Regional transportation
From:
livingston.28
Date:
Jul 08 19:00 UTC
Short link
On Open Line, Maryellen O explained the length and direction of the streetcar
route by referring to the 70/71 rebuild and the fact that the downtown bridges
weren't designed to support the weight of streetcars. But if the High Street
line really is only a first step, why not include plans for tackling these
obstacles?
For instance: why not lay out ideas for beefed-up bus service going West into
Franklinton and south through the Brewery District/German Village, designed to
connect with the streetcar? That would start to sketch in the picture of an
integrated transit system, rather than hanging the argument on a one-line
project. (A single line is, by definition, not a system).
By "beefed up," I mean something that is visually distinct from the current
COTA fleet, more tied into the look of the streetcar. These would lay down
markers for future construction and get people used to thinking about
connectivity.
Kathleen, I think you and I have had this discussion before, but today's
program really reinforced my sense that the *systematic potential* of the
streetcar needs to be made more explicit.