Too Little Too Late for StarTran

By: Mr. Wilson on October 2, 2007
I can't help but think that the changes StarTran has proposed lately are too little too late. The fact that some members of the City Council are eager to cut StarTran's budget supports my suspicion. StarTran sat back and relied on a crummy route system for 20 years. Although only one of several reasons for public transportation's weakness in Lincoln, it was a very important reason. In five years will StarTran be little more than the minimum system required by Federal law? I won't be surprised. Incidentally, the City's Comprehensive Plan says quite clearly that transit funding should be increased, not decreased. The City Council that may cut StarTran's funding is the same one that adopted the most recent version of the Comprehensive Plan in November 2006.

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foxspit
October 2, 2007 at 4:44PM

The Downtown Master Plan and the Antelope Valley/Research Corridor plan both talk about a trolley system. I wonder if this could justify cutting StarTran’s budget?

I haven’t seen any costs associated with a trolley system, but it looks pretty cool and functional in the downtown area.

hbrogan57
October 3, 2007 at 2:23PM

San Diego has a GREAT “light rail” system.  Washington, DC has the Metro.  There are numerous cities that have a ver good public transit system.  Instead of spending money on “consultants” to look at the bus system perhaps they should hire a “consultant” to look into the feasability of something similar here.  Seems to me it would be cheaper that running diesel buses all over town.  Seeing how we seem to be spreading out quite a bit.  It’s also a LOT quieter in the residential areas.  When I lived in Washington I stayed about a half block away from a MAJOR hub of the Metro.  Only thing I EVER heard was the PA system announcing the arrival and departure of tha various trains.  And THAT was only if the wind was blowing the right way and I had to listen close.  If I was inside I never heard a thing.  And those systems run until 2 in the morning.

Fletch
October 3, 2007 at 5:18PM

It will never happen here. The cost would be astronomical. No way cheaper than running buses.

hbrogan57
October 4, 2007 at 11:16AM

You’re right.  It will never happen here.  But it has proven to be cheaper overall in the bigger cities.  There are fewer buses on the roads and the ones that are available are for connecting to areas that the trains do not go to.  The Metro in Washington is an electric system and does have it’s advantages AND disadvantages as well.  I can certainly see all sides to this problem.  And I can certainly see where the larger cities go with systems like this.  They have far more commuters using them ((It would seem)).  And I know that when I was in Washington I often used them. ((Bad weather, got up and around too late))  That sort of thing.  But I don’t think that I ever saw a TOTALLY empty train.  At least in my personal experience.  And during rush hours they were filled to the brim.

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