Comments on: Real stimulation for only $25 billion http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123 Audacious Ideas is a blog created to stimulate ideas and discussion about solutions to difficult problems in Baltimore. Each week, we will ask individuals to think candidly and audaciously about what can be done to promote opportunity, achievement, health and prosperity in our city. Open Society Institute-Baltimore believes that discussion and debate are critical to making positive, lasting changes. We see this as a testing ground where ideas can be considered and discussion can be fostered. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:25:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Klaus Philipsen http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-4336 Klaus Philipsen Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:57:26 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-4336 yes Otis, and along with building a first class transit network here and connecting the Baltimore and the DC metro regions we need to grow Baltimore back to 850,000 people and stop non sustainable land use patterns in the outskirts which destroy our countryside and farms and make transit impossible. yes Otis, and along with building a first class transit network here and connecting the Baltimore and the DC metro regions we need to grow Baltimore back to 850,000 people and stop non sustainable land use patterns in the outskirts which destroy our countryside and farms and make transit impossible.

]]> By: Nancy Haragan http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3990 Nancy Haragan Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:43:10 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3990 Hey, Otis. Can you get the Mayor and County Executives together and agree that we should create a regional taxing district/authority to support a world class regional transit system just like the Maryland suburbs of DC have had these many years? If we bring regional clout that will help get the Feds attention as well. Sometimes you have to show you really mean business by doing things for yourself. Hey, Otis. Can you get the Mayor and County Executives together and agree that we should create a regional taxing district/authority to support a world class regional transit system just like the Maryland suburbs of DC have had these many years? If we bring regional clout that will help get the Feds attention as well. Sometimes you have to show you really mean business by doing things for yourself.

]]> By: Otis Rolley III http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3988 Otis Rolley III Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:18:30 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3988 Elie Sollins has asked how people can get involved with this vision? First I would ask that you go to www.cmtalliance.org and sign up. I would also ask that you go to www.t4america.org. Transportation for America is a national coalition trying to make sure that federal funds, whether from the stimulus or the new transporation reauthorization legislation to come later this year, are spent responsibily and strategically. CMTA will keep you tied in with what you can do in this region and T4America will help to direct your actions regarding the federal funds we need to move the vision from rhetoric to reality. Elie Sollins has asked how people can get involved with this vision? First I would ask that you go to http://www.cmtalliance.org and sign up. I would also ask that you go to http://www.t4america.org. Transportation for America is a national coalition trying to make sure that federal funds, whether from the stimulus or the new transporation reauthorization legislation to come later this year, are spent responsibily and strategically. CMTA will keep you tied in with what you can do in this region and T4America will help to direct your actions regarding the federal funds we need to move the vision from rhetoric to reality.

]]> By: Jay Gillen http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3984 Jay Gillen Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:23:26 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3984 Way to go, Otis!! You are completely right. And an often unrecognized, but crucial benefit of high quality public transportation is the opening up of real education for poor students and families. All intellectual awakenings--in Ancient Greece, Islamic North Africa, Renaissance Italy, and the Harlem Renaissance, just to name a few--coincide with huge bursts of travel and the mixing of people who previously were kept separate. Go for it!! Wonderful idea! Way to go, Otis!! You are completely right.

And an often unrecognized, but crucial benefit of high quality public transportation is the opening up of real education for poor students and families.

All intellectual awakenings–in Ancient Greece, Islamic North Africa, Renaissance Italy, and the Harlem Renaissance, just to name a few–coincide with huge bursts of travel and the mixing of people who previously were kept separate.

Go for it!! Wonderful idea!

]]> By: bdc http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3983 bdc Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:21:20 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3983 I do think that mass transit is a great idea. However, I really question the amount of jobs - "If the US Department of Transportation is correct that every $1 billion invested in transit and highway capital improvements creates or sustains 47,500 jobs, this plan alone could mean 1,187,500 jobs created or sustained in Central Maryland." That number seems way too high. I do think that mass transit is a great idea. However, I really question the amount of jobs – “If the US Department of Transportation is correct that every $1 billion invested in transit and highway capital improvements creates or sustains 47,500 jobs, this plan alone could mean 1,187,500 jobs created or sustained in Central Maryland.”
That number seems way too high.

]]> By: Thomas Casey http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3982 Thomas Casey Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:17:53 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3982 As a middle aged, lifelong Baltimorean I have watched Baltimore squander numerous opportunities for real mass transit. It's time to move forward. It's time to stop viewing transit as a welfare program and see the benefits for the entire community. As a middle aged, lifelong Baltimorean I have watched Baltimore squander numerous opportunities for real mass transit. It’s time to move forward.
It’s time to stop viewing transit as a welfare program and see the benefits for the entire community.

]]> By: Elie Sollins http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3981 Elie Sollins Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:28:43 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3981 Thank you Otis...how can people get involved in this vision? Thank you Otis…how can people get involved in this vision?

]]> By: Julie Gabrielli http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3980 Julie Gabrielli Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:02:27 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3980 Thank you for bringing a sane perspective to this. Personal transportation generates 20% of U.S. greenhouse gases annually. Switching to public transportation for one day can reduce one driver’s CO2 emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year. Since each of us needs to reduce our carbon emissions by about 90%, we need a wide variety of options and transit is key. Thank you for bringing a sane perspective to this. Personal transportation generates 20% of U.S. greenhouse gases annually. Switching to public transportation for one day can reduce one driver’s CO2 emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year. Since each of us needs to reduce our carbon emissions by about 90%, we need a wide variety of options and transit is key.

]]> By: Kevin Zeese http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3979 Kevin Zeese Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:47:52 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3979 Yes -- transit should be the centerpiece of greening Baltimore and surrounding areas as well as economic development. There would be so many multiplier effects from a transit system that worked that it would be a short and long-term economic stimulus. It is time for big ideas and this is one of them. Baltimore and surrounding counties need to be ready to push for transit funds out of the federal stimulus and to push O'Malley to stop spending on new sprawl roads like the ICC in Montgomery County which do more harm than good. Yes — transit should be the centerpiece of greening Baltimore and surrounding areas as well as economic development. There would be so many multiplier effects from a transit system that worked that it would be a short and long-term economic stimulus. It is time for big ideas and this is one of them. Baltimore and surrounding counties need to be ready to push for transit funds out of the federal stimulus and to push O’Malley to stop spending on new sprawl roads like the ICC in Montgomery County which do more harm than good.

]]> By: Steve Ziger http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123&cpage=1#comment-3978 Steve Ziger Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:53:13 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=123#comment-3978 I absolutely agree, Otis. And another benefit would be freeing up for development, open space, or higher density a lot of land currently used for parking. This could help make our cities more livable, provide additional stimulus and generate tax revenue. Other countries already do it so much better than we do. I absolutely agree, Otis. And another benefit would be freeing up for development, open space, or higher density a lot of land currently used for parking. This could help make our cities more livable, provide additional stimulus and generate tax revenue. Other countries already do it so much better than we do.

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