According to the Intelligencer New Era of September 30, former mayor and Republican candidate Charlie Smithgall described the proposed streetcar scheme to a church group as ”a waste of time, effort and money.” The Intell further reports “And, if he is elected Nov. 3, Smithgall said he will pull the brake on a $150,000 study planned to determine if a $14.1 million trolley line is feasible.”
In defense of his intention to spend a $150,000 for a study, Mayor Rick Gray responded “Much has changed since 2001. Cities across the country have adopted trolley systems as a quick, efficient way to move people between restaurants, shops and businesses.”
What cities have successfully introduced streetcars to narrow streets and experienced success? NewsLanc researched and wrote articles on these supposed success stories and found them either to be rapid transit systems running on special easement or failed systems that lack riders, gush losses and are heavily subsidized.
The last time Gray asked for a feasibility study, then regarding the covention center project, the County Commissioners spent around $150,000 to provide it for him. But the mayor ignored its findings! (Yet Interstate Hotels and Resorts later used its data and projections as the basis for a marketing plan.)
If Gray continues to shoot himself in the foot with the unpopular streetcars and his failed bid to continue providing police protection to Lancaster Township, Smithgall may yet make this a contest.
So we will not have the streetcars if Charlie is in, but we will have a carousel. Fair trade off I think!
Grandiose projects aside, Rick Gray’s management skills have clearly made Charlie Smithgall’s tenure as mayor look like that of an amateur. Smithgall inherited a budget when he took office that totaled $24 million, and had a $2 million surplus. After four tax increases, Smithgall left a proposed budget for Gray that totaled $40 million, with a $7 million deficit (which Gray slashed). Four more years of Smithgall’s (mis)management could very well bankrupt Lancaster City.
It seems strange that Smithgall is now calling for a referendum on the streetcar proposal, after he fought so hard against every single attempt to bring genuine public input into the taxpayer-financed hotel and convention center project.
Letter to Mayor- First, present a plan to address commercial real estate occupancy rates downtown, then, we will focus on building up public transportation. Let’s stop wasting time and money on something that has such little relevance to anything. My mind hurts from trying to understand how these things gain momentum in the first place. Just say “not now” and move on.
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Charlie Smithgall taking credit for the convention center?
http://smithgall4mayor.com/accomplishments.asp
How is it that we’re blaming Gray for the convention center in the same article that is about Smithgall’s views on the streetcar