All posts in the topic Streetcar Meeting? (Short link)

-----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

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http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4w8CNIhfD5A5eWB8HUEXlS
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Laura Koprowski
Grandview Heights
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-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Shane [mailto:<email obscured>]
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 11:03 AM
To: Laura Koprowski; Elizabeth Ike; Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum
Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting?

Is there a good report somewhere that suggests what the business
model would be to support regional rail?

At 03:38 PM 5/1/2008, Laura Koprowski wrote:
>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
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>
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>
>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
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Peter M. Shane
Jacob E. Davis and Jacob E. Davis II Chair in Law and
Director, Project on Law and Democratic Development
The Ohio State University
Moritz College of Law
55 West 12th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210

Executive Director, Knight Commission on the Information Needs of
Communities in a Democracy
www.knightcomm.org

Phone:  614-688-3014
FAX:  614-688-8422
URL:  http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/pshane
E-Mail:  <email obscured> or <email obscured>

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Whelan" <<email obscured>>
To: "Marie Keister" <<email obscured>>; "'Laura Koprowski'"
<<email obscured>>; "'Elizabeth Ike'" <<email obscured>>; "'Central
Ohio Regional Issues Forum'" <<email obscured>>
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 6:53 AM
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
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
>> 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
>

The major complaint that I have both heard and read about concerning these
packages is that they don't go far enough fast enough. Yes, it would be
great if we could get more than 50 miles of sidewalks and expand the area
farther than the city's ancient boundaries. Yes, it would be great if we
could do the entire bikeway plan by 2012 and not have to do it in phases.
And yes, it would be great if we could go beyond one 2.8 mile streetcar
demonstration and put together a complete light rail transportation system
moving out to the suburbs in all directions by 2012. But, that is just not
fiscally or physically possible.





I was truly fascinated when the streetcar plan was unveiled Thursday night
seeing Bill Lhota at the table. Then it dawned on me: Coleman, Lhota, Gee
and the others who participated in the process did an end run around COTA's
need to go to the voters for rail. They put together a plan financed
primarily by user fees. By 2012 we will have a demonstration short, short
line rail system in Central Ohio, in the most visible corridor in Central
Ohio. And, people will see this for the enlightened idea it is.





Times are changing and as the mayor said people can ill afford to pay for
gasoline and diesel. And, the cost of these fuels will only continue to go
up. We need to expand the walkability, bikability and mass transit options
in Columbus and Central Ohio. By 2012 we will have made substantial progress
in these areas, enough so that voters will hopefully be willing to support
ballot issues to expand these services further and in an accelerated time
frame.





In my crystal ball, I can picture how these modes would work together in a
comprehensive Central Ohio transportation system.



For most people, you can look at the modes as walking for shorter distances,
bicycling for intermediate to longer commuting distances, and coupling
walking and bicycling with mass transit for the furthest distances.



First, realize that every trip begins and ends on your own two feet. In an
ideal region for a longer-distance trip with much more mass transit and
better bicycle and pedestrian facilities than you see in Central Ohio today
it might look like:



1.       Walk for the shortest trips

2.       Get on your bike for shorter to intermediate distances

3.       For longer trips just ride or walk to a bus (or the streetcar) stop
(or train station if it is nearby)

4.       Get on a bus or streetcar (and load your bike on rack if you use
it) Buses act as a feeder into a rail system or for cross-town routes.

5.       Get off the bus and walk to a train (and put your bike on the rack
in the train - this is how they do it in Minneapolis). DC and suburban MD
and VA have a system in place with buses, walkers and bicycles feeding into
their Metro and this improves air quality as fewer buses have to venture
into the central city.

6.       Get off the train (and remember to take you bike with you:-)) and
either get on another bus, or ride or walk to your destination

7.       If you took a bus, get off the bus and walk or ride your bike to
your destination (lock your bike to ample bike racks if you did not walk)



I've said at more than one MORPC meeting that requiring you to specify which
mode you use to travel in a multi-modal world is a bogus process. In the
scenario above you walked, rode a bicycle, used a bus and/or streetcar, used
a train, etc. You can't just pick one - it's not reality. We're here to
facilitate transportation, not bean counting.



This kind of multi-modal system is what we need in Central Ohio. We should
not be satisfied with anything less.





Ira S. Weiss

11735 Eddington Ave NW

Pickerington OH 43147-9194

<email obscured>

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Coe: "ProPoint" /ATCO /AthensMRDD
[mailto:<email obscured>]
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:21 PM
To: Ann Whelan; Marie Keister; 'Laura Koprowski'; 'Elizabeth Ike'; 'Central
Ohio Regional Issues Forum'
Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting?



I'm 100% in favor of Mayor Coleman's progressive vision & leadership.



I like the concept of downtown streetcars.



But still I can't find one piece missing from the puzzle...park & ride

specifically for the streetcars.



The proposed route is along high-density traffic routes that already have a

shortage of parking facilities.



How does a streetcar solve a commuting/parking problem that COTA hasn't

already addressed?



A suburban commuter can drive to a park & ride at Graceland, for instance,

take COTA to a downtown destination.  GOOD!  How does a streetcar enhance

this same commuter's experience?



Further, on the 2-1/2-mile route along High from OSU to Courthouse, COTA

already provides good cheap service, probably 16-18 hours daily.  How will

the streetcar deliver superior service?



We're not addressing a choice for tourism...public transportation has to

work for the working populace if it's going to appeal to drivers to leave

their cars parked away from downtown.





Jim Coe, "ProPoint" Marketing (www.propoint.org)

----- Original Message -----

From: "Ann Whelan" <<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: Saturday, May 03, 2008 7:33 AM

Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting?





>

>

> After I sent the last e-mail, I read the street car planning financial

> plan,

> and answered one of my own questions about fares. I'm not sure I

> understand

> where people from the suburbs will park and then ride the street car from

> a

> parking lot or meter to an event.

>

> Here is the fare and parking info, just in case you didn't know and were

> interested:

>

> Fares/Pay-to-Ride

>

> Everyone who rides the streetcar will pay. Fare revenue is based on the

> assumption that approximately 30 percent

>

> of the ridership would pay the respective fares for a one-way ticket,

> round-trip ticket, monthly pass, ten-trip coupon

>

> booklet, etc. It is believed that this mix of fares would average $1 per

> ride. It is further assumed that approximately

>

> 70 percent of the ridership would ride under programs linked to the

> charges

> in the benefit zone for paid off-street

>

> parking and admissions. The resulting $720,000 per year expected from fare

> revenues equals approximately 16

>

> percent of gross operating costs, which is in line with other transit

> system

> operating experience, where such

>

> revenues rarely exceed 20 percent of operating costs.

>

> Ohio State University Participation

>

> Students, faculty, staff and visitors to OSU will be major users and

> beneficiaries of the line. The University can be

>

> anticipated to participate in some degree to the ongoing funding of the

> line.

>

> Charge on Paid Off-Street Parking

>

> This item is modeled on the surcharges on paid off-street parking that are

> not uncommon in other major American

>

> cities. Examples are Cleveland at 8%, Seattle at 7.5%, Chicago at $20 on

> monthly parking rates between $40 and

>

> $100 (effectively 20% to 50%) and Pittsburgh at 50%. The recommendation is


> a

> surcharge of four percent on paid

>

> off-street parking within the benefit zone.

>

> Paid admissions surcharge

>

> A surcharge of four percent is proposed on all paid admissions to sporting

> events, convention and commercial shows

>

> in facilities that operate in the benefit zone. The holder of any

> surcharged

> ticket would be able to use the ticket stub

>

> to ride the streetcar the day of the event.

>

> Rate increase on meter parking

>

> Parking rates on 2-hour meters within the benefit zone would be raised by

> up

> to 75 cents per hour depending on the

>

> location of the meter. This is still less than surface lots and garages in

> the area for short term hourly parking.

>

> Meter parking

>

> Existing annual revenues generated from all parking meters within the

> benefit zone would be applied toward the

>

> streetcar project as long as necessary to close the gap on the benefit

> zone

> side of the partnership. The amount of

>

> revenues that need to be used to support the project could be phased down

> as

> other potential revenue sources come

>

> into play over time.

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "Ann Whelan" <<email obscured>>

> To: "Marie Keister" <<email obscured>>; "'Laura

> Koprowski'"

> <<email obscured>>; "'Elizabeth Ike'" <<email obscured>>; "'Central

> Ohio Regional Issues Forum'" <<email obscured>>

> Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 6:53 AM

> 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

>>>

>>> 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,"

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>>> -----------------------------------------

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>>>

>>>

>>> 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:

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>>> -----------------------------------------

>>> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net

>>

>

>

> Ann Whelan

>

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>





Jim Coe



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> I'm 100% in favor of Mayor Coleman's progressive vision & leadership.
>
> I like the concept of downtown streetcars.
>
> But still I can't find one piece missing from the puzzle...park & ride
> specifically for the streetcars.
>
> The proposed route is along high-density traffic routes that already have a
> shortage of parking facilities.
>
> How does a streetcar solve a commuting/parking problem that COTA hasn't
> already addressed?
>
> A suburban commuter can drive to a park & ride at Graceland, for instance,
> take COTA to a downtown destination.  GOOD!  How does a streetcar enhance
> this same commuter's experience?
>
> Further, on the 2-1/2-mile route along High from OSU to Courthouse, COTA
> already provides good cheap service, probably 16-18 hours daily.  How will
> the streetcar deliver superior service?
>
> We're not addressing a choice for tourism...public transportation has to
> work for the working populace if it's going to appeal to drivers to leave
> their cars parked away from downtown.
>
>
> Jim Coe, "ProPoint" Marketing (www.propoint.org)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ann Whelan" <<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: Saturday, May 03, 2008 7:33 AM
> Subject: Re: [CORIF] Streetcar Meeting?
>
>
>>
>>
>> After I sent the last e-mail, I read the street car planning financial
>> plan,
>> and answered one of my own questions about fares. I'm not sure I
>> understand
>> where people from the suburbs will park and then ride the street car from
>> a
>> parking lot or meter to an event.
>>
>> Here is the fare and parking info, just in case you didn't know and were
>> interested:
>>
>> Fares/Pay-to-Ride
>>
>> Everyone who rides the streetcar will pay. Fare revenue is based on the
>> assumption that approximately 30 percent
>>
>> of the ridership would pay the respective fares for a one-way ticket,
>> round-trip ticket, monthly pass, ten-trip coupon
>>
>> booklet, etc. It is believed that this mix of fares would average $1 per
>> ride. It is further assumed that approximately
>>
>> 70 percent of the ridership would ride under programs linked to the
>> charges
>> in the benefit zone for paid off-street
>>
>> parking and admissions. The resulting $720,000 per year expected from fare
>> revenues equals approximately 16
>>
>> percent of gross operating costs, which is in line with other transit
>> system
>> operating experience, where such
>>
>> revenues rarely exceed 20 percent of operating costs.
>>
>> Ohio State University Participation
>>
>> Students, faculty, staff and visitors to OSU will be major users and
>> beneficiaries of the line. The University can be
>>
>> anticipated to participate in some degree to the ongoing funding of the
>> line.
>>
>> Charge on Paid Off-Street Parking
>>
>> This item is modeled on the surcharges on paid off-street parking that are
>> not uncommon in other major American
>>
>> cities. Examples are Cleveland at 8%, Seattle at 7.5%, Chicago at $20 on
>> monthly parking rates between $40 and
>>
>> $100 (effectively 20% to 50%) and Pittsburgh at 50%. The recommendation is
>> a
>> surcharge of four percent on paid
>>
>> off-street parking within the benefit zone.
>>
>> Paid admissions surcharge
>>
>> A surcharge of four percent is proposed on all paid admissions to sporting
>> events, convention and commercial shows
>>
>> in facilities that operate in the benefit zone. The holder of any
>> surcharged
>> ticket would be able to use the ticket stub
>>
>> to ride the streetcar the day of the event.
>>
>> Rate increase on meter parking
>>
>> Parking rates on 2-hour meters within the benefit zone would be raised by
>> up
>> to 75 cents per hour depending on the
>>
>> location of the meter. This is still less than surface lots and garages in
>> the area for short term hourly parking.
>>
>> Meter parking
>>
>> Existing annual revenues generated from all parking meters within the
>> benefit zone would be applied toward the
>>
>> streetcar project as long as necessary to close the gap on the benefit
>> zone
>> side of the partnership. The amount of
>>
>> revenues that need to be used to support the project could be phased down
>> as
>> other potential revenue sources come
>>
>> into play over time.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ann Whelan" <<email obscured>>
>> To: "Marie Keister" <<email obscured>>; "'Laura
>> Koprowski'"
>> <<email obscured>>; "'Elizabeth Ike'" <<email obscured>>; "'Central
>> Ohio Regional Issues Forum'" <<email obscured>>
>> Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 6:53 AM
>> 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
>>>>
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>>>> Laura Koprowski
>>>> Grandview Heights
>>>> Info about Laura Koprowski:
>>>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/rWdCPb5lpdpAR7zEZTxns
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> Marie Keister
>>>> Dublin
>>>> Info about Marie Keister:
>>>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/2IHgCZCDJSyhPA2veW3PMk
>>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> Ann Whelan
>>
>> Info about Ann Whelan:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/2Y7B0H3ee1fRp56irM2Byt
>>
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>
>
> Jim Coe
>
> Info about Jim Coe:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/lJhJrY60CTHlgFwt3lf0H
>
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