The Transit Space Race

While Al Gore and Much of the Democratic Leadership in the United States is thinking about Global Warming and the effects of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, several cities (progressive and conservative) in the United States have already started addressing the issue with alternative transit options, primarily rail transit.  In fact, cities see the attraction of young graduates and highly skilled workers as such a key policy that there is a new exciting phenomenon taking place where they are starting to compete against each other to say that they have the best and most extensive system: We're Calling It The Transit Space Race

More below the fold

The Transit Space Race is an idea I came up with after seeing all these cities trying to one up each other in terms of funding larger fixed guideway rail expansions to attract new jobs and the young talented professionals and thinkers that make up the creative class. The idea of the space race fills me with excitement because so much technology and innovation came from that time period. It's hard not to get excited if you are an urban planner  about the coming rail expansion around the country. And while the forces that be try to keep building larger roads and keep the American Taxpayer buying oil and automobiles, there is a silent majority rising up and leading the way to a more sustainable United States.

If compared to a volcano, this movement has been bubbling under the surface ever since ISTEA was passed in 1991. Every since then new rail lines have been popping up around the country funded by section 5309 of the bill called new starts. The success of these initial lines bred confidence that many cities could build these expansions to increase ridership and enhance livability in many cities around the country that were starting to become cool and hip. The eruption came however in November of 2004 when the Denver Region (which you know is becoming quite progressive) passed the Fastracks Ballot Measure authorizing 119 new miles of rail line and $4.7 Billion dollar investment in the regions rail transit infrastructure.

Since this watershed event, many cities around the country are starting to think about how to fund these expansions to essentially keep up with the Jonses. Salt Lake City just passed a ballot measure that raised money for 4 Trax expansions and a commuter rail line.  Now they are talking trash that they are better than Portland. Charlotte passed a half cent sales tax in 1998 and is looking to build 4 lines and a streetcar in addition to the South Corridor Light Rail which is under construction now.  They are scaring the living daylights out of cities like Atlanta and Tampa (Links below)who's leaders see their cities drowning in never ending gridlock but can't quite get away from the grip of the highway lobby. Seattle has grand expansion plans for 40+ miles in addition to the construction underway now. Some cities are feeling a bit left out. Tampa's leaders are worried they will be left behind while cities like Minneapolis have newspaper editorials begging to let them into the race after the construction of the highly successful Hiawatha line.  Even southern car oriented cities like Houston and Dallas are getting into race, competing for funding and bragging rights in the Lone Star State while progressive Austin failed to pass a referendum in 2000 and has been falling behind. Other cities are building new lines but have no grand plans for expansion...until they get their acts together, they will be falling behind.

So to say the least this is exciting and says that as usual, Washington is always behind the local politic. If congress can create a way to get under this exploding national expansion and make these dreams possible for more cities in this new century, then perhaps we will have a program as great as the Federal Highway program of the 50s. We'll call this our do-over and this time we'll get it right. Let's shoot for the moon.

So from now on my blog there will be a sidebar listing cities in the race and cities who wish they were in the race (planning for lines or talking extensively about expansion of major systems) This list will not include the big 5 of NYC, Boston, Chicago, Philly and San Francisco (The Overhead Wire's home) but rather cities rapidly expanding their transit systems. Washington, Portland and Los Angeles have a head start, but so did the Russian's with Sputnik. So each time a city moves into another category you will know. There is also continuing detailed explanation into why i think each city is in the race. So without further ado...Let the Race Begin!