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Streetcar Meeting? From: Ann Whelan Date: May 08 14:02 UTC Short link
What is so remarkable to be about this bus rapid transit system in Columbia
is that it is such a creative solution that works so well for commuting to
work. It solved the parking problem by having the bike racks and free
shuttles. And it solved the access problem by operating like a subway with
stations. And probably solved some health problems because folks get the
work out their bodies need and they don't even have to pay for a gym
membership. I think we could come up with a creative workable green and
healthy solution here too, and so I am encouraged. On second thought, I
think we have to (its not optional) if we want our grandchildren to have a
future. Its a way of thinking and a having a long term big picture
vision.We can learn a lot from others successes and mistakes too.This is a
success story! Not that our solution in Columbus will be the same as theirs
in Columbia. The future is way more important than than just bringing in
business, economic development etc. because that won't matter much if we
destroy our planet. .
----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Ike" <<email obscured>> To: "chivespa1" <<email obscured>> Cc: "Kathleen Murphy" <<email obscured>>; "Ann Whelan" <<email obscured>>; "Marie Keister" <<email obscured>>; "Laura Koprowski" <<email obscured>>; "Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum" <<email obscured>> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 3:25 PM Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting? > This response is not directly streetcar-related, but certainly related to > our region's vision for regional mass transit. I was forwarded this link > this morning and was very impressed by the concept of the bus rapid > transit > system as applied in Bogota, Colombia (a city of more than 7million). > > http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/streetfilm-brt-in-bogota/ > > Check it out. I would love to hear your opinions on this. > > Liz Ike > > On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 1:06 PM, chivespa1 <<email obscured>> wrote: > >> I don't want to belabor this point forever because, again, I'm for the >> streetcars but as a bicyclist this is a concern I have. The tracks being >> flush with the road isn't the issue. The issue is the gap/groove created >> in >> the pavement which the tram wheel is guided in on the track. That is >> where bicycle wheels get caught and accidents happen. Unless there is >> some >> new technology that I'm not aware of this is still an issue. >> >> Here is specifically what I mean: >> >> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004055887_biketracks06m.html >> >> I'm really hopeful about the city's committment to cyclist and I'm glad >> to >> hear that there is similar support from so many others. >> >> Andrew >> http://elephantsonbicycles.com >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Kathleen Murphy <<email obscured>> >> To: Ann Whelan <<email obscured>>; Marie Keister < >> <email obscured>>; Laura Koprowski <<email obscured>>; >> Elizabeth Ike <<email obscured>>; Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum < >> <email obscured>> >> Sent: Monday, May 5, 2008 10:01:20 AM >> Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting? >> >> Biking is a high priority of the city. Between now and 2012 the Mayor >> proposes $20 million in funding for bike paths, racks, lockers and other >> improvements. The city wants to promote all kinds of travel be it cars, >> bikes or streetcars. >> >> As for streetcars and bikes, modern transit cars allow bikes to be >> transported on the cars. Columbus has not bought any streetcars yet or >> even >> selected the car that will be used in our city, but keeping them >> compatible >> with bikes is a high priority. The rails for streetcars do not present >> problems for bikers, as they are fairly flush with the street. >> >> -- >> Kathleen Murphy >> MurphyEpson >> 151 E. Nationwide Blvd. >> Columbus, OH 43215 >> 614-221-2885 ext 16 (phone) >> 614-221-2889 (fax) >> >> >> > From: Ann Whelan <<email obscured>> >> > Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 06:53:35 -0400 >> > To: Marie Keister <<email obscured>>, 'Laura Koprowski' >> > <<email obscured>>, 'Elizabeth Ike' <<email obscured>>, 'Central >> Ohio >> > Regional Issues Forum' <<email obscured>> >> > Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting? >> > >> > I heard some discussion the next day on NPR, and someone (sorry I >> > didn't >> > catch his name) said the street car would encourage bicycling in >> Columbus. >> > Does that mean bicycles can easily be taken on the street car? What >> > will >> the >> > costs be to ride? Is there an extra cost to take your bike with you? It >> > would be good to have bike lockers downtown-so far there are none. . A >> women >> > (NPR) was quoted as saying she would be willing to pay to ride the >> street >> > car for certain special events several times a year (like games). But >> she >> > implied that it would be too expensive to use the street car routinely. >> The >> > actual cost to ride was not disclosed.How green is it to have a street >> car >> > operating with only a few riders? >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: "Marie Keister" <<email obscured>> >> > To: "'Laura Koprowski'" <<email obscured>>; "'Elizabeth Ike'" >> > <<email obscured>>; "'Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum'" >> > <<email obscured>> >> > Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 6:28 PM >> > Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting? >> > >> > >> >> After Councilmember Maryellen O'Shaughnessy introduced the topic at >> >> the >> >> Council hearing on streetcars on Monday night, Mayor Coleman, Chief of >> >> Staff Mike Reese and financial consultant John Rosenberger laid out >> >> the >> >> background and financial scenario that could pay for the starter >> >> system >> >> running from Mound to OSU along High St.. Then the following speakers >> >> expressed their commitment to work with the City in moving forward >> >> with >> >> the streetcar proposal: COTA CEO Bill Lhota, MORPC Executive Director >> >> Chester Jourdan, OSU Government Relations Director Dawn Tyler-Lee, the >> >> outgoing and incoming OSU Student Government presidents, and Suzanne >> >> Coleman-Tolbert, Central Ohio Workforce Council. >> >> >> >> 53 members of the public signed up to speak -- after four hours of >> >> testimony, many people left before they got their turn to speak. Of >> those >> >> who stayed, about (depends on how you tally the remarks) 21 spoke >> against >> >> the streetcar proposal, 17 spoke in favor and another three or four >> >> expressed their desire that City Council study the concept thoroughly >> >> before moving forward. >> >> >> >> Of those who spoke against, several asked that more be done to improve >> and >> >> expand the current transit system, or that a regional rail system be >> built >> >> instead of a streetcar system, which is more of a downtown circulator. >> >> Councilwoman O'Shaughnessy is going to call another public hearing to >> >> allow COTA to share the many steps they are taking to accomplish these >> >> very goals. Others were concerned about the expenditure in tight >> economic >> >> times, or expressed fears that increased parking fees would discourage >> >> people from coming/developing downtown. Supporters encouraged Council >> to >> >> invest in streetcars as a first step in a broader rail-transit system, >> or >> >> that making an investment now will pay large dividends later in better >> >> mobility, more green transportation options, a more viable downtown >> >> and >> >> high economic return. They pointed to experiences in other cities >> >> where >> >> that has been the case. Several supporters acknowledged the streetcar >> >> proposal wasn't perfect, that it wouldn't address e >> >> very need the City has, but was an important piece of helping Downtown >> >> Columbus and the region realize a broader vision for the future. >> >> >> >> Marie >> >> >> >> Marie S. Keister, APR, AICP >> >> ENGAGE >> >> 7759 Crawley Dr. >> >> Dublin, OH 43017 >> >> (614) 565-2819 >> >> <email obscured> >> >> www.engagepublicaffairs.com >> >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: Laura Koprowski [mailto:<email obscured>] >> >> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 3:39 PM >> >> To: Elizabeth Ike; Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum >> >> Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting? >> >> >> >> Well, I wasn't there either but heard it was a 4 hour meeting and the >> >> discussion was divided in support but a positive thing was that the >> >> majority are in support of general increase funding, planning and >> >> availability of mass transit in our region - yeah!! It's a start! >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: Elizabeth Ike [mailto:<email obscured>] >> >> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:39 PM >> >> To: Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum >> >> Subject: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting? >> >> >> >> Good Afternoon Everyone! >> >> >> >> I have been out of town this week and was unable to attend the Public >> >> Hearing for the streetcar proposal on Monday. Was anyone able to >> attend >> >> who >> >> could tell me how the meeting went? >> >> >> >> Thanks! >> >> >> >> Liz Ike >> >> >> >> Elizabeth Ike >> >> Clintonville, Columbus >> >> Info about Elizabeth Ike: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/whelanike >> >> >> >> This topic's messages may be viewed at: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4w8CNIhfD5A5eWB8HUEXlS >> >> ----------------------------------------- >> >> 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: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/corif >> >> >> >> E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules >> >> ----------------------------------------- >> >> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at >> >> http://OnlineGroups.Net<http://onlinegroups.net/> >> >> >> >> Laura Koprowski >> >> Grandview Heights >> >> Info about Laura Koprowski: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/rWdCPb5lpdpAR7zEZTxns >> >> >> >> This topic's messages may be viewed at: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1BlLLldNqZl3AC1zZqvpue >> >> ----------------------------------------- >> >> 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: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/corif >> >> >> >> E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules >> >> ----------------------------------------- >> >> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at >> >> http://OnlineGroups.Net<http://onlinegroups.net/> >> >> >> >> >> >> Marie Keister >> >> Dublin >> >> Info about Marie Keister: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/2IHgCZCDJSyhPA2veW3PMk >> >> >> >> This topic's messages may be viewed at: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1GUHyWy91IygAwdHpjUCeH >> >> ----------------------------------------- >> >> 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: >> >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/corif >> >> >> >> E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules >> >> ----------------------------------------- >> >> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at >> >> http://OnlineGroups.Net<http://onlinegroups.net/> >> > >> > >> > Ann Whelan >> > >> > Info about Ann Whelan: >> > http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/2Y7B0H3ee1fRp56irM2Byt >> > >> > This topic's messages may be viewed at: >> > http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/5aIa4u5ZGfhK1MFEY3EEY9 >> > ----------------------------------------- >> > 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: >> > http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/corif >> > >> > E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules >> > ----------------------------------------- >> > Technical assistance thanks to our friends at >> > http://OnlineGroups.Net<http://onlinegroups.net/> >> >> >> >> Kathleen Murphy >> >> Info about Kathleen Murphy: >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/4YihwlaBdAtcA2zRstPTm6 >> >> This topic's messages may be viewed at: >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4cc9B5vgx2Dy5StxeQHuIc >> ----------------------------------------- >> 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: >> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/corif >> >> E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules >> ----------------------------------------- >> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at >> http://OnlineGroups.Net<http://onlinegroups.net/> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it >> now.<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51733/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ> >> > > Elizabeth Ike > Clintonville, Columbus > Info about Elizabeth Ike: > http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/whelanike > > This topic's messages may be viewed at: > http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4VoqAOc0oeiZ7kYSE6KJlh > ----------------------------------------- > 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: > http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/corif > > E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules > ----------------------------------------- > Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net