  Darwinism Member Username: Darwinism Post Number: 450 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.215.30.34 |
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/O PINION03/603300399 Nobody enjoys it ..... drivers are going to be miserable, businesses are also miserable. Efficient mass transit in the form of rail or light rail would certainly help the situation here. | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1517 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
I agree. I think we need more letters to the editor in favor of transit investments. A call or letter to your state rep or senator would also be beneficial, but it doesn't help educate the general public. | ||
Iseries840 Member Username: Iseries840 Post Number: 172 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 12.31.43.194 |
I am so glad that I recently moved from that area. | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 1380 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.100.158.10 |
Yeah, but the $100 million to study, design, and build a commuter rail line between Ann Arbor and Detroit is a waste. | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2076 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.14.135.95 |
Just think of the miles of roads that could be built instead with that $100 mil. Scrap that ridiculous notion of a "prevailing wage" and watch it shoot up even more! | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1518 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
Not many. One mile of major freeway reconstruction can cost more than $10 million. One bridge repair is a million bucks. One interchange can cost: $51 Million for the Mixing Bowl $30 Million for the new Beck Road interchange $14+ Million for 59 and 23 interchange $11+ Million for 53 and 18 mile $81+ Million for 59 and Adams $130 Million Ambassador bridge access That is only interchanges. See for yourself: http://www.semcog.org/TranPlan /TIPonline/assets/eTIP/final_8 _23_05.pdf http://www.semcog.org/TranPlan /TIPonline/assets/eTIP/0406_ju ly_complete.pdf If we cut out every road widening (and scoped down all of the rehabs that involve adding new lanes) (a true fix it first) think of the transit system we could build. This is especially true when you realize that Michigan misses out on a lot of federal funding. It is also true when you consider that over time, transit leads to more economic development (more tax revenue). SEMCOG's problem is that the road commissions effectively control the transportation planning agenda. IMHO It is not so much coruption as it is group think. On a capacity basis, transit is usually much cheaper. | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2077 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.14.135.95 |
Missed the portion on repealing the "prevailing wage". | ||
Futurecity Member Username: Futurecity Post Number: 259 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.212.226.90 |
Transit is also much safer. 1200+ Michigan citizens slaughtered each year by automobiles. Thousands more maimed. The social and economic costs associated with this (both short and long term) are staggering. Transit deaths: 0 | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1519 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.213.205.130 |
non se·qui·tur Audio pronunciation of "non sequitur" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (nn skw-tr, -tr) n. 1. An inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence. 2. A statement that does not follow logically from what preceded it. Construction workers are construction workers. If you think we should pay roadbuilders less, then I assume you want to pay transit construction workers (maybe drivers too) less. Either way transit is cheaper. | ||
Bibs Member Username: Bibs Post Number: 478 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Last year there were about 42,000 automobile fatalities and I think a million or more are seriously injured every year. I think there are about 60,000 homicide ever year. The number of people killed in plane crashes is very low. Maybe a hundred or less. So why are people afraid to fly? | ||
Tomoh Member Username: Tomoh Post Number: 122 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.40.205.183 |
I disagree that investing $100 million in regional transit between Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, DTW, Dearborn, and Detroit is a waste. I hope building it will delay an eventual sinking of many times that amount into fixing/expanding I-94 and feeder roads in the future, and reward people who choose to use it instead of being stuck in traffic when that construction time comes. But we can probably nitpick on how exactly the $100m is spent on the various portions of the rapid transit project (e.g. many believe the whole thing could be constructed for much less and cover more than just A2-Detroit). Roads, expensive to build, more expensive to maintain and expand. | ||
Tomoh Member Username: Tomoh Post Number: 123 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.40.205.183 |
Bibs, if that wasn't a rhetorical question, every time there's a plane crash, you hear about it. Car crashes happen so frequently it's just another statistic. But everybody's anecdotal evidence is that "well, I've been driving for this many years without dying...". Emotionally, humans are very bad at math. | ||
Futurecity Member Username: Futurecity Post Number: 260 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.212.226.90 |
Bibs - Automobiles kill far more Americans each year than guns. Almost 4 times as many. Automobile deaths: approx 42,000 annually Gun deaths: approx 11,000 annually | ||
Iddude313 Member Username: Iddude313 Post Number: 18 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 70.230.12.162 |
and i just wish they would fix the intersection of Cass @ W. Hancock for good. There's always something going on. | ||
Jiminnm Member Username: Jiminnm Post Number: 382 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.35.85.184 |
Bibs, Tomoh is right, publicity is a big factor. Plus, I think, people don't like the loss of control over their destiny they think they have when driving; and, some just can't get the idea of a large metal object soaring 35,000 above the ground at 500 mph. |
