Request for Streetcar design is put on hold
The Dispatch wrote
Request for streetcar design is shelved
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
BY ROBERT VITALE
Bowing to criticism from council members who’ve complained about being left out of the debate and responding to concerns of residents and businesses, Mayor Michael B. Coleman removed a request to begin design of a High Street route and acknowledged he has more selling to do.
In a memo to Council President Michael C. Mentel pitching his $103 million idea as a catalyst for economic development, Coleman said, “While these issues are clear to me, our public needs more information.”
Council kept $2 million in the 2008 capital-spending plan that Coleman had requested for design and engineering of a 2.8-mile streetcar line from Downtown to Ohio State University. But it took the streetcar label off the money at the mayor’s request.
Councilman Kevin L. Boyce said last night’s decision to remove streetcar references from the $1.1 billion capital budget shouldn’t be interpreted as a rejection of the mayor’s plan. Leaving in $2 million without an earmark shouldn’t be interpreted as an endorsement, either, he said.
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:31 am
:?
May 6th, 2008 at 8:34 am
WOW. I really thought this had enough momentum to get done. I am sure this will set off a firestorm of a thread today.
I think it is good that the mayor is trying to do this the right way and not ram it down everyone throat because it is his pet project. Hopefully we can get to a place where most people are happy with the plan especially the businesses along the route that will be most effected.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I think that is disappointing. Hopefully it will get done though and not suffer too many more delays.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:43 am
I hope Walker is eligible for part of the 250K budgeted for public information and education.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I was about to post a pretty angry response just because nearly every question people had at last week’s meeting dealt with “we need to see a bigger plan”. In my mind that was what the engineering study would do. Maybe I’m wrong. I’ll just say this for now……do we have to wait another year for the study?
May 6th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Public officials in council need to be held accountable when we’re staring at $5, $6, $7, $8/gal gasoline in the future. At least O’Shaughnessy gets it.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Maybe the education aspect is going to be an attempt to speak on a larger plan in order to justify an engineering study.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Hey, forget the streetcar…we’re getting 12 million in improvements along Roberts and Morse Road!!!
YAY!
:roll:
May 6th, 2008 at 9:02 am
one important part is that the money is still there, but it will need to be reallocated, reapproved, re-etc… before it gets spent. otherwise education and a larger consensus is never a bad thing.
i just hope:
a) this doesn’t mean the budget just grew 250k
b) it doesn’t push a start date for a rail based transportation line in Columbus back beyond 2012. I don’t care about the bicentennial, but i don’t think everyone realizes how long some of the projects take, and that every delay the timeline gets pushed back further.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Wasn’t the justification for a 2.8 mile High St. run economic development rather than transportation (high gas prices)?
Anyway, the article suggested that the study isn’t dead — just that the earmark has been removed. So it might return, depending on demands elsewhere or for this project. Or a reconfigured transportation plan might be studied.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Mostly…but it was also that this is the start of a broader, greener, more efficient way to get around town. The development is the primary driver, but the ability to live in those developments along the lines are what voters like me care about.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:29 am
and another generation of creative people will now head to more progressive places. enjoy a real city kids! don’t forget to come back for christmas!!
May 6th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I took the train to work today. I had the opportunity to read the paper while enjoying coffee. What a pleasant way to start the work day.
Columbus will get there.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Nah, those people will def. stick around for our amazing bus system.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I agree with the mayor when he says they have more education to do. The communication plan, if it even existed, was terrible and was a big part of why I, personally, was moved to question it. I’d like to apply now to contract out the communication and marketing moving forward.
It is my hope, though, that CUers don’t start slamming the council after so much faith was put in our elected officials (see many posts, many previous threads) to “do what’s right”. If you want to lay blame anywhere, lay it directly on Mike’s head for trying to push this project forward without thinking that people might not think this is so brilliant.
Don’t look to the city council to do anything about gas prices. They pay just like you do. Look to your state and federal officials for this. Bitch at them for a solution. Or stop driving. Columbus has a pretty good system of buses (with some flaws, I admit) to get you around town. And, really, if I can get my 10 yr old nephew to understand the bus schedule, I think a bunch of grown folks can. It’s not that hard.
Oh, yeah, please don’t think I find any joy in this. Relief, yes, satisfaction, no.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I figured Coleman would spend all the political capital he had left to push this project through, critics be damned. After all, this is his last term in office, isn’t it?
May 6th, 2008 at 9:46 am
All in all, Mike’s a pretty good mayor, but I don’t think he has as much political capital as one might think.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Here’s the mayor’s memo to council for those who want to read it:
http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/0501SCMemo.pdf
May 6th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I’ll speak the strongest with my vote when re-election rolls around.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:51 am
…and football games.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:05 am
The article says that the 2 million is still in the budget but with the streetcar references detached. So it isn’t quite dead. I’m sad that such a small project could not move forward, but I’m hopeful that an even better plan will be forthcoming.
If transportation options do not expand in Columbus. I’ll remember this day come election time.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Walker, you owe me $2.
Remember the post about two months ago where I bet you streetcars were a no-go — and you gave that riciulous winky face and said they were definitely happening? I couldn’t find it, but I will.
Then you will pay up, son!
May 6th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Who are the council members stalling this?
May 6th, 2008 at 10:13 am
From reading, it looks like an engineering study can be done later this year instead of next. I think the next step is clear though; we need to show how this original line will fit into a larger plan. We also need to tell people what the difference is between an engineering study and a feasibility study. In my opinion here is the main difference:
Feasibility study – would this benefit the city
Engineering study – how do we get it done (this would answer questions such as construction timeline, impact to businesses, impact to surroundings, etc.)
May 6th, 2008 at 10:29 am
A friend’s brother works for the US Senate. He’s got a GMC Denali and a gas card. All paid for by us. So no, they don’t feel our pain. Also, didn’t Hillary just pump gas for a publicity stunt. Then act all *outraged* at the gas prices? :roll: