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Started 1 year ago by Walker
Latest reply from johnwirtz

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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New Transit Plan for Indianapolis Emphasizes Frequency Over Splash
Yonah Freemark
November 9th, 2010

Living in a big, dense, old city, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s easy enough to criticize the decisions of policy makers in sprawling regions like Indianapolis, where a Ã¢â‚¬Å“generousÃ¢â‚¬Â budget for investments in public transportation means spending one fourth of the amount to be dedicated to roads. But for a place where only 2% of people commute by transit, a long-term plan that does just that can be downright revolutionary. Outcomes Ã¢â‚¬â€ manifested in changing travel behavior and the densification of inner-city areas Ã¢â‚¬â€ depend on how itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s implemented.

READ MORE: http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/11/09/new-transit-plan-for-indianapolis-emphasizes-frequency-over-splash/

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Tuesday, November 9, 2010
How Indianapolis Could Raise the Bar for Midwest Transit Investment
by Angie Schmitt on November 9, 2010

Following the anti-rail theatrics of state leadership in Ohio and Wisconsin, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s tempting to write off the entire Midwest as a desolate highwayscape full of pitchfork waving gas-guzzlers.

Even when there are setbacks, however, the broader reality is that all over the country Ã¢â‚¬â€ even in the Midwest Ã¢â‚¬â€ communities are slowly marching toward more sustainable transportation systems.

READ MORE: http://streetsblog.net/2010/11/09/how-indianapolis-could-raise-the-bar-for-midwest-transit-investment/

Posted 1 year ago #
howatzer

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Walker wrote >>
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
How Indianapolis Could Raise the Bar for Midwest Transit Investment
by Angie Schmitt on November 9, 2010
Following the anti-rail theatrics of state leadership in Ohio and Wisconsin, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s tempting to write off the entire Midwest as a desolate highwayscape full of pitchfork waving gas-guzzlers.
Even when there are setbacks, however, the broader reality is that all over the country Ã¢â‚¬â€ even in the Midwest Ã¢â‚¬â€ communities are slowly marching toward more sustainable transportation systems.
READ MORE: http://streetsblog.net/2010/11/09/how-indianapolis-could-raise-the-bar-for-midwest-transit-investment/

Apples to oranges. Indi's efforts are for improved local bus/light rail focused on commuters.

Phrases like "pitchfork waving gas-guzzlers" point to why some might have the emotional reaction to regional rail discussed in the Ohio rail thread.

Posted 1 year ago #
Bear
The woods
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howatzer wrote >>
Phrases like "pitchfork waving gas-guzzlers" point to why some might have the emotional reaction to regional rail discussed in the Ohio rail thread.

Perhaps the emotional reaction to regional rail evinced by people like those in the Ohio rail thread has prompted phrases like "pitchfork waving gas-guzzlers"....

Posted 1 year ago #
KingLincolnUrbanEnthusiast

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As much as I dislike the Democrats the decision by Kasich to ditch HSR (High Speed Rail)in Ohio vindicates the idea that the Republicans have no ideas, big ideas or any new ideas other than the nostrum of cutting spending and taxes. BTW these things are good. For context: When the Lord Reagan was in office (it was called trickle down economics) and (supply economics) both failed miserably - now it is about giving milllionaires and billionaires tax breaks rather than investing in changing the paradigm. HSR would provide jobs for 25,000 Ohios - while let the poort of the state eat their "principles" $400MM is on the table and will go NY or CA. Ohio is perhaps more misinformed, backward and behind than we think and is becoming more isolated than Easter Island IMHO :-)

Posted 1 year ago #
dubdave00
Dublin
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Bear wrote >>

howatzer wrote >>
Phrases like "pitchfork waving gas-guzzlers" point to why some might have the emotional reaction to regional rail discussed in the Ohio rail thread.

Perhaps the emotional reaction to regional rail evinced by people like those in the Ohio rail thread has prompted phrases like "pitchfork waving gas-guzzlers"....

Perhaps citizens on both sides should stop resorting to childish name calling and ignore the few that do.

It's truly sad that we let the "pitchfork waving gas guzzlers" and the "euro-loving but I won't ride a bus" minorities define the identities and beliefs of both sides of the debate.

One of the things that's great about CU is that usually, the debate is over the issues (not the people behind them). Let's keep it that way. Holier-Than-Thou self-validating conversation enders contribute little, encourage apathy, and likely hurt both sides in the long term.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Well said, Dave.

So anyway, going back to that original link and article, it sounds like a pretty solid plan going on in Indy. I'm not too familiar with their existing bus system, so I don't know exactly how much of an improvement will be made overall, but I like the fact that they're willing to put forth a fairly comprehensive multi-modal "master plan" that explains how each part of the system works together.

I think we could take a lesson from that in Columbus. We rarely hear how our bikeways plan works with our roadways plan or how a proposed rail place would work with our bus system.

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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Indy's bus system is very bad, definitely less coverage and frequency than COTA.

I'd also like to see Columbus come up with a practical plan like this. I think this was led by Indy's business community, but it seems like something an MPO like MORPC should be doing.

Posted 1 year ago #