Post in What does $70 million buy?

May 13 21:49 UTC

People, this has been something like a con.

I've been wondering all along how this project got so far with inflated
expectations, and it's pretty clear to me now.  Pawlenty allowed it to
keep going because he assumed it would doom transit for a long time.  That
was the plan.

A big part of this, like any con, is an appropriate patsy.  The University
is a great patsy because they don't have any reason to care - they have
more than enough power no matter how you feel about them,
tankooberrymooch.  They can absorb all the blame and it is properly
deflected away from the person who really is responsible.

The thing is that this con had multiple ways of paying out, because
keeping everyone bizzy was a great diversion away from miscellaneous other
problems.   I mean, in 20 years there hasn't been a single change in the
technology, precise route, or any detail other than the turn at Fourth and
Cedar (and that only happened because it was impossible as drawn).  All
that time giving "public input" was just a glorious waste of time that
kept everyone from making real trouble.

If we wind up all fighting amongst ourselves, the con will have been
perfectly successful.  That's what was supposed to happen in the end.
It's the best way to make sure that all momentum for transit is utterly
lost and we all feel completely defeated.

Let's not blame anyone.  Hell, you can all blame me - I've been the
loudest critic of this line of anyone I know.  Blame me, ostracize me,
make it all my effing fault.  Then, go out and try to get something done.
Just keep bastards like me away from it so that I can't screw it up, OK?

Bob said
> PS And importantly, given the threadbare state of the City budget -
> and more problems looming this year - there is little realistic hope
> of money for rail projects through the Central Corridor without the
> help of the federal, state and/or regional government for many, many
> years.  Funding theory hits political and economic realities pretty
> quickly.  This is probably the Central Corridor's best hope until at
> least the 2020s, just to be clear about what is at stake here.

Ah, but you left out the County - the one agency that can at least LEAD
the next effort.  Yes, the Federal money will have to be routed through
the Met Council, but I think it's best to have all our ducks in a row
before we force them to quietly act as a pass-through.  I think we can get
the Legislature to do that if it costs them little to nothing.  That's the
plan I have now - a "Small Start" Streetcar system that does an end-run
around the Met Council.

Wait, I said you should leave me out of this.  Nevermind.  ;-)