street cars or having one in Columbus I just think the data in this particular justification is incorrect and have a feeling that the economic development claim is bloated, but I have no evidence of this.  I'm a stickler for proper use of data and argument formulation and it bothers me that this is used over and over again and could be deceiving to the public.

What if we painted route finding lines on the pavement showing which routes go where (for buses that is)

Then you would end up with a rainbow tangle all over the streets.  And even if you do this for a few targeted routes, it doesn't address the development potential around tracks in the ground.  People don't invest along bus routes like they do along fixed transit routes.

 

but if we had 100 miles of track winding its way around the city, taking over for the bus

That isn't the goal of streetcar systems.  Modern systems are typically small and are designed to serve a limited area, circulating people in that area. 

 

Edit: How the heck did the Cincinnati street car thread grow to 129 pages? Haha it's freaking huge!

The same type of politics that is starting to crop up on CBUS ;) (but if you read the latest on that thread, council finance committee finally approved the streetcar plan  :clap: :clap: :clap:, and that thread has served as a VERY valuable asset for supporters and dissenters alike to discuss the merits or demerits of streetcar systems)

 

 

Amen on that point hohum !  I think the urbanohio thread on Cincy's streetcar effort and the response to it is something to be admired.  I have even referred advocates here in Columbus to look it over to see the depth and breadth of support that has developed in Cincinnati. 

 

Outstanding!

Check out my note at

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,9.msg278557.html#msg278557

about Cincinnati students and other young people watching the play-by-play of council's deliberations on the streetcar. I don't know when I've ever seen that by young adults of a transportation project. I think that's absolutely tremendous.

What if we painted route finding lines on the pavement showing which routes go where (for buses that is)

Then you would end up with a rainbow tangle all over the streets.  And even if you do this for a few targeted routes, it doesn't address the development potential around tracks in the ground.  People don't invest along bus routes like they do along fixed transit routes.

 

There's also the fact there is a clear psychological difference between rail and bus systems.  I know it sounds odd, but it really is true.  With rail, visitors new to an area can see the tracks in the ground and they KNOW that the streetcar is confined to that path, making them more confident that if they embark at point A, they can easily get back to point A later.  They can also see the overhead wire from a block or two away, making them much more likely to wander around near the line, knowing that they won't get lost.  With buses, painted lines would serve as a general rule, but everyone knows that occasionally these routes would get diverted for traffic, construction, special events, etc, which undermines the confidence of the rider that they can get back to point A, no matter what happens.  In many ways, the fact that streetcars are confined to a track is one of their greatest assets, not the detriment that many detractors view it as.

Streetcar study to get money from COTA

Wednesday,  April 23, 2008 8:25 PM

By Tim Doulin

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

COTA will contribute up to $50,000 toward a feasibility study for a Downtown streetcar line, but one of its board members questioned whether supporters have objectively studied the demand for such a system.  “Projections on ridership may be more wishful thinking than realistic thinking,” Robert Weiler said after the Central Ohio Transit Authority board meeting today.  He questioned the need for “putting a rail down the middle of High Street when we already have buses on either side that are not full, during the middle of the day especially.”

 

The city has not decided whether to go forward with the 2.8-mile streetcar line that would run north from Downtown. But COTA and the city have discussed the possibility of the transit authority operating the streetcar.  The COTA board voted unanimously to approve the money and for William Lhota, president and chief executive officer, to continue talks with the city. 

 

Weiler, a developer, voted in favor of the resolution, saying it is important for COTA “to be at the table.”  After the meeting, Weiler said the streetcar committee formed by the mayor is “pretty well loaded with people who want the streetcar."  “I am just saying we need to have balance and we need to have objectivity.”

 

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/23/cotaboard.html?sid=101

COTA could reduce the number of buses running along high street and phase old buses out but I suppose that would eliminate jobs :(

Good news about COTA committing funding, but note the dissent from Bob Weiler.  Interesting coming from someone who did more to create the kind of suburban sprawl that has hurt downtown and made public transportation more difficult.

 

"Wishful thinking"? How condescending can he get?  If the same relative numbers were project for shoppers at one of his subruban developments, I wonder if he'd be that dismissive? 

 

The Streetcar Working Group was “pretty well loaded with people who want the streetcar" ?  He makes it sound like a stacked deck and claims "More objectivity" is needed.  Again, who but he would know better about stacking the deck for his real estate developments?  Where was the balance and objectivity then?

 

Certainly the Mayor wanted people on the working group who would give a streetcar plan a fair examination, but I would hardly call all 42 members raving transit advocates.  There were more than a few folks on that committee whom I would challanged to describe as "pro-streetcar".  But they were "objective" and asked some very hard and pointed questions during the process.  Weiler's comments do them all a great dishonor.

 

I'm sorry for the rant.  But Bob Weiler has no business making such comments, especially since he himself has stacked the deck against Columbus' urban core with a sprawl partly of his own deliberate creation. He sounds like a man who hears the clock ticking on the life span of his surburban developments.

Projections on ridership may be more wishful thinking than realistic thinking, Robert Weiler said after the Central Ohio Transit Authority board meeting today.

 

He questioned the need for putting a rail down the middle of High Street when we already have buses on either side that are not full, during the middle of the day especially.

 

If you're selling McDonald's burgers (COTA bus) for $2 and someone comes along with gourmet burgers (Streetcar) for the same price or even less, I would think more people would show up for the gourmet burgers.

 

My point is that a bus and a streetcar are not a 1-for-1 equally interchangeable product.

Exactly so we need to stop comparing them, they serve two different purposes with a common goal of moving people and have two very different images in the mind of the public.  My examples above may have been extreme but my point is that they cannot use a comparison to the bus to justify the street car as they have been. 

 

That is some good news that another feasibility study will be conducted especially with the funding of COTA.  Finally some data I can hopefully rely on.  Weiler's concern over the inflated ridership projects is valid but his anti-street car stance is probably strong.   I don't particularly agree that the board needs to be balanced since the city needs to do SOMETHING to start downtown development rolling I just hope the feasibility study is fair. 

 

Also if COTA were to remove buses from High street stretch of the street car that would force a transfer, something that is a deathknell for bus systems.  Unless COTA worked to increase the street car frequency and what not to meet the #2's high frequency peak service that won't be able to happen.  I don't really think it would reduce the number of jobs since the drivers can be trained to operate a street car AND we can move the drivers to other routes COTA wants to expand so really it might save them some hiring problems IF the transfers are smooth.

 

The fact that a street car is on a track is a boon since people can see where it goes but also if a street is shut down so is the street car, unlike a bus, there is a tradeoff made buy the fact that economic development "springs up" around street car lines makes it a better choice.  There has not been many efforts to make bus wayfinding easy and there is little research on this topic.  But as far as painting the streets go creating a "rainbow" that would be confusing; the truth is you would need 3-4 colors and have bubbles with the number of the route on them.  Plus I was expressing that as just one option you could use road signs instead or some other way of displaying info.  As soon as you leave the immediate downtown area not many lines overlap anyhow so it wouldn't really be that bad.   Also all the investment that happens around streetcar lines are always backed by the cities, at least the start of the development.     

 

All the hatred towards buses is funny because no city with a street car has ever done away with their bus system and in fact relies on the bus system to move people to the street car and light rail lines.  I love how buses are attacked because of it, when buses will be the feeders of any future light rail.  I feel like the bus system is an unfair transit martyr when it has existed as a form of alternative transportation that has been bashed and beaten by the public for decades, and now is being bashed again as an "unacceptable" form of transportation.   The street car and bus system need to coexist and work with each other to make sure they move people as effectively as possible and reduce the cost to the public the best way it can.   Public transit supporters should be working to change the image of the bus and pushing politicians to to do it but instead public transit supporters whine about the deficencies.

 

Is there a citizen's group that is sitting in on the street car development?

 

 

Everyone... I served on the Streetcar Working Group and you're all getting way ahead of yourselves on how this will impact bus service on High Street.  The system hasn't even been designed beyond some maps and conceptual drawings. 

 

Will it have an impact? Probably, but to sit here and debate with any kind of certainty what that impact will be is a pointless exercise until that kind of planning actually begins.

 

No one here (that I know of) "hates" buses.  What I think several posters are trying to say is that there is a sizeable and demonstrable segment of the public that will never set foot on a bus... but will eagerly board anything that runs on steel rails, whether its a streetcar, light rail or commuter rail.  When St. Louis started its light rail line, the great majority of their riders were new-to-transit.  When asked, most stated they liked the certainty of knowing that the rails represented a clearly defined route with a beginning and end.  It is hardly a hatred of buses.

 

As for Bob Weiler: He'll earn my respect when he starts building transit-oriented, mixed use developments instead of another Polaris Fashion Mall that excludes COTA buses and makes no provision for even being able to walk safely across Polaris Parkway or the quarter-mile of asphalt parking lot between the Parkway and the mall entrance. If it was solely up to him, COTA would have never committed a dime to the streetcar project.

 

Who said I hate buses, Polis? You're a young man so I'll cut you some slack. When I used a McDonald's burger as my bus metaphor, it wasn't to express a hate of buses. It was to express my belief that buses serve a basic, utilitarian purpose. A streetcar is more expensive like the gourmet burger, but a little nicer than a bus, again in my opinion. And if we want to continue the food metaphors (I do!), then I consider filet mignon drizzled in lobster sauce to be a Ferrari. OK, I'm done with my metaphorical rant.

 

I need to eat something!

5 P.M. TODAY AT COLUMBUS CITY HALL

 

Public has chance to offer views on streetcar funding

Monday,  April 28, 2008 3:13 AM

By Robert Vitale

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Can Columbus afford streetcars? Or can it afford not to have them?  Tonight, the debate begins.  The City Council will host its first hearing on Mayor Michael B. Coleman's $103 million proposal to run a modern, electric train line from Downtown to Ohio State University.  Question No. 1: How will the city pay for it?

 

"We have to balance the needs of our community vs. the desires of our community, particularly in tough economic times," Councilwoman Charleta B. Tavares wrote in a letter to Coleman last week.  The mayor has pointed to petitions signed by more than 1,000 streetcar supporters and endorsements from business, community and environmental groups, but Tavares' letter called for wider discussion with "the community at-large."  Coleman has bristled at the notion that his administration hasn't had that debate.  A group studying the proposal met for two years, he said recently.

 

Full story at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/28/carsadv.ART_ART_04-28-08_B3_U8A230S.html?sid=101

Bake sale.

Overall, the testimony in tonight's public hearing was generally favorable for the streetcar, but judging from many of the negative comments, there is a lot of education yet to be done. Still a lot of misconceptions about the streetcar, but a comment that seemed to register with some members of the City Council came from a few who raised the issue of the need to spend $$$ on public safety (police & fire) instead of what the speakers perceived to be something that would only benefit the downtown.  But many of those opposed argued that the streetcar line doesn't go far enough: that there should be light rail serving a larger area.  There were only a few who termed it a waste of money and few of them supported their own claim with anything approaching substantial evidence.

 

I'm sure there will be accounts of the meeting in the Dispatch, but by and large I'd say those who spoke in favor of the streetcar spoke forcefully and effectively. Unfortunately, Mayor Coleman left the hearing before the public comment began and a few speakers derided him for that, altough even that was somewhat overblown, because two of the Council members (including Council President Mentel) also left early during the public comment and that didn't seem to bother the naysayers.

 

The only one who made my stomach churn was Columbus developer and COTA Board Member Robert Weiler who repeated his misgivings about the streetcar in the most hypocritical manner: saying he wishes downtown could return to its glory days and that City Center could be revived, yada-yada... but that Columbus must balance these wishes with the reality of its needs to do other things and the streetcar (in his view) doesn't fit those needs.  Interesting viewpoint considering Weiler has developed some of the very suburban malls (Polaris) and other developments that have helped kill off downtown retail, including City Center.  He has served on COTA's board of trustees for 5-plus years and has done nothing personally or professionally to promote public transit in Columbus and Central Ohio.

 

That said, there will be more hearings to come and more opportunities to show why the streetcar is a necessary and good start for a larger rail-based transit system. 

 

Critics have their say on streetcar plan

Monday,  April 28, 2008 11:37 PM

By Robert Vitale

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Before friendly audiences over the past few months, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman has been greeted by sign-waving and wild applause at the mere mention of streetcars.  City Council's first public hearing on the idea last night proved a lot of people still aren't on board, though, with his plan to spend $103 million on a 2.8-mile line from Downtown to Ohio State University.

 

Critics urged city officials to invest in a better bus system and focus on basics such as police and fire protection instead of bringing back streetcars that left Columbus 60 years ago.  “Is Mayor Coleman crazy, wanting a streetcar?” said Bobbie Hall-Refinati, a Far East Side resident who wants public-transit projects that focus on moving people throughout the entire region.  “Poverty is running high, unemployment, crime,” said Barry Edney of the Near East Side, a frequent critic of the mayor and council.  “I really can't see this helping anyone in the neighborhoods.”

 

Full story at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/28/cardebate.html?sid=101

Did Vitale attend the same meeting I did?  I heard at least as many proponents of the streetcar if not more than those who opposed it.

 

Walker Evans.... I saw you there.  What's your take?

Dispatch on-line poll:  The Hot Issue: Do you think Columbus City Council should proceed with the streetcar plan?

 

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/29/hotissue_streetcar.html?sid=101

New advocacy website for the Downtown Columbus Streetcar:

 

http://columbus-streetcars.com/

 

 

Very nicely done.  Still not fully operational, but I'm told will be very soon.  :clap: :clap: :clap:

Dispatch on-line poll:  The Hot Issue: Do you think Columbus City Council should proceed with the streetcar plan?

 

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/29/hotissue_streetcar.html?sid=101

 

Anything close to 50% support in a poll like this should be considered a victory. 

 

As you saw at last night's Council meeting, a big ticket proposal in the downtown area will bring out the usual "neighborhood leaders".  Their motto is always, "don't spend money downtown, spend it in my neighborhood".

Interesting comments on the streetcar "hot topic" question in the Dispatch today.  I watched some of the Council meeting last night and have read through some of the comments and a common theme that pops up is that a portion of the opponents want a broader rail system.  My thought is that they don't grasp that the streetcar will be an essential part to a much larger system, but at least there is a large portion of the Central Ohio area wanting a more comprehensive regional transit plan.  I support the streetcar, but I do wish the mayor would show how the streetcar could fit more into a regional system.

New advocacy website for the Downtown Columbus Streetcar:

 

http://columbus-streetcars.com/

 

Very nicely done.  Still not fully operational, but I'm told will be very soon.  :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

That is a well done website.  I give due credit to Paul Bonneville from Columbus Retro Metro.

 

Dispatch on-line poll:  The Hot Issue: Do you think Columbus City Council should proceed with the streetcar plan?

 

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/29/hotissue_streetcar.html?sid=101

 

Anything close to 50% support in a poll like this should be considered a victory. 

 

As you saw at last night's Council meeting, a big ticket proposal in the downtown area will bring out the usual "neighborhood leaders".  Their motto is always, "don't spend money downtown, spend it in my neighborhood".

 

Dispatch on-line poll: Do you think Columbus City Council should proceed with the streetcar plan?

(Results as of last post today at 11:00AM)

 

48% Yes

52% No

 

 

Still a lot of misconceptions about the streetcar, but a comment that seemed to register with some members of the City Council came from a few who raised the issue of the need to spend $$$ on public safety (police & fire) instead of what the speakers perceived to be something that would only benefit the downtown.

 

From here: http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=611

 

<b>My comments on the Streetcar to Columbus City Council</b>

Posted on April 29th, 2008

 

Last week I spoke to Columbus City Council on the topic of the Columbus Streetcar proposal. Yesterday a few dozen other people came out to speak at the public hearing. I guess that makes me a trendsetter, eh? Seriously though, here’s a rough transcript of my address to City Council:

 

<i>Council Members, thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Walker Evans and my wife and 7-month-old son and I just bought our first home in the King Lincoln District in January. While it’s much more popular for a young family to plant roots in the suburbs, we chose to stay in the central city. My wife and I are very civic-minded people and to use a cliche, we want to “be the change” that we hope to see in our neighborhood. There is a lot of potential in Columbus and we want to be a part of shaping the future of our community.

 

This is also why we both support the Streetcar proposal. The starter line is the beginning of what can become an all-encompassing transit system that would serve the entire Central Ohio region directly and help to grow our community. The starter line will not be running close enough to our new home for us to benefit directly but we still see the potential that lies in it for our community at large. Public transit is a bigger concept than any single individual, and yet can still have other types of indirect impact on riders non-riders alike.

 

One of the biggest complaints I hear from people who are against the Streetcar proposal is that the money could be spent on better things such as our education system, or improved safety. Typically people don’t realize that that funding proposal is fee-based and not coming out of general budget dollars, so this money isn’t going to be spent on anything if not on the Streetcar. If it was possible to spend on something else though, would dumping cash into our schools or onto our police officers actually help? No matter what the issue is, you can’t just dump money on a problem and expect it to go away.

 

The great thing about public transit is that it can have a positive indirect impact on these other issues. More people riding public transit means more people on the streets. And more people on the streets mean more honest eyeballs on the streets. Which leads to a safer environment without the need for an increased police force. Additionally, with the economic development brought on by public rail transit systems comes an increased property tax base that can help fund our public schools. And more importantly, with an increased density of inner-city homeowners comes an increased density of people concerned with how well their neighborhood schools are performing, which ultimately is the problem with our flailing school system.

 

In conclusion, please be sure to take all factors into consideration when examining the benefits that improved alternative transportation can bring to the city of Columbus. Transportation may primarily be about moving people from point A to point B, but there is a lot more that comes along with it. Thank you.</i>

 

Did Vitale attend the same meeting I did?  I heard at least as many proponents of the streetcar if not more than those who opposed it.

 

Walker Evans.... I saw you there.  What's your take?

You should have said hi! ;)

 

It seemed about 50/50 to me in the pro/anti divide from what I saw in person and what I continued watching live at home online. And most of the anti-streetcar crowd still seemed pro-rail transit or at least pro-public transit. They just weren't sure if Streetcars should be the first step. I think everyone's going to have a slightly different opinion on what the first step should be and other fine details, but sometimes you have to just draw a line in the sand and take action because no proposal will ever please 100% of the public. Action needs to happen for anything to move forward.

 

Interesting website on the history of Columbus original streetcar system:

 

http://www.columbusrailroads.com/streetcars.htm

 

And a very interesting quote about the beginnings of the streetcar system.  I'm sure there were "neigh-sayers" back then.... but the lesson then (as today) is: ya gotta start some place.

 

In 1888 an experimental electric streetcar line was built in Columbus, Ohio.  It ran on Chittenden Avenue from High Street to the State Fairgrounds, a distance of about half a mile.  From that shaky start it only took until 1892 to completely replace the horsecars.  The advantages in speed, cleanliness, increased capacity and economy caused officials to put those horses to pasture as fast as they could. For the next 54 years Columbus would rely on the streetcar for basic transportation around the city and to promote city growth.

 

I recieved an email 1KCO regarding the upcoming Columbus City Council meeting on Monday.  Below is an excerpt from that email regarding a memo from Mayor Coleman to Council President Mentel.  Interesting to note that the mayor would like to start a committee to promote rail-based transit. 

 

The Mayor presented a memo to Council President Mike Mentel requesting:

 

Council NOT earmark $2 million for Streetcars in the CIB, but instead to set aside the

funding for Council to consider later in 2008. This enables the Mayor's office to refine and

adjust the Streetcar Financial Scenario.

 

Council to pass legislation for $200,000 to $250,000 to be taken from the City' existing

Street Fund to be used by the city's consulting teams to continue public education efforts

and to listen to the needs of the public.

 

Council create a City Council Rail Transit Development Committee in partnership with

MORPC, COTA, OSU, ORDC and other local groups to advance the vision of improved

regional transportation, encourage public engagement and advocate for funding for future

research, planning, construction and operations for rail transit alternatives including

streetcars

 

Council consider a community visit to one or more cities with operational streetcars to

learn first-hand how streetcars and rail transit can benefit Columbus

 

 

Sounds like the Mayor is doing the old "take one step back to take two steps forward."  Not a bad strategy for him to take.  I understand Mentel responded positively.

Request for streetcar design is shelved

Coleman says residents need more information; $2 million left available

Tuesday,  May 6, 2008 3:26 AM

By Robert Vitale

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

In a public-works budget approved last night by Columbus City Council, streetcars are now known only as "miscellaneous economic development."  Bowing to criticism from council members who've complained about being left out of the debate and responding to concerns of residents and businesses, Mayor Michael B. Coleman removed a request to begin design of a High Street route and acknowledged he has more selling to do.

 

In a memo to Council President Michael C. Mentel pitching his $103 million idea as a catalyst for economic development, Coleman said, "While these issues are clear to me, our public needs more information."  Council kept $2 million in the 2008 capital-spending plan that Coleman had requested for design and engineering of a 2.8-mile streetcar line from Downtown to Ohio State University.  But it took the streetcar label off the money at the mayor's request.

 

"Frankly, we are not ready to spend these resources," Coleman said in a memo that acknowledged "an obligation to further educate the public."  Spokesman Mike Brown said legislation to move forward on streetcar engineering will wait until a financing package is finalized.

 

Full story at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/06/COUN06.ART_ART_05-06-08_A1_91A4E9C.html?sid=101

This is really crazy.  At least O'Shaughnessy gets it.  The rest are going to be answerable to the voters when we're staring at $6/gal gasoline.

The good news is at least the Council has set the $$$ aside.  But your point about the rising price of gasoline is right on.  Council members will begin to hear it from their consituents as the price goes up and they'd better have some good answers for what they've done to create more options to the car. 

Council delays $2M for streetcar plan

Business First of Columbus - by Matt Burns

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 - 12:30 PM EDT

 

A $2 million appropriation for design and engineering work on the proposed downtown streetcar line is still on the table, but it might be harder to find in the $1.1 billion capital improvement budget approved by Columbus City Council Monday night.  Responding to criticism of the $103 million streetcar plan, Mayor Michael Coleman asked that the $2 million earmark be delayed.

 

"Frankly, we are not ready to spend these resources," Coleman wrote in a memo to Council President Michael Mentel.  "We have an obligation to further educate the public on this proposal's connection to a more comprehensive rail and transit plan citywide."  "Essentially, this means we will slow down the spending of the money until later in the year," Brown said.  "We've got groups out there with all kinds of questions."

 

Full story at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/05/05/daily11.html?jst=b_ln_hl

 

Interesting personnel development.  Sounds like Mayor Coleman is tasking someone to politically push for the streetcar project.

 

Coleman spokesman moves up, Other Paper editor moves in

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 4:50 PM EDT

Business First of Columbus

By Matt Burns, Business First

 

Coleman's right-hand men is moving up.  Mike Brown, who has worked as Coleman's spokesman since 1999, will staff a newly created job as the city's urban ventures coordinator.  Stepping in for Brown will be Dan Williamson, who recently was editor of the Other Paper.  Coleman called Williamson, who will oversee a two-member staff and coordinate communications for 13 departments, "one of the sharpest political observers and writers in Ohio."

 

"There are a lot of urban issues that need to be researched and we need public and private partners," Brown, 33, told Columbus Business First, adding that he's become increasingly involved in city policy issues in recent years.  "People need to be engaged, and the mayor has asked me to take on that role full time."

 

Brown's job will focus on transportation issues, improving the arts and culture environment, retaining young professionals, city marketing and the upcoming 2010 U.S. census.  In particular, he will gather more public input on Coleman's $103 million streetcar proposal, which has come under criticism since it was unveiled in March.

 

Full story at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/05/12/daily21.html?f=et58&ana=e_du

I have a relative that lives in the Short North area, 4Th & High. Would this be near the proposed Streetcar? :?

Interesting personnel development.  Sounds like Mayor Coleman is tasking someone to politically push for the streetcar project.

Brown was already tasked with pushing the Streetcar before. It sounds like now he can push harder as it's become a more primary focus. :D

mrniles...

 

yes....it's right along the proposed streetcar route.

Streetcar story in the latest edition of Columbus Alive...

 

Rail road

By John Ross

Columbus Alive

 

Much like casino initiatives, proposals for light and heavy rail have come and gone in Ohio.  Lately, though, there's been a sustained interest in the streetcar plan first proposed by Mayor Michael Coleman in 2006 and pushed vehemently by his staff ever since.

 

"There's not just one plan for mass transit, but we have a great start with this plan," said Mike Brown, Coleman's spokesman.  Here's what you should know.

 

Full story at http://columbusalive.com/?sec=upfront&story=alive/2008/0522/u-streetcar.html

 

Rail Links

All Aboard Ohio

Web: allaboardohio.org

 

American Public Transportation Association

Web: apta.com

 

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation

Web: downtowncolumbus.com

 

Ohio Rail Development Commission

Web: ohiohub.com

 

Xing Columbus

Web: xingcolumbus.wordpress.com

My dream:

 

My Streetcar Map

 

 

the tracks are too far apart on all of those routes.  Two blocks apart at most.  The red line would be unusable

They're all two-ways, I based it on the old system.

that would work then

The Columbus Alive story is about as good of a "primer" on the Streetcar Plan as I've seen from a local media outlet.  Kudos to Columbus Alive.

^Totally agree with your assessment of the Columbus Alive article, Noozer.  Great read.  The author, John Ross, posts regularly on Walker's Columbus Underground website.  He seems to have a much better knowledge on urban development issues than your average reporter.

 

Also, the Dispatch is teasing a streetcar story for the Sunday paper.  Could be interesting...so stay tuned.

We have to be persistent and keep bugging city council to set aside that $2 million for the study, though I don't see what's so hard about  digging up 4-6 inches to lay tracks on High. I never see anything about several studies needing to be done over a couple of years to get a road built, is all I'm saying.

Streetcar FAQ

Here are answers to top questions about mayor's High Street proposal

Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 3:50 AM

By Robert Vitale

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

The Dispatch posed the most frequently asked questions to city officials, consultants, experts and others:

 

Full story at http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/insight/stories/2008/05/25/scquestions.ART_ART_05-25-08_G1_5JA9DIN.html?sid=101

 

 

 

Nothing like yellow journalism.  Gotta hand it to the Dispatch...the pride of Ohio. Love the part where an 81 year old is quoted as saying that it was dangerous for bikers and women in high heels.  Like people can't see the tracks! And if they can't they shouldn't be driving a bike or walking without a cane. We have tracks everywhere here in SF and I've yet to hear of a single biker that has had a problem with the tracks or a women who has broken a heel.  Playing devil's advocate is one thing, but give me a f@cking break.  It will be three miles, not three thousand miles of tracks snaking everywhere gobbling up bike tires and wreaking havoc on stilettos. Okay, less coffee....

I'm not sure I'd call this yellow journalism on the basis of one quote.

 

Actually, I thought this wasn't a bad overview of the streetcar plan. It was pretty straight forward.

 

Good graphics and photos.  Glad to see they didn't get nostalgic and show more photos of the old Columbus streetcars.

 

 

I see the Dispatch as one of the main culprits in Columbus' being held back on many fronts.  Comparing the streetcars of the 1940s to the ones they want to put in now is just plain stupid. Maybe not yellow journalism, but certainly not ethical or logical, but typical.  Most of the article is okay, but as many lukewarm articles as they have written and the halfhearted support they have given, it is about time.