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Creating a Regional Transportation System From: Andrew Miller Date: Jul 08 15:56 UTC Short link

Ah, well then maybe that explains it, maybe Mike was referringto you as the
andrew asking thequestion and not me as the andrew asking the question --- or
maybe he calculated it this way so we would both be curious :)
Anyhow, yes, I agree that it was a good discussion but I really feel like the
lack of leadership in our community taking steps to use the infrastructure we
already have isa big part of why wefind such lack luster support community
wide. I don't believe there was anything said todayduring the show that really
would have energized anyone who isn't already a proponent of transit to change
their mind.
What if we hadsome of the CEO's of companies such as Nationwide, Huntington,
etc. taking COTA downtown. What if those same companies found out where
somemajor populationcenters of their employees are located, perhaps Polaris or
maybe Pickerington, andthen the company paysfor bus service for employees to
park andride from those locations, offering wider coverage around peak travel
times. This is what both Microsoft and Google do outside of Seattle.
When workers see their bosses taking public transit they are much more likely
to join in onit. With that in mind COTA et al should be working to win over the
100 or so key individuals andget them to use transit on a regular basis;get
them to lead the way with the current system so that there is funding and
support foran expanded system of the future.
Andrew Miller
http://andrew-miller.com
http://elephantsonbicycles.com



----- Original Message ----
From: Andrew Bremer <<email obscured>>
To: chivespa1 <<email obscured>>
Cc: Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum <<email obscured>>
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 11:40:22 AM
Subject: Re: [CORIF] Creating a Regional Transportation System

I think it was a good conversation at least. I am glad that I got
through via email as my last question to the group. Unfortunately,
the host failed to read my full name or especially what organization I
was representing.

I am seeing a lot of talk about this issue and we have wonderful
momentum going for us right now. While I have not heard of the idea
of taking donations to actually build more transit and transportation
infrastructure, I think it is an interesting idea. The real action
will be with the Federal Transportation Bill and any actions at the
General Assembly. I am working with my staff, board and our community
leaders to see what exactly a campaign would look like to push for
these types of improvements.

I may from the group that's pushing inter-city trains, but I keep
pointing out that the Ohio Hub Plan has provisions for local commuter
rail connections much like the earlier gentleman commented on
connecting the county seats in central Ohio. Think about Athens,
Washington Courthouse, Newark, Zanesville, Delaware, Marysville all
connected to Columbus with light or heavy rail. Now, there's a system
that feeder busses and traditional downtowns can feed into.

Thanks for the discussion.
Andrew Bremer
All Aboard Ohio

www.allaboardohio.org

On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 11:22 AM, chivespa1 <<email obscured>> wrote:
> Well, it was nice that Mike asked my questionvia email although he didn't
really ask it.He shortened what I was asking to see what the city could do to
sell theideato people who didn't already "getit". Really what I was asking
(almost verbatim) was, other than Mary Ellen, why don'tcity leaders like Mayor
Mike lead by example and usepublic transit orbicycle? Mayor Daleybicycles to
work almost daily inChicago andit is his example that has helped to sell
Chicago on transit options. Not so long agoChicago's transitinfrastructure was
in dire straights but it's seen a 180* turn around. Most people I talk to don't
seethere being support for transit options here in Central OH and I think that
is because thepeople at the top don't use it either. It's hard to expect other
people to buy into something you only half heartedly believe in yourself.
Sorry, I'm a bit touchy about people who don't do and instead only talk.
> Andrew Miller
> http://andrew-miller.com
> http://elephantsonbicycles.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Elizabeth Ike <<email obscured>>
> To: Laura Koprowski <<email obscured>>
> Cc: Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum <<email obscured>>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 11:08:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [CORIF] Creating a Regional Transportation System
>
> What are every one's thoughts on the WOSU Open Line interview? The thing
> that keeps running through my mind is, how can we, the public, convince
> policy and decision makers that we are behind them--both philosophically and
> financially--in developing an effective mass transit system?
>
> This may be a wild thought, but what if there were a campaign that either
> actually collected citizen donations toward mass transit in Central Ohio, or
> served as a petition/commitment to support the local funding needs for a
> thoughtful and comprehensive mass transit system. It seems like people
> (finally!) realize that something "bold" needs to be done, but how can
> regular citizens help to light the fire and keep it burning?
>
> I am looking forward to reading what everyone thinks!
>
> Best,
> Liz
> On Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 5:06 PM, Laura Koprowski <<email obscured>>
> wrote:
>
>> Since all of the discussion and attention on streetcars in the spring, it
>> seems like summer has brought in a season of exploring and openness to
>> thinking about creating a regional transportation system for central Ohio -
>> something broader and yet inclusive of streetcars. We could be looking at
>> more transit, more bike trails, passenger rail, etc.
>>
>> I'm curious how this concept resonates with the group and also encourage
>> everyone to listen to Open Line on WOSU 820am tomorrow, July 8 at 10am. The
>> topic to be discussed is the present and past of mass transit in Central
>> Ohio, with Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) Executive Director
>> Chester Jourdan, Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) President and CEO and
>> Ohio Public Transportation Association (OPTA) President William Lhota, and
>> Columbus City Council Member Maryellen O'Shaughnessy".
>>
>> Open Line is a live, public affairs talk show, with listener phone calls,
>> on WOSU public radio. Open Line is streamed live, podcast and archived at
>> www.wosu.org/radio/radio-open-line.
>>
>> The format of Open Line is a conversation between the host and his guests
>> for the first 20 minutes to lay groundwork for the discussion. Then the
>> show opens the lines to callers. You can also email questions to
>> <email obscured>.
>>
>> Please share this email with others. It would be great to get some good,
>> thoughtful and helpful questions to the show.
>>
>> And also some good, thoughtful, helpful comments here at CORIF.
>>
>>
>> Laura Koprowski
>> Grandview Heights
>> Info about Laura Koprowski:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/rWdCPb5lpdpAR7zEZTxns
>>
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>
> Elizabeth Ike
> Clintonville, Columbus
> Info about Elizabeth Ike: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/whelanike
>
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>
>
> Andrew Miller
>
> Info about Andrew Miller:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/5tiW2SAgU0fmQG5KUocfYw
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1YnWNrJS6z1sQjPlgRiGUH
> -----------------------------------------
> To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
> To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
> in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
> More info about Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum:
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>
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--
Andrew M. Bremer
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio

309 South 4th Street Suite 304
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Office: (614) 228-6005
Cell: (614) 657-4184
<email obscured>

www.allaboardohio.org

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