Just so the Californians don’t feel so picked on. Here comes the latest escapade from the Peoples Republic of Boulder (alias Berkley East). We have the usual cast of morons:
(1) Witless Politicians (with the obligatory ego problem)
(2) A City/County Plannining Department with no vision or plan (or common sense),
(3) Civil/Transportation Engineers who can’t railroad (rubber-tired bus people!)
Laughing my iron-feathered, not-so-small butt off!
[(-D][(-D][(-D]
The doofus responsible for this snafu will probably be given a “disciplinary” promotion to a no-work job where he/she can’t do any harm. They probably know some dirt on someone powerful, are screwing someone powerful, or are related to someone powerful.
Laurence Peter (“The Peter Principle”) described that as a “lateral arabesque.” Sounds like a promotion, but you just get pushed sideways, out of the way.
Either somebody stood to profit from all this (who owns the land they have to use now?), or they didn’t understand the physics of railroad cars…
I think that we have been down this road (pun intended) before. I’m just suprised that many did not see this happening before the first dollar was spent on the study. It will come down to the reason for the tracks not to be built. Simply it is not in the interest of the self interest of those in power. Asphalt put down, automobiles going somwhere fast , and gasoline taxes from one to the other is of great importance to remaining in office on the local, state and federal level. What ever good thought or planning comes out must pass muster from the big three (Asphalt, autos and gasoline taxes) for the little three (politicians, planners and DOT’s) to act in any way. [2c]
MC - for heaven’s sake - I hope Lincoln city father’s don’t get wind of this or they will want to try it! Oh guess they already did on Cornhusker Highway…
??? Are these high-level platforms??? Is it a really sharp curve, like a trolley loop???When MARC extended service (re-established service, really) to Frederick, MD, the end of the line is on a curve at the station. Doesn’t seem to be a problem there.
Is the Planning Commission paid…in some cities it is comprised of volunteers (though the lead commissioner is on city payroll)
And they still haven’t tumbled to the obvious solution. Low level platform at the original location.
MC, how true you state the situation. My butt still fits in a “CattleCar Airlines” last-class seat, but probably will have some spare room now. Geeeeeez.[(-D][(-D][(-D][banghead][oops]
(1) Low Level Platforms
(2) BNSF Curve in Boulder is in excess of 10 degrees, 30 Minutes (Originally 12 Degrees)…car overhang on 85 foot cars at the middle and ends is significant at a platform.
(3) planning commission is a whole herd of overpaid buttonpushers with apparently no common sense (which in Boulder is typical, they come from a different universe)[:D]
This reminds me of an episode in an Australian TV SitCom about an Olympics Committee called “The Games.” It aired on some PBS stations in the U.S. An engineer and a Committee official spent about half the show discussing how long the track for the 100-meter dash would be.
Well, you see you have to think like someone in Boulder to get this one. In Boulder hiking and other outdoor activites are really and I mean REALLY big. So to them the quarter mile hike might actually be a good and positive thing. I think what also might be a concern with the proposed site right now as well is the fact that there are two busy grade crossings nearby (Pearl and Valmont for those who know the area), so the actual train couldn’t be that long to start with in order to be clear of the crossings. If people are interested I will try to get up there this weekend and get some pictures to provide some visual aids for those who don’t know the area that Mud is talking about.
From beautiful Denver, Colorado where it is supposed to be 65 today, everyone have a fantasitc day!
Could be worse, out here our Green Line light rail system was sold to the city as being a link between downtown direct to the international airport, but if you take the Green Line, when it get over near the airport it turns south, AWAY from the airport and dumps you off a good mile away, where you have to schlep all your luggage onto a friking shuttle bus for the final leg…Stupid times 10!
They could install a moving sidewalk or a chairlift or a monorail to move passengers the extra 1200 feet. Or even better, they could install circus cannons at each end with big nets and shoot the passengers from one end to the other. Of course they’d have to weigh each person so that the cannon could be properly calibrated. [;)]
Yeah, I know. I work 1/4-mile from the Redondo terminal. I take this short hop on the Green Line to the LAX shuttle every few month. I’m the only one at my work who does that…everyone else either drives & parks near LAX, or rides the Prime Time Shuttle. Maybe Boulderians will show more support for their light rail system (even if it involves a 1/4 mile hike)
MP
I got some pictures of the line for you and everyone here, unfortunately since I just moved recently, I have yet to get internet up and running at the new place. Right now it sounds like I should have it by Thurs. or Fri. of this week and I will try to get the pictures up here right after that.
That really is a tighter curve then I remembered too, but then again that is probably the closest that I have been to it, aside from driving over the crossings.
At any rate the pictures are coming, it will probably just be a couple of days.[:)]
Yes that is always the solution of the pols. Make a error on purpose then to correct the error build a moving walkway for more millions. Make sure your favorite contractor gets the job. Sounds all to cozy for my taste.