LRT operating costs need to be seen in context. We get far more using lrt than we do using automobiles. Consider:
Energy: in the next 30 years, petroleum costs will soar as production declines and world demand explodes. See any report on the petroleum industry to back this up. Google Mathew Simmons, M. King Hubbert, Richard Heineman, or se my post on "Minneapolis Infrastructure..." for some hot links. Sprawl and landuse: These are critical, related issues as well. Highway and roadway expansion never, never, never reduces congestion or pollution. Rather, highway and road expansion always encourage sprawl, poor land use, more car use, more gas consumption, more pollution and more destruction of soil, air and water. Light Rail encourages higher density multi-use neighborhoods around stations, better land use, less car use, and more biking and walking -- all of which reduce pollution and energy use, encourage business, community and safety in Minneapolis. A local living economy thrives with local neighborhoods. Looking at energy and landuse issues alone persuades me that rail is a better investment for us than roads. When I consider the impact of creating more local community and economic development with walkable/bikeable neighborhoods versus expanding parking lots along expanding, increasingly congested roads, the lrt looks even better. Of course, I ride pedicabs and cargo trikes 365 days a year, and this really rocks in terms of building neighborhood safety, human relationships, and economic relationships. Also, it is good for health and for controlling rising health care costs and it is good for environmental health, which also feeds back positively into physical and community health...... I encourage list members to think of the future in terms of energy, land (and other resource use) and building local neighborhoods and strong local economies when we think of transportation investment. Put simply, there is urban infrastructure that tends to be peaceful and just, and infrastructure that tends toward violence and injustice. We get to choose. -- pedaling for peace and justice -- from Kingfield -- Gary Hoover REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
