Get used to it my friends. MnDOT's own studies state that congestion reduction will be statistically insignificant (a bureaucratic way of saying zero) with the advent of the Hiawatha Line. A tenfold increase in ridership will still net a statistically insignificant decrease in roadway congestion. According to US DOT and Texas Transportation Institute studies, the federal roadway congestion index has gone up in every city building rail in the past 10 years. Places like Portland, LA, Atlanta, Miami, Baltimore, Buffalo, Denver, St. Louis, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose have seen no reduction in congestion. Has the diversion of funds to rail kept these localities from trying other ways to reduce congestion? Texas Transportation Institute data indicate that ridership on Dallas DART (bus and LRT service) is above projections by 15 percent (using passenger miles traveled) since before light rail. However, since transit's share of passenger travel in Dallas County is less than 2 percent, this means that, at most, light rail has attracted another "statistically insignificant" amount of passenger travel in the area. Even with that 15 percent increase, ridership remains 5 percent below 1991 prerail levels. Rail has removed zero cars from the road in Dallas. In Denver, a study by their transportation consultant Carter & Burgess, found "no measurable difference in total regional vehicle miles of travel when comparing [whether or not to build LRT] for an 18 mile system." No measurable difference in the reduction of cars on the road is zero reduction in congestion. In Portland, traffic volumes on metro freeways are up 70 percent since before light rail opened. Since the inception of rail in Portland, there has been a 35 percent drop in the number of people taking transit to work. Even with huge taxpayer expenditures to eliminate auto travel in Portland --- less than 2% of all travel in the 90s was via transit. The theory that densification will reduce congestion has backfired. In Portland, more cars than ever are crammed into a smaller metro highway system. DOT statistics radically dispute the notion that rail systems will carry more passengers than highways. In the context of already performing rail systems --- the average new US LRT line will carry 80% less passenger volume than will two lanes of freeway (one lane operating in each direction). Compared to a suburban arterial roadway LRT lines will carry 50% less passenger volume. We are getting what we supposedly want -- light rail -- which we also know will not do anything to reduce congestion or make the life of the average citizen in Minneapolis that much better. What or who do you suppose will take it in the shorts to solve the now impending doom of congestion? Congestion and deteriorating roads and bridges were a looming problem many years ago when our legislators could have done something about it. Instead we're getting a billion dollar ride that doesn't cure the real problem or open the door to any long term solution. Earlier in our nations history, rivers and rail were the arteries by which the life-giving blood of economic vitality and individual choice and freedom fostered the most prosperous nation on earth. That vitality then shifted to roads and automobiles and trucks. Over the next 20 years, we'll go through another evolution in transportation as fuel-cell technology and smart-roads are deployed. In 10 to 20 years, cars may be virtually pollution free and almost silent running. Roads will still be needed, but we'll design them and build them very differently. Why are we in a catch-up mode? The Mississippi River locks system wasn't built for nearly 30 years after it was generally accepted to be of a vital national interest. In the meantime, rail use exploded and we had those lovely rail yards bespoiling every river-front and downtown in America. Today, those same areas are called "urban revitalization opportunities" which are characteristically redeveloped with massive taxpayer subsidy. Let's not argue the merits of "urban or suburban" -- that seems almost petty. We should all be able to agree on one thing -- economic vitality and personal freedom. That's why our grandparents left behind everything to try the grand American experiment. Have we so easily forgotten? Terry Matula Hastings, MN _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
