RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
I just read the "All aboard to . . . where?" streetcar article in Columbus Monthly which got me all riled up again. I thought I'd bring up the old standby to get CU back on track.
Here are my thoughts on why the psychology of a rail based streetcar trumps the bus line. I'm not well traveled, but I do have a trip to Chicago which I'll draw from. The value of the rail transit there is the reliability of the timing which comes from the independence from the roadways. The streetcar, inasmuch as it will be susceptible to the vagaries of the road, will not have this advantage. Yet I still found myself initially drawn to the streetcar proposal. I think that was due to a mental association of the two rail based systems. The mental association will only grow stronger when the streetcar triggers the expansion to full light rail transit.
Transitioning from regional light rail to intercity streetcar will be more seamless than to a bus. Although Chicago has buses to supplement the rail transit, I found myself relying solely on the rail.
This is in addition to the myriad other (stronger) reasons to go forward with the streetcar. I was just trying to figure out why my initial gut reaction way back when was positive before I heard any arguments of any kind.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.