Posted by
Wayne Robertson on Saturday, November 17, 2007 2:21:38 PM
A couple of weeks ago, the residents of Seattle and surrounding communities – a three-county area, blew down a proposition that would have added new taxes for transportation. This was no minor proposition. According to the politicians behind it this would only cost $37 billion. According to the critics it would cost $157 over 50 years (there was no end date for the taxes). Most of the monies would go to new Choo-Choos. The spending on light rail versus was almost 10-1.
After this proposition was crushed, the pols stood shocked and aghast. What was even worse, they started mumbling that all ideas for transportation were gone there were no other options! You would have thought that their mothers had been jailed. They were lost, confused and discouraged.
That is the first reason we need to reboot the politicians and bring in some that might know what they are doing.
I don’t want to bore you with a transportation proposal from the Northwest but here is a quick summary as to where the money was would have been spent.
About 10% of the taxes would go for roads and 90% would go to mass-transit – mostly light rail. It was expected that, when complete, mass transit would handle about 1% of the commuters. Over $100,000 per commuter! And, most of those commuters would move from busses to the trains.
Voters in Seattle killed a Monorail project but only after it was many years down the road, millions spent and nothing to show for it.
Why this lunacy? Why the religion of light rail? What are the supporters of light rail smoking?
I think it can be traced to Europe. For the mass-transit supporters, many describe the “magnificent” experience of riding trains in Europe. They want to bring the same experience here.
You know, a family relative reported going back to her hometown and being received as a celebrity and how great it was to be there. That was for a visit. It wasn’t that good when she lived there. If she moved back, the great experience would not be the same.
Those who ride the rails in Europe don’t have to make a living there. Move there for a few years and then explain how it works! Also, remember those countries are the size of a postage stamp or Rhode Island. No comparison.
Next, what the people want vs. what the politicians want.