The streetcar would run along Central Avenue, then by Isotopes Park on its way to the airport.Previously, Marty was arguing that the trolley would service the throngs of mythical riders along Central Avenue and provide another way to get across the river. Now, he's arguing that tourists need a $130 MILLION way to get to the ballpark!
Adams said the project would help tourists get around the Rio Grande Valley without stepping into a car. They could fly in, take the streetcar to Downtown Albuquerque, then ride the Rail Runner to Santa Fe. Or someone from Santa Fe could come down for a ballgame without having to drive.
If you're a parent these shifting arguments probably sound familiar. Next little Marty will probably argue that "everyone else is doing it." Uh, wait... never mind, he's doing that too.
Chávez said cities across the country are launching rail projects. He predicted Albuquerque will join them, even if it doesn't happen while he's in office.Fortunately, there seem to be some adults on the council who have rightfully determined that the public isn't all that hot on the idea of spending over $130 MILLION to ferry tourists to ballgames.
"Unless somebody drops $300 million on us, it's going to go to the voters some day," City Council President Isaac Benton said in an interview. But "I don't see any immediate movement on it."Councilor Winter brings up a good point - one that we have maintained for some time. Even if $300 MILLION should fall from Obama on high, it should be spent on transportation issues like the Paseo del Norte I-25 interchange that services hundreds of thousands of Albuquerque taxpayers on a daily basis not some tourist trolley for people who don't pay to keep the city afloat.
Councilor Sally Mayer said her Northeast Heights constituents are "angry that we're even considering it." She said that even if the federal government gave Albuquerque $50 million, that wouldn't pay for two miles of track.
"This is extraordinarily expensive, and I don't see a need for it," Mayer said.
Councilor Brad Winter said the city should focus on other transportation needs, such as the reconstruction of the Paseo del Norte and Interstate 25 interchange.
"I don't think we need another study," Winter said of the streetcar. "It ought to be dead."
O'Malley said the route of the system shouldn't be "subject to somebody's whimsy. We're talking about millions of dollars."
Actually, we're talking about HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS not only to build it but to run it in perpetuity.
Even if Councilor O'Malley favors building a $400 MILLION money pit, errr... arena, she's got the right idea here. The Valley councilor is planning on introducing legislation to force the tracks of any trolley to go directly through the council chambers.
Any unnecessary expenditure that will obligate taxpayers to hundreds of millions of dollars of debt and operation costs should at the very least be approved by the people upon whom that obligation will be laid.
The Almighty Alcalde up on his perch on the 11th floor simply doesn't get it. It's unbelievable that an elected official would so blatantly ignore the wishes of his constituents. Of course, that can be fixed this October.
16 comments:
I'm almost tempted just to let Martin Chavez build the Trolley just to say, "I told you so," but I believe 130 million or 300 million needs to be spend on other priorities and that kind of attitude "I told you so," wouldn't
really be fair to the projects, the people and other areas of public spending that are a priority and would service people
in other living areas and residential areas of Albuquerque.
The Mayor is incorrect in stating that other cities are building the streetcar. More and more cities are realizing that the streetcar composed mostly of city and state subsidies doesn't give the businesses an economic boom. In Ohio, one article suggests that why not just spend about 9 million on rubber wheeled trolleys? See below article. The streetcar could harm the housing and business area because of increased property taxes and gross receipts taxes.
"Streetcar battle continues in Cincinnati
By Associated Press
POSTED: 10:26 a.m. EST, Jan 06, 2009
CINCINNATI: A group opposed to a streetcar system in Cincinnati has an alternate plan: old-fashioned-looking trolleys on rubber wheels rather than permanent tracks.
The group says its proposal would cost about $9 million, mostly in private money, compared with about $185 million of taxpayer money for streetcars.
The system would carry passengers about four miles from the downtown business district to the neighborhood where the University of Cincinnati and several hospitals are located.
Trolley backers say their plan wouldn't require streets to be torn up and would be easier to walk away from than streetcars if things don't work out.
Those who favor streetcars says the permanence of the tracks would inspire greater confidence among potential investors."
I just can't imagine spending 130 million to 300 million on a glorified city bus! The current city bus works just fine. I would rather have more bike routes, paths and a trolley with rubber wheels.
Street cars or light rail are alive and well in many cities Portland,Denver and Seattle as example. It works because the people want them and the make up of the surrounding community supports it. If Albuquerque was 2 or 3 millon people it would be great.But not now!! Build another bridge first!!!
Cadigan is supposed to be the smart growth guy. He thought about this as a child according to the Journal. However, he is the guy that got behind Chavez and pushed for an expansion of Paseo. Now he is pushing for a new bridge that will cause more sprawl. Is this fight between Chavez and Cadigan contrived? Is Cadigan in the pocket of developers? I think Cadigan is in bed with the Mayor and the developers. He does whatever Chavez tells him to do.
Harris killed the streetcar tax hike, thank you Councilor Harris!
Harris is owned by Marty, make no mistake!
If Harris killed the sreetcar and the eye claims the Mayor will do anything to build the choo choo, than how can anyone claim Harris is owned by the Mayor?
Harris = no streetcar tax hike.
Denver has a great bus on 16th St that gets people around the entire downtown area. It's been in place since the early '80s and very successful.
I'm a parent and I'd ask Marty: if everyone jumped off a cliff would you follow"?
To the guy that said, "I'm a parent," yeah well, like 50 percent
of people in jail are also parents! Ha Ha! Also, Lorenzo Montoya (alleged seriel killer of 12 women and a fetus) was also a parent! Not to mention that guy that was let off on the East Side Mountain murders who was also a parent.
I do agree it is important to ask Marty: "Hey, if you expected all your opponents to jump off a cliff, then you really are worthy of that domestic violence charge that you received."
Is Marty prepared to copy Portland's Down Town rail system so far as to make it FREE as does Portland? I thought not.
Marty wants to compete with the Gov, he has a big new railway system and now Marty wants his choo choo too! His ego is bigger than his capacity to think reasonably. He believes he is untouchable but look at his untouchable brother in law-who he aspired to be like-Manny went down. Marty will too
Its the economy stupid!! What a bad time to even contemplate such a move!! The disabled are getting their assistance cut, thousands are jobless, the high school drop out rate is tremendous, about the only thing that is up is crime!! Lets use this money to better the quality of life of those truely in need.
Harris has voted in favor of the streetcar at several council committee meetings. He has on occasion publicly supported the streetcar.
If he is now opposed to the streetcar why is he sending it to the voters? The "I'm just letting the voters decide" is not a NO-streetcar position.
It is a pro-tax, pro-streetcar position.
How about giving the voters some real ballot choices like reducing the cost of city government?
Harris is Marty's guy.
If Harris voted for the streetcar, copy and past the links. The link below shows he voted against a tax increase for the train.
O-06-49
http://cabq.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=249584&GUID=B5DAC306-35C3-451C-9D62-F94430813873&Search=Street+Car&Options=ID|Text|
Below is a story from the trib that expains the process, and it identifies the Counilors resposible, Harris included, for the demise of the streetcar.
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2006/nov/21/streetcar-backers-will-seek-voters-approval/
"On Nov. 6, the council voted 6-3 to retool and extend a quarter-percent gross receipts tax to help pay for the streetcar.
The tax extension brought a revenue stream to the table, but the plan all along had been to use the money to issue bonds worth much more. The city administration had planned to ask the council to allow that on Dec. 4.
But while the council can impose a tax with a simple majority vote, seven of nine votes are needed to give the mayor permission to issue bonds.
And there's the rub: The three councilors who opposed the tax extension - Don Harris, Michael Cadigan and Brad Winter - said Monday they would stick to their opposition." Trib
People want facts and that is what any person who claims Harris supports the streetcar lacks.
Let me get this, tear up Central and put in a rail and run overhead electric to operate something that is a glorified bus? Do we have to return to "yesteryear?"
How many buses can we add to the system for a one car trolly, er, street car.
Time to run Mayor Marty out of town on his own rail!
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