Concerning the “Streetcars vs. light rail” article of December 11^th, 2009:

Hm. Don’t be surprised if this http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/1115096.html winds
up coming down our pike:

“The federal government recently said it will distribute $125million nationwide for transit projects that could include streetcars – an announcement that Charlotte officials said could help the city’s planned center city streetcar line.

“Under the Bush administration, streetcars struggled to get federal money. The Federal Transit Administration earlier this decade valued most of all how much time a transit project would save commuters, which made it difficult for slower-moving streetcars to receive federal dollars.

“But on Dec. 1, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the FTA would pay for transit projects that improve a city’s ‘livability.’

“Some of the criteria include economic development and improvement to the quality of living in the area where the project is built.”

And that’s pretty much what proponents of a local system have been saying, isn’t it?

For the record, I don’t totally oppose the idea of a streetcar – but I think we’re going about it arse-backward. You don’t start with the notion of “Hey, we need to boost economic development and wouldn’t a trolley be great?” You start with a question – how can we legitimately improve transportation?  What are the real needs?

Some may see a need to link the train station with the center of town – because of the convention center and the county and everything else. OK, I’ll accept that as a “need,” though I don’t necessarily see it as pressing enough to require public funds, especially right now.

A bigger need exists, but it’s the part of the system they’re talking about building last, if they build it at all. If you were to select an area of Lancaster County that might benefit from light rail, a corridor – what would you select?

You might select the Harrisburg Pike corridor:  F&M; ultimately the old Armstrong site; Long’s Park (and maybe a new shopping center across from it), Park City; the Health Campus; Woodcrest Villa/the Mennonite Home.  And beyond.

The Harrisburg Pike study addresses congestion and ways to manage further growth of the system. Light rail would be one way, though the study didn’t really explore it.  But if the corridor is going to continue to expand. which is pretty much guaranteed due to LGH’s proximity to it,  maybe it
should have.