Introduction:
There are many ways people in Arizona get from place to place, especially using public transportation. One specific use is the light rail that serves in Arizona that combines certain cities including Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix. Looking at history that has taken place we look at how we have grown and how far we have come to help better advance the light rail. We look at how great it is to include the light rail into cities and how impactful it has been in other cities such as Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Oregon (Figure 1). I found that businesses did improve their profit and really benefitted from the light rail, along with the increasing positive environmental impacts. Although we only look at the positive impacts, negative
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Starting with money, we find that the construction for the light rail for these 3 cities came out to be 1.4 billion dollars. “The federal government paid for nearly half, and Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa kicked in a combined 40 percent. The Proposition 400 transportation tax covered the rest,”(Creno). Where now, “The projections call for Phoenix to pay $75.35 million toward the operating budget and for Tempe to pay $32.08 million. Mesa is down for $6.50 million. Other Valley cities pay token amounts.”(Creno). Which is putting us in a worse situation. Disruption takes place as a bigger issue because this involved a lot of businesses that suffered because the building of the light rail ran in the way of their business. Businesses near the light rail have been effected by this says, “Jacob Johnson owner of Watson Flowers in Tempe, said the construction hurt his business severely, and he does not believe it has had a positive impact on sales since completion.” (Quizon). Along with businesses disruption there is also traffic congestions, “a 50-year-old Scottsdale resident who works in downtown Phoenix, said the trains doing test runs have been causing traffic problems, nobody knows where they're going.”(Creno). It was also stated from “Sal Navarro, 27, of Avondale, said only people who work downtown will have any use for light rail.”(Creno). Looking at the location that was picked helps explain why …show more content…
Neelesh Nidadhavolu. “The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority”. http://mobile.usablenet.com/mt/net4.ccs.neu.edu/home/neelesh/Project/documentation.html
9. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol.53, NO.149, pg.10. “Trains Running this Morning”. May 30, 1893
10. Light Rail Now. “New subway (metro) systems cost nearly 9 times as much as light rail.” February. 13, 2014. https://lightrailnow.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/new-subway-metro-systems-cost-nearly-9-times-as-much-as-light-rail/
11. Thompson, Jonathan. High Country News. “Light rail enters the West’s most sprawling metropolis”. Nov. 14, 2104.
12. Creno, Glen. The Arizona Republic. “Valley residents remain split over cost, effects of light rail.” Nov. 26, 2008
13. Creno, Glen. The Arizona Republic. “Coping with light-rail costs”. Dec. 9, 2008
14. Quizon, Derek. The Arizona Republic. “Effects of light-rail on businesses mixed, owners say.” Jul. 13, 2010
15. Jesse Victor and Diane E. Brown. Arizona PIRG Education Fund. “The Businesses of Light Rail: A Compilation of Local Business Interviews”. < http://www.arizonapirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/The-Businesses-of-Light-Rail.pdf>. April
Handy, Ryan. "The Colorado Springs Gazette." Colorado Springs Gazette. N.p., 25 Apr. 213. Web. 09 June 2014.
...g I can use for my final paper when I include evidence about the environmental impacts of the trains on the city. I also liked this source because of how it talks about these organizations competing to bring more money into the city, which shows that they are positively impacting Chicago's economy.
Since the early 1990s, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) had been exploring public transit resolutions that would improve access to Cleveland’s two largest employment hubs, downtown Cleveland and University Circle. During this examination period, GCRTA’s discussions with the local communities and local business leaders specified that there was a major need for improved public transit mobility along the Euclid Avenue Corridor. These discussions led to the development and evaluation of alternatives to the current bus route that served this area, the local bus route #6. By coordinating with Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland, and by hosting a series of public meetings, GCRTA had more than enough input and assistance in the final determination of alternatives to meet the transportation needs of the community and the Euclid ...
Firestone, David (April 8, 2002). "Overcoming a Taboo, Buses Will Now Serve Suburban Atlanta". The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
"The Urban Portal." Urban Portal Issues RSS. N.p., 25 Dec. 2011. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.
During the reconstruction of America after the Civil War, the government allocated land grants and premiums to encourage work on the railroads, which proved effective. However, such incentives led to a questionable quality of work. Land donations and loans offered to both companies would eventually become profitable with the addition of railroad tracks running through, and the la...
The Tunnel tolls will be in effect for about 59 more years so people have to get used to it. They have to realize that there will be consequences; a consequence could be the High Rise Bridge possibly collapsing because too much traffic. The public has to look at the bigger picture, even though they might not like it. There is soon to be more on this issues but since its so opinion based it is very hard to get a certain argument since there are so many. Sooner or later people will start gravitating towards the bridge. They will realize its what’s best.
An aging population, a younger generation who prefer walkable places, economic shifts, and the environmental impacts of suburban development are all contributing factors” (Beatz 141). Reshaping Metropolitan America gives an argument, as well as a blueprint, on how we can transform our infrastructure and housing demands by 2030.
Amtrak is a state-owned, for profit, national railroad Company that provides efficient rail service both long and short distance transportation services. Being the primary provider of passenger-rail service in the U.S has a network that connects more than 500 cities and towns in 46 states. It offers long-distance and short-distance service corridors throughout nationwide operating daily, offering several choice of service class – first class sleeping car, custom class and economic services for different age groups with different travel needs. Amtrak receives federal funds to be used for their operating expenses. Its ridership and revenue growth have progressively increased in the past five-year successfully building relationships with the public and customers, recreating branding, and improving new services/quality, and it projects a continued growth in passenger revenue at about 4% per year with modest growth in passenger ridership (Exhibit C4.1, Page 245).
...number of people depending on the movement of goods and transportation is always going to be a large portion of the population. “ This is perhaps the most important force in shifting from the old paradigm. Because customers want products when, where, and how they choose, distribution is increasingly a vital component of the supply chain” (Kirchhoff M, Peacock J. 2005). Expanding the clearing yards to a larger number of rails should begin to decrease the amount of congestion the city is witnessing with their freight traffic. Even the problems are being stressed amongst the citizens of the state. The arrival times are unpredictable and are breaking down all the time. Being old like the rest of the rail infrastructure it needs to be repaired as well. “About $8.7 billion is needed to bring it up to "good repair" but no funding plan is in place” (Van Hampton, T. 2007).
Pellegrin, Frank. "The Street This Week: Planes, Trains, Automobiles, Malls -- Or None of the Above?" Time 19 Nov 2001. 21 Nov 2001.
Pollution is a major problem for all of us. People need to recognize this situation so we can start making a difference to this problem. In order to start making a difference, the federal government should increase gasoline tax by one dollar a gallon. Fifty percent of this dollar will go towards public transportation, since passenger cars and trucks are a major contribution towards air pollution, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, E.P.A (10/4, http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions/emsns.html). Due to the expected increase after this is put forth, the remaining fifty percent of the dollar will go towards safety on these transits. When public transportation increases, air pollution will decrease, which will lessen the harmful health risks towards the environment.
A transportation network must be judged for its cost-effectiveness. The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) in 1952 made its tenet, "that a profit should be returned on an investment applies as well to highway projects as to general business ventures."2 Cost-effectiveness includes safety, ease of use, and flexibility in the eyes of both the local government and individual users. Unfortunately, "little or no supporting evidence"3 exists and few studies compared the systems. Since no monetary value can be placed on human life, comparisons of safety are even fewer and less thorough. A simple account of accident records, however, is a good judge of safety. Studies of system costs, ont the other hand, are purely monetary and more frequent. From the operator's standpoint, costs break down to overhead and construction, maintenance of cars and lines, operation costs, and profits. From the users' standpoint the only cost is the fare.
Generally, some might argue, that although it is a boost in the economy it takes thousands of acres from farmers. This is true, but economic impacts seen across the country show local projects can have big benefits on the surrounding area, while regional efforts are likely to generate a ripple effect. When a seventeen million renovation happened in the Milwaukee Intermodal Station it was projected to increase land values around the station by $227 million dollars and create 3,000 new jobs in the Milwaukee area, according to multi-state economic impact study (Mahoney). And congress’ “Buy America” program ensures that high-speed rail lines and trains will be built and operated using items made by American Industries. Immediately after the high-speed rail funding announcement, more than thirty rail manufactures and supplies committed to establish or expand their United States operations if they are chosen to build America’s next generation high-speed trains. So if we build the High-Speed Rail shouldn’t we expect the same results in California?
For more than half a century, one of the most noteworthy and instantly recognisable symbols of the city of San Francisco has been the beloved cable car. The little quaint vehicles going back and forth the steep hills amid the clanging of bells have been a fascination for all, whether old-time San Franciscans or visitors travelling from across the globe. No hill has ever been too steep nor any load too heavy for the charming cable car.