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Train Station / Rail Hub

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Started 3 years ago by lbl
Latest reply from Rockmastermike

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lbl
Far East
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Hi,
i have an idea that i just wanted to post about the rail hub.
it seems everyone assumes it will/should be near the location of the old station, by the Convention Center and everything Nationwide.

i'm thinking maybe a possible better location would be next to COSI and Vets on W.Broad. (from Broad to Town) there are 2 parallel tracks that run N to S with the Spaghetti Warehouse sitting between them.
there's already plenty of parking (lots) with an abundance of vacant buildings ready to fall over, ripe for development.
it would certainly be a boost for the near Westside and Franklinton.
not to mention COSI. how cool would it be for school kids to come into Columbus on field trips, and be right there within walking distance?!

i believe the Arena Distr and Conv Center will be far too dense and congested to handle the added traffic of the Train Station.
this Westside location would give it room to expand as needed and help develop and area of downtown that has been forgotten.

getting to and from the downtown core and Conv Center areas would be extremely easy with the proposed light rail/trolly the city is planning.

its just an idea - am sure someone here can say if it would be feasable or if i'm way off base.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=39.960141,-83.011354&daddr=Columbus,+OH&hl=en&geocode=%3BCbI1x859BIcHFWDGYQIdnIIN-w&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=39.959236,-83.011279&sspn=0.003923,0.00972&ie=UTF8&z=16

Posted 3 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Just a few reasons for the "why not" that I can think of...

There are probably some great ideas for helping Franklinton develop. I don't think this is it. The AD or Convention center sites would give you far greater access to local transit and last mile solutions.

Posted 3 years ago #
lbl
Far East
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well.... the tracks are elevated there. : )

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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The flood plain is not a problem after the completion of the floodwall. (More can be listened to here)

The problem (as I see it) is that locating the main train station there would put people away from their final destination, which is more likely to be in an area where more amenities and density exists.

I'm all about T.O.D. though, and would love to see a secondary station, light rail, or streetcar service over to Franklinton. I just don't know if it's the right spot for commuter rail stop #1 in Columbus. We're just barely passing legislation to seek funding for this type of project. If we start the ball rolling by taking risks on the initial starter line, then I think we're going to continue to have an uphill battle for getting additional rail development.

My 2 cents anyway...

Posted 3 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Walker wrote >>
The flood plain is not a problem after the completion of the floodwall. (More can be listened to here)
The problem (as I see it) is that locating the main train station there would put people away from their final destination, which is more likely to be in an area where more amenities and density exists.
I'm all about T.O.D. though, and would love to see a secondary station, light rail, or streetcar service over to Franklinton. I just don't know if it's the right spot for commuter rail stop #1 in Columbus. We're just barely passing legislation to seek funding for this type of project. If we start the ball rolling by taking risks on the initial starter line, then I think we're going to continue to have an uphill battle for getting additional rail development.
My 2 cents anyway...

We're also not supposed to get hurricanes in Columbus...

I'd rather not leave anything to chance when it comes to something as fickle as nature. Let's not forget the failure of certain levees a few years back.

A second station would be good down the road, but just not practical in the near term.

Posted 3 years ago #
CbusIslander
Cbus Islander
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I am a fan of the franklinton location for a rail station for the same reasons mentioned. I think it could be a great terminus station. With the cheap land which I believe much is city owned development could boom.

The convention center (arena district) location has some problems too:
-it is too developed for such a hub without taking convention center drive completely away $$$
-widen the tracks under the arena parking garage would be needed $$$
I am seeing the station being six tracks. (I don't see from OhioHub what size station Columbus would be, I need info from inside source here)
-Freight would have to be rerouted around downtown (which I am not against since I think freight should avoid high density areas)
-Integrating a light rail station would probably require access by a different grade like a lower level? $$$$ (Franklinton has plenty of room as a regional hub (3C) and as a light rail station)

Its too bad that AIAColumbus no longer has its design competition site up showing the designs of the hub at the arena location.
Columbus Re-wired
http://www.aia150.org/bl_150_aia_columbus_rewired.php
Be interesting to show again with the possibilities of rail coming. (Could persuade the public too at this critical time)

Posted 3 years ago #
rory
NW Short North
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The Jeffrey Mining area is wide open by the railroad tracks. It's even has potential highway access.

Posted 3 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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the flood plain issue IS a problem regardless of optimistic talk. The flood wall is nice, but it's never actually been tested in a 100 year flood event. It's great, but a city shouldn't trust critical infrastructure to levees if they can simply place it out of danger completely.

The army corps of engineers has a saying: "There are two kinds of levees... those that have failed and those that WILL fail."

Naw....I've looked at the planning and studies done by the smart folks who are doing this work, and I think they'll make the right choice when the time comes. We can spout off on teh intertrons all we want, but those folks have the research to get the job actually done.

Posted 3 years ago #