http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/comment-page-1/#comment-9195 AD Fri, 03 Nov 2006 01:40:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-mta-public-private-partnership/#comment-9195 Finally! People realizing they can make money on GOOD transportation. I am all for people getting financially rewarded by doing the right thing. Perhaps the only way to fight against the highway lobby is to create an even more potent anti-highway lobby. Finally! People realizing they can make money on GOOD transportation. I am all for people getting financially rewarded by doing the right thing. Perhaps the only way to fight against the highway lobby is to create an even more potent anti-highway lobby.

]]> http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/comment-page-1/#comment-9149 Glenn Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:44:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-mta-public-private-partnership/#comment-9149 Exactly - if a bike lane created thousands of construction jobs, there would be more of a lobby for them. Instead, they just save fuel, trim waistlines, improve air quality and give people a greater sense of self accomplishment. Very little profit in all that to any concentrated interest group. Exactly - if a bike lane created thousands of construction jobs, there would be more of a lobby for them. Instead, they just save fuel, trim waistlines, improve air quality and give people a greater sense of self accomplishment. Very little profit in all that to any concentrated interest group.

]]> http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/comment-page-1/#comment-9128 JK Thu, 02 Nov 2006 17:13:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-mta-public-private-partnership/#comment-9128 Astute observations about money driving policy and low cost solutions being lost as a result. The most outstanding example is the Second Ave subway, which is projected at $15b plus. Spending a fraction of that --- say $3b --- for BRT and a super bikeway (it could even be the fabled "elevated veloway") on the same street, would carry comparable numbers of travelers, save immense sums and be completed much faster. Astute observations about money driving policy and low cost solutions being lost as a result. The most outstanding example is the Second Ave subway, which is projected at $15b plus. Spending a fraction of that --- say $3b --- for BRT and a super bikeway (it could even be the fabled "elevated veloway") on the same street, would carry comparable numbers of travelers, save immense sums and be completed much faster.

]]> http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/comment-page-1/#comment-9118 Aaron Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:44:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-mta-public-private-partnership/#comment-9118 It makes you think that if bike, public space and livable streets advocates could just come up with a way to make their projects much more expensive, they'd get done. It makes you think that if bike, public space and livable streets advocates could just come up with a way to make their projects much more expensive, they'd get done.

]]> http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/comment-page-1/#comment-9114 Glenn Thu, 02 Nov 2006 14:21:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-mta-public-private-partnership/#comment-9114 Oh, I'm not saying I think anyone in that room is as corrupt or power thirsty as RM, just that the transit world seems obsessed with huge mega projects as the solution to everything. What RM created was a systemic political addiction to the expensive and massive public works projects that are of dubious value to actually improving transit conditions. Creating public spaces, building a real solid biking network and infrastructure, building out BRT and some light rail could all fit within a fraction of what will be spent on just one of the mega projects and might have greater value in reducing traffic and making life more livable. But money speaks loudly... Oh, I'm not saying I think anyone in that room is as corrupt or power thirsty as RM, just that the transit world seems obsessed with huge mega projects as the solution to everything. What RM created was a systemic political addiction to the expensive and massive public works projects that are of dubious value to actually improving transit conditions. Creating public spaces, building a real solid biking network and infrastructure, building out BRT and some light rail could all fit within a fraction of what will be spent on just one of the mega projects and might have greater value in reducing traffic and making life more livable. But money speaks loudly...

]]> http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/comment-page-1/#comment-8969 Nicolo Macchiavelli Thu, 02 Nov 2006 00:29:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-mta-public-private-partnership/#comment-8969 No Nagaraja is a compentent and professional engineer. Moses had no such training though he became very conversant in the language of engineers. The closest thing to Moses we have in today's transportation world is Charles Gargano. But he is married only to the Republicans. I lifetime committment ceremony. To be really Mosesesque you have to swing from both sides of the plate. No Nagaraja is a compentent and professional engineer. Moses had no such training though he became very conversant in the language of engineers. The closest thing to Moses we have in today's transportation world is Charles Gargano. But he is married only to the Republicans. I lifetime committment ceremony. To be really Mosesesque you have to swing from both sides of the plate.

]]> http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/comment-page-1/#comment-8942 mike Wed, 01 Nov 2006 22:15:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-mta-public-private-partnership/#comment-8942 I'm having flashbacks to "The Power Broker". I'm having flashbacks to "The Power Broker".

]]> http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-the-mta/comment-page-1/#comment-8941 Glenn Wed, 01 Nov 2006 22:08:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/11/01/mr-inside-track-explains-mta-public-private-partnership/#comment-8941 Sounds like something out of the old Robert Moses' old Triborough days. Perhaps next year Robert Caro could be the keynote speaker? Sounds like something out of the old Robert Moses' old Triborough days. Perhaps next year Robert Caro could be the keynote speaker?

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