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Atlanta plans streetcar expansion
While many readers of this site will applaude any politician’s enthusiasm for extending any form of passenger rail, might it not be a bit too early in this case? After all the streetcar’s renewal is only about 6 weeks old and a euphoric-riding clientele is doing so at no direct cost to them. The proof may be in the pudding once it becomes clear what their habits are when they have to, ahem, pony up the fare. It’s nice to be optimistic but where’s the funding for an extension coming from and will streetcar usage 6 or 12 months from now warrant the extra expenditures? Hold that thought; it’s a tad early to be making such prognostications.
Did I read this right? $81 million for 2 miles of right of way ($40 million/mile) all for $4million “bus” like trolley cars to tourist site? This does not cover operating and labor costs. Remember this when you rent a hotel in the Atlanta area and are forced to pay the hotel tax for the privelege. Sort of like saying a major league ball park makes money (the don’t) for the city. Only the league gets wealthier and the city gets stuck with all the extra costs.