Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 2 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Editorial: Central Corridor good for Minnesota
Published Thursday, July 9, 2009
This outstate newspaper has long been an advocate of metro light rail.
So it is good to see Minnesota finally get some work done on a second light-rail line. Crews this week are doing early utility work on the Central Corridor route to finally connect Minneapolis to St. Paul in anticipation of construction next year.
To future generations, it will have seemed odd that people in the second half of the 20th century and in the early 21st century couldn’t take a train from one Twin City to another. It’s seems a no-brainer. They will say, “Duh!”
Taxpayers today are paying a hefty cost for the dismantling of the Twin City Rapid Transit rail lines in 1954.
But there’s a good side: It doesn’t take long for these light-rail lines pay for themselves
The Hiawatha line in Minneapolis connects the airport, Mall of America, Metrodome and downtown. It has been great at reducing traffic, popular among the commuting public and is a money maker for Metro Transit. The line paid for itself in two years.
It resulted in the construction of 12,000 housing units within a half-mile of the route before the rail even opened. There was a business boom along the line, too. You can’t say that people don’t want light rail. They yearn to leave their cars at home and take a train.
Light rail makes sense for the state’s metro area. It’s good for the state’s image and for the state’s economy — which in turn benefits all of Minnesota. Plus, light rail makes driving in the Twin Cities much easier for us outstate motorists.
We know an Albert Lea couple who parks close to a station on Hiawatha Avenue and takes the train to Twins games because it is easier to get in and out of the downtown that way.
Slated to start operation in 2014, the Central Corridor would connect Union Depot, the Capitol and points along University Avenue to the East Bank and West Bank before connecting to downtown Minneapolis.
We look forward to riding.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by ErnieGann (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
" It has been great at reducing traffic, popular among the commuting public and is a money maker for Metro Transit. The line paid for itself in two years."
I'd like to see what the source is for the quote
According to the Hiawatha Line financials through 2007 (2008 is just about to be issued) the ridership paid only about 1/3 of the cost of running the operation--to say nothing of the cost of retiring debt. http://www.metrotransit.org/images/HLRT_...
From Metrotransit--"Operating Cost: Annual budgeted operating cost is $19.85 million in 2006 dollars. This cost is offset IN PART by annual fare revenue estimated at $7.2 million. Hennepin County funds 50 percent of the net operating cost."
Also from Metrotransit
Light Rail Construction
Construction funding (in millions $):
Federal - 334.3
State of Minnesota - 100.0
Metropolitan Airports Commission - 87.0
Hennepin County - 84.2
Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality grant - 49.8
Transit capital grant- 39.9
Minnesota Dept of Transportation - 20.1
Total 715.3
"PAYS for itself?" "MAKES money?"
It was funded by OTHER areas of government, that took YOUR money to pay for this boondoggle.
The trolley car system doesn't pay 1/3 of its actual operating cost--it is subsidized by Hennepin County and taxes collected on FUEL taxes.
Once again, Liberals never met a government program they didn't like.
Posted by Intheknow (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Golly, I wish the AL Tribune editor would quit dabbling in national and state opinion/stories that he evidently doesn't even research.
Stick to local news reporting and spend some time doing real journmalism and finding out the facts about our own community.
Either that or just report the happenings at the local service clubs, funerals, and the like. That kind of stuff is really is what sells local newspapers!
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)