This isn't strictly germane, but are you aware of the line in New Mexico that's supposedly soon to run from just north of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on south to Belen? Later, in theory, it will go north to Santa Fe. Of course, it's running on existing freight lines.
If this is really happening, in so short a time, and in a locale without serious traffic problems, it's quite an astonishing accomplishment. It's being described as "commuter rail."
I don't know enough about the area to say whether that plan will work -- commuter rail CAN work, but most of the time when people bring it up it ends up like South Florida's line (and ours) - running on existing track is seen as an unmitigated positive, so they forget about going where the people are, or at least, where they want to go.
Most cities like ours don't have existing rail lines which go all the way into the heart of their downtown (ours stops east of the Convention Center and doesn't go anywhere near UT or the Capitol, for instance).
That's the whole reason for building rail in the street - to get the people to a short walk from their destination rather than forcing them to transfer to a shuttle bus, at which point most people will decline your offer and go drive their cars instead.
This isn't strictly germane, but are you aware of the line in New Mexico that's supposedly soon to run from just north of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on south to Belen? Later, in theory, it will go north to Santa Fe. Of course, it's running on existing freight lines.
If this is really happening, in so short a time, and in a locale without serious traffic problems, it's quite an astonishing accomplishment. It's being described as "commuter rail."
Posted by: Rantor | October 18, 2005 10:58 AM
I don't know enough about the area to say whether that plan will work -- commuter rail CAN work, but most of the time when people bring it up it ends up like South Florida's line (and ours) - running on existing track is seen as an unmitigated positive, so they forget about going where the people are, or at least, where they want to go.
Most cities like ours don't have existing rail lines which go all the way into the heart of their downtown (ours stops east of the Convention Center and doesn't go anywhere near UT or the Capitol, for instance).
That's the whole reason for building rail in the street - to get the people to a short walk from their destination rather than forcing them to transfer to a shuttle bus, at which point most people will decline your offer and go drive their cars instead.
Posted by: M1EK | October 18, 2005 02:44 PM