Another vote for light rail
I recently wrote a blog item saying the San Joaquin Valley might make a case for building light rail here because there are so many air violations.
Reader Robert Ramsay suggests Fresno, in particular, needs to make a case for light rail.
His e-mail to me yesterday says:
"If Fresno is ever to develop the old downtown area that development has got to ride on light rail. This is also true for extensive development of central Fresno, and for successfully serving areas such as the Fresno State campus, City College, and even the shopping centers that already exist. Then light rail can tie these areas more widely to residential regions around the city.
Think of light rail as a skeleton on which hangs high density development of all kinds. This has been the miracle of Portland, and we are seeing it now playing out in cities as far reaching as San Diego, Houston, Dallas, Denver, and Salt Lake City. So why not Fresno?"
By the way, I'm keeping score on the number of ozone violations between L.A., which does have light rail, and the Valley this year.
The score: Valley, 120; L.A., 117.
One more thing: Arvin yesterday recorded its 98th violation of the year, giving it more violations than any other place in the country.
Comments:
I couldn't agree with Mr. Ramsay more. Mr. Ramsay is indeed well informed. Mr. Ramsay, thank you.
An editorial in the Fresno Bee today focused on SB 375, introduced by State Senator Darrell Steinberg and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, providing incentivization to do exactly what Mr. Ramsay mentioned: to encourage development that is higher in density and situated in close proximity to transit stations. Light rail service is coming to Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa starting this December, providing high-quality and high-capacity transit service to the three neighboring Arizona communities. This 20-mile line has already spurred $6 billion in development and it hasn't boarded its first paying passenger even. There are probably many people who were and are opposed to this endeavor, but once operations begin, as was the case in Salt Lake City after its TRAX light-rail system went in expressly to handle the Winter Olympic crowds in 2002, people will fall in love with this newest of light rail transit systems and I suspect some of those naysayers will become believers once they begin riding. It will also be a compliment to the existing bus service there and vice versa. I guarantee it.
Posted by: Alan Kandel at October 2, 2008 5:50 PM
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