A COMMUTER RAIL SOLUTION FOR THE CHARLESTON, SC, TRI-COUNTY REGION
[NOTE: This post is from a message printed in the digital edition of the Feb. 4, 2018, Charleston, SC, Post-Courier. It is shown here in the event readers might wish to send their views to the Post-Courier and govt. offices (municipal,county, state) in the area.
How was your commute today?
I am a Charleston resident of 46 years. Traffic flow in Charleston is at the gridlock stage. I-26, I-526 and other intersections are parking lots every day. Accidents, construction and bad weather make driving a nightmare.
A commuter rail system is the solution. It would run from Charleston through N. Charleston and Summerville to St. George. A second branch would run from N. Charleston through Goose Creek to Moncks Corner. It will likely cost between $600 million and $1 billion and require 15 to years to finish. What is the alternative?
A COMMUTER RAIL SOLUTION FOR THE CHARLESTON TRI-COUNTY REGION
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FUNDING AND REVENUE MANAGEMENT OF A COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM
FUNDING
Funding of transit systems applies the same methodology used for over a hundred years, and which works today. Here are six major ways to fund transit projects to offset a proposed budgeting outlay for the total system. 1) Sale of Bonds, issued by the transit authority and/or other state agencies. 2) Grants, applied for by the transit authority and awarded by state and federal agencies. 3) Low-interest loans, applied for by the transit authority and financed by state and federal agencies. 4) Passenger revenue, upon inauguration of the system. 5) Donations, which can take many forms: Direct cash, to defray the cost of operating expenses. Real estate; to enable the system to operate on a right-of-way and to store eqpt. when not needed. Rolling stock, the “wheels” of the system. Transit carriage
the media has reported that the bcd-cog (BERKELEY-CHARLESTON-DORCHESTER COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS) is supporting a bus system between Charleston-Summerville… I didn’t see the details on the bcd-cog website… im wondering about what persuaded the bcd-cog to “go with” a bus plan?
was it any/some of these factors, or something else entirely?
bus maintenance-- engine; tires, body, accident repair;
driver expense-- one man per bus; “no-shows” due to sick leave, separation, “personal time” off, etc;
maintenance facility-- mechanics, technicians, repair parts, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, garage bays, storage of units in disrepair or not needed.
reserved “bus lane”-- occupying one lane of I-26 (it is I-26, right?), which displaces all vehicles normally driving in that lane to “move over” to crowd other lanes, in 2 directions; this places other lanes in gridlock, since I-26 was not designed to handle what it handles now; how will drivers not entitled to drive in the reserved lane respond when they see a lane completely empty when they are sitting
HOW MUCH COMPLACENCY, HOW MUCH INDIFFERENCE, HOW MUCH NEGLECT, MUST WE ENDURE BEFORE SOMEONE STANDS UP TO GIVE A DAMN??
IS THERE NOONE WITH THE COURAGE, THE VOICE, THE ABILITY TO SPEAK AND BE HEARD?
IS THERE NOONE WITH UNDERSTANDING AND FORESIGHT TO ADDRESS WHERE WE WILL END UP WITHOUT A TRULY EFFECTIVE MASS TRANSIT PLAN? MUST WE WATCH AS CARS & TRUCKS FILL THE LANES OF I-26 FROM CHARLESTON TO SUMMERVILLE UNTIL THEY STAGNATE INTO THE GROUND? WILL SOMEONE TAKE THE “BLOOD PRESSURE” OF THE LOWCOUNTRY AND WATCH THE NUMBERS FALL UNTIL OUR ECONOMY IS “UNRESPONSIVE” AND “BEYOND RESCUE”?
AND WHAT WOULD PEOPLE SAY ABOUT CHARLESTON THEN? “IT’S TOO BAD; THEY HAD SUCH PROMISE, SUCH POTENTIAL, BUT THEY PUT THEIR PRIORITIES ELSEWHERE AND THEY CHOKED ON THEIR OWN SUCCESS. THEY IGNORED THE SIGNS THAT WERE EVERYWHERE, BUT THEIR EYES AND EARS WERE CLOSED TO THE REALITY THAT ROADS WILL HANDLE ONLY SO MUCH BEFORE THEY REGURGITATE BACK TO THE SOURCE, CULMINATING IN ECONOMIC RIGOR MORTIS”. + R.I.P. CHARLESTON +
DPM once opined in a lead-off article in “News & Editorial Comment” in TRAINS many years ago that rail transit is not an ideal solution for all transit issues. He was writing in response to a proposal in Milwaukee for a rather expansive rail operation on the Milwaukee-Watertown line. In that case, he believed that the passenger volume wasn’t really there to support a large rail operation and suggested that express buses might be more realistic.
In the situation in Charleston, a light rail operation MAY be feasible but it would be expensive to establish. There also doesn’t seem to be too much support for the idea at this time.
In general, people cannot comprehend the volume of people that a rail (Light or Heavy) transportation solution must handle on a continuing basis to have any chance to not be a overwhelming financial burden on the authority that operates it.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT… THERE IS NO SUPPORT, BUT THEN, THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLICITY TO ENABLE ANYONE OUTSIDE THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY OR THE MEDIA COMMUNITY WHO KNOWS ABOUT MY PROPOSAL TO CONSIDER IT, SO HOW WOULD THEY KNOW IF IT IS GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT IF THEY HAVENT HEARD IT? DOESNT A PLAN DESERVE A CHANCE AT SUCCESS OR FAILURE, OR AM I MISSING SOMETHING? BUT,I COULD BE WRONG!
