Saturday, August 14, 2004
Project might (but probably won't) ease traffic woes between Salem and Keizer
How to spend gas taxes that are dedicated to roads without actually doing anything to reduce congestion: Blow most of them on transit-related road improvements such as exclusive bus left- and right-turn lanes. This project calls for spending $6.5 million near Salem, Oregon, $4 million of which will go for such transit-only improvements. Despite the hopes of some, this won't attract many people out of their cars or do much to relieve congestion.
Salem is a growing city (it recently overtook Eugene as Oregon's second largest in population), but few ride transit (21 annual trips per capita vs. 38 in Eugene and 65 in Portland). Oregon needs to spend its transportation dollars on proven solutions, not on "improving mass transit flow" in areas where few people ride transit.
Salem is a growing city (it recently overtook Eugene as Oregon's second largest in population), but few ride transit (21 annual trips per capita vs. 38 in Eugene and 65 in Portland). Oregon needs to spend its transportation dollars on proven solutions, not on "improving mass transit flow" in areas where few people ride transit.
Comments:
>>>>How to spend gas taxes that are dedicated to roads without actually doing anything to reduce congestion: Blow most of them on transit-related road improvements such as exclusive bus left- and right-turn lanes. <<<<<
Wait a second. Didn't you state your support for "bus rapid transit" instead of light rail on a prior article? What happened?
This is what's wrong with the pro-road lobby. One month, they favor "bus rapid transit" and the next they are against any public transport.
>>>>>This project calls for spending $6.5 million near Salem, Oregon, $4 million of which will go for such transit-only improvements. Despite the hopes of some, this won't attract many people out of their cars or do much to relieve congestion.<<<<<<
This is a drop in the bucket. The hundreds of millions required for a new highway to alleviate the traffic is NOT available.
>>>>>Salem is a growing city (it recently overtook Eugene as Oregon's second largest in population), but few ride transit (21 annual trips per capita vs. 38 in Eugene and 65 in Portland). Oregon needs to spend its transportation dollars on proven solutions<<<<<
What are the solutions? Build a new interstate? Toll roads? These are not solutions. Motorists are against tolling of roads and where are they going to get the money for a new freeway?
Wait a second. Didn't you state your support for "bus rapid transit" instead of light rail on a prior article? What happened?
This is what's wrong with the pro-road lobby. One month, they favor "bus rapid transit" and the next they are against any public transport.
>>>>>This project calls for spending $6.5 million near Salem, Oregon, $4 million of which will go for such transit-only improvements. Despite the hopes of some, this won't attract many people out of their cars or do much to relieve congestion.<<<<<<
This is a drop in the bucket. The hundreds of millions required for a new highway to alleviate the traffic is NOT available.
>>>>>Salem is a growing city (it recently overtook Eugene as Oregon's second largest in population), but few ride transit (21 annual trips per capita vs. 38 in Eugene and 65 in Portland). Oregon needs to spend its transportation dollars on proven solutions<<<<<
What are the solutions? Build a new interstate? Toll roads? These are not solutions. Motorists are against tolling of roads and where are they going to get the money for a new freeway?
Dear Anonymous why don't you use your real name.
I'm not a supporter of bus rapid transit or subsidizing public transit using auto taxes. Highways are paid for by auto user fees such as fuel taxes, registration and license fees.
Most of transit in Oregon is paid for by business taxes, auto taxes. Only about 18%of the operation costs come from the fair box. All of the capital cost such as new buses and light rail construction come from the federal Government (mostly auto taxes)and local property taxes by way of urban renewal and now parking meters (autos) and other schemes.
Light rail costs about 100 x's more that buses but it's not 100 x's better!
It's time for transit users to pay their fair share.
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I'm not a supporter of bus rapid transit or subsidizing public transit using auto taxes. Highways are paid for by auto user fees such as fuel taxes, registration and license fees.
Most of transit in Oregon is paid for by business taxes, auto taxes. Only about 18%of the operation costs come from the fair box. All of the capital cost such as new buses and light rail construction come from the federal Government (mostly auto taxes)and local property taxes by way of urban renewal and now parking meters (autos) and other schemes.
Light rail costs about 100 x's more that buses but it's not 100 x's better!
It's time for transit users to pay their fair share.
