Which City will have Rail Transit First: Columbus or Dublin?

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Which City will have Rail Transit First: Columbus or Dublin?

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Started 3 months ago by Walker
Latest reply from stephentszuter
poll: Which City will have Rail Transit First?
Columbus : (10 votes)

42 %

Dublin : (14 votes)

58 %

24 votes

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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We've posted up a very long and in-depth interview with some folks at the City of Dublin's Planning Department today (you can read it here), which discusses their impressive new mixed-use Bridge Street Corridor redevelopment plan. One thing that this plan includes is the possibility for some form of rail-based mass transit line(s). There's nothing concrete, but these planners sound eager to develop either regional connections or a smaller shuttle-type tram system that services the immediate area.

So my question now is... who'll have rail transit up and running first: Dublin or Columbus?

Posted 3 months ago #
FoodFort

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Dublin will win.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Why do you think that?

Expand. ;)

Posted 3 months ago #
colrex7
Ohio
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I say Columbus. Maybe the news of Dublin becoming interested in rail transit will get Columbus and it's residents to support it more and make it happen sooner rather than later. Ideally, Columbus and Dublin would work together and link together with a rail line. It would benefit both, and lessen the financial burden on both cities. Either way, it's nice to hear this being an option for any city. It's about time.

Posted 3 months ago #
dubdave00
Dublin
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If they connect to each other, maybe both?

Dublin's plan, if successful, can and will change the perception of mixed-use communities and mass transit to a group of people generally ignorant and/or negative of it.

When a more "conservative and affluent" suburb takes a page out of the often times "progressive and diverse income" urbanism playbook, it will change the common narrative. That's a good thing.

Once that happens, and likely over the course of years, I think you'll see more suburban support for rail in central Ohio. That's ignoring factors such as gas prices rising.

Posted 3 months ago #
jOHnH
The Central C
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Maybe this is how we get a rail system throughout Columbus and suburbs. The rails start in Dublin and other cities like Hilliard, Grove City, New Albany join in on the fun which in turn would force Columbus to connect to the existing lines. And after this happens the people in hell will get ice water.....Keep dreaming I guess.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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dubdave00 said:
If they connect to each other, maybe both?

Agreed. That's what I would hope for. A "hub" to "hub" transit line with maybe a small handful of stops in between.

Conveniently, Riverside Drive is a straight 12.5 mile shot between Downtown Columbus and Downtown Dublin. It's also wide enough to add something like a light rail line. It could connect to Grandview Heights and Upper Arlington along the way, servicing (and being funded by) four individual cities instead of just the two.

As an added bonus, Riverside is pretty scenic too. Would make for a nice relaxing commute. ;)

Posted 3 months ago #
NerosNeptune
Goodale Park
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Apparently I have no idea how big Dublin is. I can't imagine a suburb building their own rail line that stays within the suburb and doesn't connect to anything. What's the point? How many people's commute stays within Dublin? Maybe these questions would be answered if I just rtfa

Posted 3 months ago #
NerosNeptune
Goodale Park
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Walker said:
As an added bonus, Riverside is pretty scenic too. Would make for a nice relaxing commute. ;)

I imagine it'd be a lot more fun flying by in a train watching the cars stuck in a 12 mile traffic jam. I got stuck on riverside around rush hour once and wouldn't go back that way for months afterwards. It was like Polaris without the 16 extra lanes.

Posted 3 months ago #
stephentszuter
Downtown Columbus
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I don't care who gets it first! We both need it! Now!

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Posted 3 months ago #
columbusmike

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We need to work on developing transit oriented developments around proposed stations, or work on proposing stations where dense developments occur....that way there are plenty of passengers to keep the system going and not subject to "ridership" critcism.

I think just saying, "oh the train should go along this road, route, etc" is a dangerous path....the stations need to dump people off in a logical place, where they will want to walk, explore, shop, eat, etc. I think having a station very close to the proposed Dublin downtown would be a good start.

Posted 3 months ago #
columbusmike

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I really think Columbus should try to work with all the surrounding suburbs and communities and say, "we're going to implement a city gas tax of $0.25 a gallon in order to build a light rail system. If you agree to adopt the gas tax with us, we will include an extension to your community, if not, you get no rail"

Posted 3 months ago #
catnfiddle
Giant Corncob District
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stephentszuter said:
I don't care who gets it first! We both need it! Now!

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

+1. I don't care where in the area it starts as long as it connects to the outside world. Getting to the closest train station shouldn't be a two hours drive.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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NerosNeptune said:
Maybe these questions would be answered if I just rtfa

Yep. They would. ;)

Posted 3 months ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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I don't care who get's it first. I think whoever start's first, there will be a chain reaction in other communities wanting their own transit.

Posted 3 months ago #
vtrock12

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Neither. Our infrastructure is based on the car so who would want rail transit when it is so much faster and more convenient to drive a car or take a bus? I kind of feel like the people who try to sell commuter rail to you are like car salesmen.
"I'm interested in a Ford Focus."
"What you really want is this Hummer. Of course it has the built in jacuzzi, theater system, and strobe lights."

Posted 3 months ago #
cheap
Westgate
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vtrock12 said:
Neither. Our infrastructure is based on the car so who would want rail transit when it is so much faster and more convenient to drive a car or take a bus? I kind of feel like the people who try to sell commuter rail to you are like car salesmen.
"I'm interested in a Ford Focus."
"What you really want is this Hummer. Of course it has the built in jacuzzi, theater system, and strobe lights."

+1

Posted 3 months ago #
BCNation
Franklin Park
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I don't think Dublin even has railroad tracks. The closest ones are in Hilliard (??) and Worthington (between 315 and Smoky Row).

Posted 3 months ago #
NerosNeptune
Goodale Park
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vtrock12 said:
Neither. Our infrastructure is based on the car so who would want rail transit when it is so much faster and more convenient to drive a car or take a bus? I kind of feel like the people who try to sell commuter rail to you are like car salesmen.
"I'm interested in a Ford Focus."
"What you really want is this Hummer. Of course it has the built in jacuzzi, theater system, and strobe lights."

Have you ever been on a train? They don't get stuck in traffic jams. Even if you don't want to ride it, it could make your drive better as it would potentially take a large number of cars off the road.

Posted 3 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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vtrock12 said:
Our infrastructure is based on the car so who would want rail transit when it is so much faster and more convenient to drive a car or take a bus?

Please read the article linked up top. We're not talking about having rail transit tomorrow. We're talking about how it relates to the new long-term plan for urbanizing Dublin.

You're correct that things are more car-centric today, but that won't always be the case.

Posted 3 months ago #