Columbus has to be largest City in USA without rail transit?

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Columbus has to be largest City in USA without rail transit?

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Started 3 years ago by raytylicki
Latest reply from Walker

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streetcar

raytylicki

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Columbus has to be the largest city in USA (700,000--1.5 million0-without any rail transit. Indynapolis has a Amtrak Station and a two mile Monorail as well as a city canal. Detroit has a people mover and amtrak and a trolley being planned.
The Route for rail transit is so obviose -Airport-Downtown Convention Center-OSU -Fairgrounds as the first line...I would have a loop around OSU and a Subway thru City Center and the State House parking garage. I would have Commuter Rail on the C&O line to Marion OH and on the Camp Chase line to Westland Plaza....and then perhaps a feeder trolley line thru Germantown and Parsons Ave.(poor people have to get to work too you know to clean the offices).
I am also surprised as to how Slow Buses are in Columbus. A two mile trip can take 30 minutes...I would have HOV lanes on all the major freeways in Columbus....But I doubt the highway mafia will let it happen...
Ever notice how all the big asphaut and concreat companys are run by Italians? 8) What Politcian in his right mind in ohio move money from highways to light rail and not find himself being fitted with cement shoes!!

Posted 3 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Welcome to the CU, preacher. Now meet your choir.
:D
Just search the site for any combination of public transit, street cars, COTA etc. and you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know.
Again, welcome!

Posted 3 years ago #
noozer
Columbus, Ohio
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Absolutely correct.... sad to say.
Columbus is the second largest city (next to Phoenix) without regular intercity rail passenger service and the largest state capital in this category.
Streetcars last rolled down our streets in 1947 and both light rail and the resurrection of streetcars are still a much-desired but unrealized dream.
Want to change that? Here's a couple of organizations where you can make your voice heard:
National Association of Railroad Passengers: http://www.narprail.org
All Aboard Ohio: http://www.allaboardohio.org
We also have a budget year coming up in the Ohio General Assembly. So ask your state senators and representatives (especially those running for re-election or as challenger) what they plan to do to put more dollars into rail and transit. Let them know that your vote counts on their answer.

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Hi Raytylicki! You sound enthusiastic about the topic of mass transit. :D
Just a note, the "two-mile monorail" in Indianapolis is actually a 1.5 mile "people mover" that rides on two beams. It currently operates as a tram in a loop between several hospitals and medical centers, similar to what you'd find at some airports to shuttle you between terminals.
As Noozer pointed out, Columbus is the second largest city without passenger rail. This could be changing in the next few years as the Streetcar project is still on the table (running down High from OSU to the Short North, Convention Center and Downtown) and Gov. Strickland is pushing to get Amtrak service restored between Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.
I agree that a short line between the Airport and Downtown is needed:
http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=170
But I disagree about an underground subway. They're too cost prohibitive, and the construction window is too large and disruptive. The last thing we need to put people in the air overhead or underground in tunnels. We need more street-level vibrancy for retail to thrive. We can use street-grade Streetcars in our urban core, and existing rail lines for light/heavy passenger rail to reach out to the suburbs and beyond.
As for the buses, it's not that they operate slowly, it's the fact that there are too many stops (every block in some places downtown) and that they get no priority signaling at traffic lights. Two easy fixes that don't require any changes to the actual buses.
Some recent material worth reading on CU:
Passenger Rail:
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14794
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12696
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14192
COTA:
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13090
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15524
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14569
Streetcar:
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15341
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15772
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13705

Posted 3 years ago #
some dude in clintonville
Clintonville (obviously)
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We don't need a subway. A streetcar, yes, but a subway is a bigger animal.
Remember, Cincinatti tried to install a subway, and failed miserably, leaving nothing but a ghostly and incomplete tunnel system that has absolutely no use.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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noozer wrote Absolutely correct.... sad to say.
Columbus is the second largest city (next to Phoenix) without regular intercity rail passenger service and the largest state capital in this category.
What? PHX is a state capital too.

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Since you like maps so much:
Amtrak Map for the US:
http://images.scripting.com/archiveScriptingCom/2005/12/10/amtrakMap.gif

Posted 3 years ago #
Motorist
The Trots
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some dude in clintonville wrote We don't need a subway. A streetcar, yes, but a subway is a bigger animal.
Remember, Cincinatti tried to install a subway, and failed miserably, leaving nothing but a ghostly and incomplete tunnel system that has absolutely no use.
I think that one died in the ground because of the Great Depression. And that would never happen again.

Posted 3 years ago #
dru
IV
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Cyclist wrote
noozer wrote Absolutely correct.... sad to say.
Columbus is the second largest city (next to Phoenix) without regular intercity rail passenger service and the largest state capital in this category.
What? PHX is a state capital too.
and PHX will have operational light rail by year's end:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/METRO_Light_Rail_(Phoenix)

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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dru wrote and PHX will have operational light rail by year's end:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/METRO_Light_Rail_(Phoenix)
That would be intracity rail, not intercity rail.
Still, one up on Columbus. :(

Posted 3 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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Walker wrote Since you like maps so much:
Amtrak Map for the US:
http://images.scripting.com/archiveScriptingCom/2005/12/10/amtrakMap.gif
This map shows some interesting things that I would like to know the answer too. Unless this map intentionally leaves information out, there are segments of the routes that contain higher densities/frequencies of stops than others despite those locations no being major population centers.
Examples:
The route between OK City and San Antonio- a dozen stops at mostly small towns and junctions.
The NC to Atlanta/Piedmont Route: same situation
Chicago to KC: Same thing again.
Buffalo to Chicago and Cincy to Chicago: No stops at all despite several towns of notable size in between.
WA, CA, and IL have a better rail network than most any other states. Did legislators in those states push for more Amtrak funding over the years compared to Ohio which has fewer stations than North Dakota!
Are Amtrak "subsidies/funds(?)" across the national board or are they sometimes grabbed by state reps and senators for their constituents?

Posted 3 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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Chicago has a great rail system because it used to be the distribution point for the nation.
City of big shoulders, all that crap
Chicago also has subway, Elevated ('L), intercity(Union Station and Dearborn Station) , intracity (Metra) and a good bus system.
Most people who live in the city don't own cars.

Posted 3 years ago #
Brant
Gahanna
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From http://www.ruletheweb.co.uk/b3ta/bus/

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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FAIL

:(

Posted 3 years ago #