Comments on: Why Buy More Trains If You Can’t Afford to Run Them? http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/27/why-buy-more-trains-if-you-cant-afford-to-run-them/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jordan Hare http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/27/why-buy-more-trains-if-you-cant-afford-to-run-them/comment-page-1/#comment-68946 Jordan Hare Fri, 29 May 2009 18:13:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6257#comment-68946 Why can't municipalities walk away from debt-issuance-based public works financing? This excessive reliance on debt in terms of public sector infra creates so much more trouble in the long haul. Why can’t municipalities walk away from debt-issuance-based public works financing?

This excessive reliance on debt in terms of public sector infra creates so much more trouble in the long haul.

]]> By: Kaja http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/27/why-buy-more-trains-if-you-cant-afford-to-run-them/comment-page-1/#comment-68881 Kaja Thu, 28 May 2009 23:55:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6257#comment-68881 > Why Buy More Trains If You Can’t Afford to Run Them? Float bonds, buy trains, default on bonds, keep trains? Sounds like a win for governments: they get to keep the trains, /and/ your money. > Why Buy More Trains If You Can’t Afford to Run Them?

Float bonds, buy trains, default on bonds, keep trains? Sounds like a win for governments: they get to keep the trains, /and/ your money.

]]> By: Mike Lydon http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/27/why-buy-more-trains-if-you-cant-afford-to-run-them/comment-page-1/#comment-68799 Mike Lydon Thu, 28 May 2009 02:51:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6257#comment-68799 What's really sickening is the state contributing nearly $100 million in stimulus money to fund the gross expansion of an already horrific interchange...to the tune of $600 million, in addition to the $120 million they spent on tax roll destroying right-of-way purchases for said interchange. Lack of Tri-Rail funding and carbon belching interchange projects makes one realize that we livable streets advocates have a long, long way to go. Keep fighting. What’s really sickening is the state contributing nearly $100 million in stimulus money to fund the gross expansion of an already horrific interchange…to the tune of $600 million, in addition to the $120 million they spent on tax roll destroying right-of-way purchases for said interchange. Lack of Tri-Rail funding and carbon belching interchange projects makes one realize that we livable streets advocates have a long, long way to go. Keep fighting.

]]> By: david johnson http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/27/why-buy-more-trains-if-you-cant-afford-to-run-them/comment-page-1/#comment-68792 david johnson Wed, 27 May 2009 22:18:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6257#comment-68792 St. Louis also received stimulus funding for transit operations via the "state budget stabilization" line item. KC received nothing, unfortunately, but it shows you where there's a will, there's a way. St. Louis also received stimulus funding for transit operations via the “state budget stabilization” line item. KC received nothing, unfortunately, but it shows you where there’s a will, there’s a way.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/27/why-buy-more-trains-if-you-cant-afford-to-run-them/comment-page-1/#comment-68784 anonymous Wed, 27 May 2009 19:17:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6257#comment-68784 At some point states are just going to have to save themselves, as the US congress is slow to act and usually muddles good bills into mediocre ones. How do states save themselves? Raise the top income tax rate, for starters. At some point states are just going to have to save themselves, as the US congress is slow to act and usually muddles good bills into mediocre ones. How do states save themselves? Raise the top income tax rate, for starters.

]]> By: J-Uptown http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/27/why-buy-more-trains-if-you-cant-afford-to-run-them/comment-page-1/#comment-68782 J-Uptown Wed, 27 May 2009 18:49:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6257#comment-68782 The Atlanta transit agency (MARTA) worked out a deal with the local MPO, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), to swap stimulus capital funds for operating funds. I don't see why this can't be done elsewhere. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/05/27/marta_stimulus_money.html The Atlanta transit agency (MARTA) worked out a deal with the local MPO, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), to swap stimulus capital funds for operating funds. I don’t see why this can’t be done elsewhere.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/05/27/marta_stimulus_money.html

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/27/why-buy-more-trains-if-you-cant-afford-to-run-them/comment-page-1/#comment-68781 Larry Littlefield Wed, 27 May 2009 18:44:57 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6257#comment-68781 "The simple fix" is always to sacrifice the future for the present. While there are "worthy new projects" in some cases, most capital funds are used for ongoing normal replacement of existing vehicles and facilities. Imagine, for example, a policy to allow FTA funds to use for bus maintenance rather than buses. Local pols looking for the "simple fix" would stop buying new buses. No one would notice a problem for a few years. "Everyone wins," right? A good way to gradually eliminate transit altogether. “The simple fix” is always to sacrifice the future for the present. While there are “worthy new projects” in some cases, most capital funds are used for ongoing normal replacement of existing vehicles and facilities.

Imagine, for example, a policy to allow FTA funds to use for bus maintenance rather than buses. Local pols looking for the “simple fix” would stop buying new buses. No one would notice a problem for a few years. “Everyone wins,” right?

A good way to gradually eliminate transit altogether.

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