The guy was huge back in the day.

Mercurius wrote Thought this was cool! One guy built a 5 mile private streetcar in 1903.

A Privately Owned Line

Ohio & Southern Traction Company – 1903 [estimated]-1929, Standard Gauge, 5 miles from Columbus to the Hartman Stock Farm. Privately owned by Dr. Samuel Hartman.

Where is our gumption these days?

http://www.columbusrailroads.com/interurban.htm

Samuel Hartman was the “LesWexner” of his day. He invented a “cure all tonic” called Peruna. Here are some interesting sites about his life and his extremely large farm on the Far South Side. The private rail system that he had was amazing. It went five miles along State Route 23. He also had the Hartman Hotel downtown, the Hartman theatre, and the infamous Hartman Schoolhouse on rt. 23.

Enjoy the links!

http://www.fohbc.com/PDF_Files/Peruna_JSullivan.pdf

http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/ohiopix/Image.cfm?criteria=Hartman&start=1&ID=2118

http://www.forgottenoh.com/Hotel/hotel.html

http://www.forgottenoh.com/Hartman/hartman.html

Press Release wrote Streetcar Brings Broader Vision for Expanding Transportation Options in Central Ohio

(COLUMBUS, April 30, 2008) – Following Monday night’s robust discussion at the Columbus City Council public hearing on the streetcar project, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is encouraged by the growing public recognition that central Ohio commuters need more and different transportation options than just the automobile.

“MORPC greatly appreciates and thanks Councilwoman Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee, and Columbus City Council for hosting a public discussion on the streetcar project,” said MORPC Executive Director Chester Jourdan, who gave remarks at the hearing.

“We believe that Mayor Coleman is correct in talking about streetcars as a part of a bigger conversation that the entire community must have, so that this can be a first step toward a regional mass transportation system and more transportation options available for our residents.”

MORPC recently completed the CapitalWays Regional Transportation Plan, which has a main goal to provide an accessible transportation system with a range of choices. Public comments about the regional transportation plan included support and interest in a regional rail system.

“The era of cheap energy is behind us and we need to create options that will help residents address rising transportation and fuel costs,” said Jourdan. “We are also faced with growing air quality and sustainability challenges. Transportation options need to address tomorrow’s challenges and possibilities. We need to look at a broad spectrum of options – streetcars, transit, light rail, rideshare, walking and biking – and then we’ll have a transportation system to rival other regions around the country and the world.”

Tigertree wrote

greenhouse1014 wrote

cab124 wrote

a backwash of very potent diesel fumes in their wake, especially on a hot summer day. In that sense, they just don”t seem as compatible with pedestrian environments.

That’s potent SOY Biodeisel fumes.

So, if the buses were cleaner, both physically and environmentally, and certain schedules were expanded to cover evenings and weekends better (what’s the rail schedule look like for evenings and weekends? Same weekday schedule?), than more people would take teh bus? Or is it you don’t want to sit near certain people? Let me tell you, the railcar is goingto experience the same “getting nasty” as the buses and the same people will ride the rail as the buses. In fact, you might even see more vagrant activity as they might see the rail as a transport mode for people with more money to ask for.

I’ll admit I am venturing into territories I know little about here but;

Isn’t coal far worse for the environment than oil? Doesn’t 80 percent of our electricity in Ohio come from Coal? Am I drawing a wrong conclusion about these “green” trains?

87%

[url]http://www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/Consumer/Information.cfm?id=7650[/url]

but for the sake of cab124′s argument, the argument wasn’t a lack of fumes, it was that fumes aren’t in the immediate ped environment on the street.

Of somewhat positive aside related to coal, this clean coal plant was announced today:

[url]http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/01/business/NA-FIN-US-Clean-Coal.php[/url]

greenhouse1014 wrote

cab124 wrote

a backwash of very potent diesel fumes in their wake, especially on a hot summer day. In that sense, they just don”t seem as compatible with pedestrian environments.

That’s potent SOY Biodeisel fumes.

So, if the buses were cleaner, both physically and environmentally, and certain schedules were expanded to cover evenings and weekends better (what’s the rail schedule look like for evenings and weekends? Same weekday schedule?), than more people would take teh bus? Or is it you don’t want to sit near certain people? Let me tell you, the railcar is goingto experience the same “getting nasty” as the buses and the same people will ride the rail as the buses. In fact, you might even see more vagrant activity as they might see the rail as a transport mode for people with more money to ask for.

I’ll admit I am venturing into territories I know little about here but;

Isn’t coal far worse for the environment than oil? Doesn’t 80 percent of our electricity in Ohio come from Coal? Am I drawing a wrong conclusion about these “green” trains?

greenhouse1014 wrote There’s OBVIOUSLY a bias against the bus. I’m asking what those bias’ are. From the people here, not from a survey.

One bias against the COTA bus: it’s never on time. There’s a guy in my office who swears that COTA is even more unreliable than an Edsel.

Those of us who ride it frequently know that this isn’t the case. Actually, for someone who does ride the bus frequently, I’m almost ashamed to admit that I still marvel at the fact that COTA buses consistently arrive when the schedule says they’re supposed to. I guess that says something about how pervasive the old “unreliabe COTA” myth really is.

greenhouse1014 wrote

cab124 wrote

a backwash of very potent diesel fumes in their wake, especially on a hot summer day. In that sense, they just don”t seem as compatible with pedestrian environments.

That’s potent SOY Biodeisel fumes.

So, if the buses were cleaner, both physically and environmentally, and certain schedules were expanded to cover evenings and weekends better (what’s the rail schedule look like for evenings and weekends? Same weekday schedule?), than more people would take teh bus? Or is it you don’t want to sit near certain people? Let me tell you, the railcar is goingto experience the same “getting nasty” as the buses and the same people will ride the rail as the buses. In fact, you might even see more vagrant activity as they might see the rail as a transport mode for people with more money to ask for.

The streetcar will probably be cheaper than the bus, as the economic report forecasts a fare of $1. Come 2012, $1 might as well be $0. If I’m rich, I’m taking the upper class bus.

cab124 wrote

a backwash of very potent diesel fumes in their wake, especially on a hot summer day. In that sense, they just don”t seem as compatible with pedestrian environments.

That’s potent SOY Biodeisel fumes.

So, if the buses were cleaner, both physically and environmentally, and certain schedules were expanded to cover evenings and weekends better (what’s the rail schedule look like for evenings and weekends? Same weekday schedule?), than more people would take teh bus? Or is it you don’t want to sit near certain people? Let me tell you, the railcar is goingto experience the same “getting nasty” as the buses and the same people will ride the rail as the buses. In fact, you might even see more vagrant activity as they might see the rail as a transport mode for people with more money to ask for.

dru wrote

2. ‘There’s nothing downtown’ makes you sound like those suburbanites who’ve haven’t been downtown in 10-years. My dentist is downtown, my cleaners is downtown, my tailor is downtown, my gym is downtown, one of my doctors is downtown, festivals are downtown, etc….

Ok, I get that, but why can’t you take the bus for that right now?

HeySquare wrote

greenhouse1014 wrote Why, exactly, won’t people take the bus and when was the last time you did? Looking at COTA’s ridership numbers, I’d say it was a stretch to say “most people” won’t ride a bus. I think that’s a HUGE assumption based on nothing except YOU don’t want to ride a bus.

There is a bias against public transportation. The link I posed is a study researching the bias. It’s not an assumption.

There’s OBVIOUSLY a bias against the bus. I’m asking what those bias’ are. From the people here, not from a survey.

gramarye wrote

greenhouse1014 wrote

gramarye wrote

luchobucho wrote Question:

What has proposed for parking solutions at the ends of the Streetcar liine?

Everyone is talking about alleviating parking in the short north and downtown but all the suburban dwellers who drive into town to be “entertained and shop” will still need to park somewhere if they’re going to use the streetcar as their “last mile” form of transportation.

In addition to the previously-mentioned garages near the ends of the proposed line under construction, keep in mind that one needn’t necessarily park at the very ends of the line. In fact, I’m betting that would be most people’s last choice unless they had business to take care of near where they parked.

Speaking as an erstwhile exurbanite and one who has hitherto been able to come downtown primarily for special events, my first choice was usually the Arena District garages when I needed a garage. If there’s no event going on at Nationwide or the GCCC, those garages will basically always have space available and they’re only 1-2 blocks from High.

So, it’s ok that I’ve got to DRIVE into downtown, WALK to the rail stop, WAIT for the rail, RIDE the rail, the WAIT for the rail again, RIDE, WALK, DRIVE. Not so convenient. And I remember having my hands slapped once when I suggested walking anywhere more than a block.

I don’t remember being the one slapping your hands for that. Five blocks, yes. One block, no. Density matters so much in urban development because people’s willingness to walk does drop off quickly. However, one or two blocks is not generally an issue.

As to what you wrote: most of that applies equally to the bus, too. You have to walk to the bus stop, wait for the bus, ride the bus, wait for the bus again, ride, walk again. Therefore, I fail to see your problem once more, or rather, I see nothing but a double standard. The only thing I mentioned that need not be part of the same package as a bus was the driving to within walking distance of the route, but park-and-ride exists in the bus world, too. Also, more specifically, I was answering a specific question on the topic of parking within walking distance of the streetcar line. Therefore, all I was doing was staying on topic, and you act like I’m somehow giving something away.

This was not so much of a take the bus post as it was a wow, I drive a lot and what a pain so I’d rather just drive to the Sn and park, which I’ve never had a problem doing post.

cab124 wrote

JohnWirtz wrote

cab124 wrote

JohnWirtz wrote That’s what I mean when I say this project is about economic development with ancillary transportation benefits.

Were you the guy who said this during the city council public hearing on Monday? I thought that was an excellent perspective.

Thank you for thinking it’s an excellent perspective, but I didn’t go to the meeting. I was on the train going home from the Loop to Evanston.

Ah, yes. I just noticed that you are from Evanston.

No, I’m from Columbus. I live in Evanston. :)

I’d like to move back someday in the relatively near future to be closer to family and have a more affordable single-family home. Just need to find a job and convince my wife. I would miss the trains and the lake a lot though.

JohnWirtz wrote

cab124 wrote

JohnWirtz wrote That’s what I mean when I say this project is about economic development with ancillary transportation benefits.

Were you the guy who said this during the city council public hearing on Monday? I thought that was an excellent perspective.

Thank you for thinking it’s an excellent perspective, but I didn’t go to the meeting. I was on the train going home from the Loop to Evanston.

Ah, yes. I just noticed that you are from Evanston.