This entry was inspired by "Southwest light-rail is good for business", Star Tribune, 2012-03-16.
Opponents of light-rail, expanded bus service, and other non-auto transit options claim that we can't afford the taxes to build these. Some of these same people claim that businesses shouldn't be taxed.
Somehow we do have taxes to build more and more roads. Somehow we do have taxes to police and repair these roads. But what do more roads get us? More congestion. How many times do you come to a standstill at rush hour (or in large cities, on rush day)? Do you remember 10 or 20 years ago when the freeways had fewer lanes? Do you remember coming to a standstill maybe less than you do now? So more roads were built and more people used them. A sort of build it and they will come situation.
So people lose time because of traffic congestion and businesses have less ready-to-work employees. And many employees leaving early "to beat the rush".
But for those who don't want to tax businesses, do you realize the automobile culture levies a heavy tax on them? If a company has 1,000 employees at a location working a day shift, how many parking spaces will the company have to provide? What is the cost of those spaces? Who pays for those spaces? Could the land be better used for other purposes?
Look at the suburbanization of our shopping areas. Any business has to provide a certain minimum of parking. And smaller businesses have to allocate so many handicapped spaces, even when the farthest general parking space is closer to the building than the nearest handicapped space in Sprawl Mall is to the main entrance!
How come the anti-government, pro-business party isn't listening to the pro-transit businesses? Especially when that same party claims businesses can do things better than government?
Showing posts with label bus rapid transit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bus rapid transit. Show all posts
Friday, March 16, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Republicans and reality; the only thing they have in common is starting with RE
As a former Republican party activist, I am so disappointed with the Republicans since Reagan (another name starting with RE). The latest disappointment was the attitude of Minnesota Republican legislatures towards light rail, specifically the Southwest line out of Minneapolis. See "Critics rail about state money for Southwest light rail line", Pat Dole, Star Tribune, 2012-03-09.
Despite many businesses saying that light rail aids development, the state Republicans are still opposed to the light rail line. Hey, I thought Republicans were pro-business. I think they are more pro-Koch and pro-oil than anything else.
The most egregious comment was by Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, "We like our independence and having our own car to drive where we want and when we want." He also said. " I think buses…are working very, very well." Excuse me, is anyone telling him that he can't drive? Oh, yes! The Republican Party is not "pro-choice".
He is so wrong on two counts.
Once I drove out of Chicago on I-90 towards O'Hare airport. It was on a Sunday(!) and stop-and-go. In the middle was a commuter train. The highway traffic would stop, and a train would catch up. The highway traffic would stop, and a train would catch up. The highway traffic would stop, and a train would catch up. Eventually the train pulled ahead and was gone. So much for "when we want".
As for the efficiency of buses, for two years I drove a suburban bus into the Twin Cities from Maple Grove!!!! Rare were the times it was a steady 55 mph from Maple Grove to downtown Minneapolis. Sometimes I had to drive on the shoulder. What was my supposed maximum speed? 35mph! What does light rail go? I don't know, but probably better than 35 mph between stations. And the light rail drivers generally have all the green lights in their favor. I had to slow down for merging traffic.
Despite many businesses saying that light rail aids development, the state Republicans are still opposed to the light rail line. Hey, I thought Republicans were pro-business. I think they are more pro-Koch and pro-oil than anything else.
The most egregious comment was by Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, "We like our independence and having our own car to drive where we want and when we want." He also said. " I think buses…are working very, very well." Excuse me, is anyone telling him that he can't drive? Oh, yes! The Republican Party is not "pro-choice".
He is so wrong on two counts.
Once I drove out of Chicago on I-90 towards O'Hare airport. It was on a Sunday(!) and stop-and-go. In the middle was a commuter train. The highway traffic would stop, and a train would catch up. The highway traffic would stop, and a train would catch up. The highway traffic would stop, and a train would catch up. Eventually the train pulled ahead and was gone. So much for "when we want".
As for the efficiency of buses, for two years I drove a suburban bus into the Twin Cities from Maple Grove!!!! Rare were the times it was a steady 55 mph from Maple Grove to downtown Minneapolis. Sometimes I had to drive on the shoulder. What was my supposed maximum speed? 35mph! What does light rail go? I don't know, but probably better than 35 mph between stations. And the light rail drivers generally have all the green lights in their favor. I had to slow down for merging traffic.
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