note from Erin: I'm sending this in two parts, because it is too large
otherwise to post to Topics.
Hello all -
We received alot of very good nominations for the National Transportation
Map, and we had to make some hard decisions.
We have selected 18 "good" projects and 26 "bad" projects for inclusion.
Based on the information that was sent to us, we wrote very short 2-3
sentence blurbs that will be included on the front of the map. That is the
DRAFT text here that I am asking you to review. (Later on we will be
drafting text for the back of the Map as well as for the website.)
Also - if you think we have made a grave mistake by including or not
including a certain project, you are more than welcome to make your case to
us.
Which brings me to my last point. Neha Bhatt, the new National
Conservation Organizer for the Sprawl Campaign, will be taking over as
project manager for the Map. All corespondance from here on out should go
to Neha at [log in to unmask] as well as myself.
Thanks and look forward to hearing from you,
Melody
****************************
Map Text Draft #1
Blurbs Good
1. Denver Union Station (DUS) and Transit Links, Colorado
Government and citizen groups cooperated to create a project that counters
sprawl through transportation choices, provides affordable housing and
economic improvements, and preserves the historic character of the area.
Federal CMAQ funds purchased and restored DUS, including facilities for
bicyclists and pedestrians, a light rail line, and a clean-fuel shuttle bus
to serve downtown Denver and surrounding communities.
2. Hiawatha Light Rail Line, Minneapolis and Bloomington, MN
The 17-stop, 11.6 mile light rail line will connect the three largest areas
of development in the region, promote development on land already served by
transit, and provide a clean transportation choice for area commuters. The
Hiawatha stations are located close to 217,430 jobs, and the regional
transportation plan expects the line to serve 10 percent of regional
travelers by 2025.
3. New Orleans Canal Streetcar Line, New Orleans, LA
Trolleys will return to the streets of New Orleans after a 35-year absence.
The five miles of trolley service, which will operate on the median of an
existing roadway, will provide cleaner transportation than the bus service
it replaces. The project will increase local economic development and
improve transit ridership.
4. California High Speed Rail, Sacramento to San Diego, CA
Up to 220-mph high speed rail will provide a backbone for California's
transportation choices. The 700-mile line from Sacramento to San Diego
will reduce the need to expand San Francisco and Oakland airports and
provide citizens with a viable alternative to cars or flying. Most
portions of the line will run on existing track, which will preserve open
land and keep development centered to existing communities.
5. Main Street Light Rail Line, Houston, TX
A 7.5-mile light rail line will provide an affordable transportation
alternative for Houston residents, who have the most expensive
transportation costs of any city in the country and air quality that rivals
Los Angeles for pollution. The clean-energy project will create the only
rail transit in Houston and replace the diesel buses currently serving the
route.
6. Missoula in Motion, Missoula, Montana
The program, using federal CMAQ money, provides seven alternative
transportation choices to help Missoula residents leave their cars behind
on the commute to work. Vanpooling, carpooling, walking, cycling, bus
transit, and telecommuting relieve congestion on city streets and a
Guaranteed Ride Home project ensure that commuters are never left stranded
without a way to get home.
7. Charlotte Area Transit System, Mecklenburg County, NC
The integrated road and land-use plan designed by the city and county
encourages businesses and residential areas to utilize transit on five
major transportation corridors. A 25-year transit improvement program will
provide light rail, commuter rail, or bus rapid transit to all Charlotte
residents. Bus service will connect the outer corridors to enhance the
livability of the region and reduce auto dependence.
8. Route 50 Traffic Calming, Loudoun County, Virginia
Twenty miles of Route 50 will receive traffic calming upgrades that
stresses safety, economy, and historical awareness. Local government,
police, fire departments, and businesses all support the plan that reduces
speeding and aggressive driving while improving access for pedestrians and
motorists. Traffic calming provides an alternative to a four-lane divided
highway that would have pushed DC sprawl further into Virginia.
9. I-4 Mitigation Project Commuter Rail, Kissimmee to Deland, FL
Commuter rail would eliminate the need to build another bridge across St.
John's River and would take at least 2.4 million passengers off I-4 each
day. The rail would run on existing CSX rail line, and provide excellent
revitalization opportunities in downtown centers where these lines exist.
10. Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Rail (extension of Chicago Metra
service), WI
An expected 5000 daily passengers will reduce area traffic congestion as
they ride the new commuter rail line between Kenosha and Milwaukee. The
public-driven project does not require the building of any new roads, and
the rail line will use existing track. Sprawl will be averted and growth
will be directed to existing communities as cities along the rail line plan
transit-oriented-development to bolster economic revitalization and transit
utilization.
11. Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati Passenger Rail (3-C Rail) Ohio
The 3-C rail project would reduce the need to expand Ohio's highway system
while providing improved access to Ohio's cities. The rail corridor will
reach speeds of up to 110 mph and link Ohio residents with other Midwestern
communities. The line will include stops at shopping and residential areas
to make the line a convenient alternative to driving.
12. Anchorage Airport Access Projects, Alaska
A proposed train station at the Anchorage Airport combined with commuter
rail service would provide a much needed clean transit alternative to
access the airport. Rail service would also help those transitioning from
welfare to work get jobs at the airport by providing a reliable way for
them to get to work. Additionally, an intermodal transportation hub that
will take passengers from the port of Seward to the airport is nearing
completion. This project will save wetlands from being turned into parking
lots, and fewer cars traveling to the airport will help Alaska reduce its
air pollution.
13. Primary Corridor Transportation Project, Honolulu, Hawaii
The 32.2-mile system will carry 46,000 passengers a day to 31 stops between
downtown Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, the University of Hawaii, and area
beaches. The $648 million project includes $182.1 million from the New
Starts program. The project will service 8,613 low income households
within ½ mile of the stops, and will result in a 50,000 annual reduction in
BTUs and reduce by more than a 1/3 emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. More than 50% of the island's population and
80% of the island's jobs are located along the transit route, which will
encourage ridership and reduce the temptation to sprawl.
14. Massachusetts: North-South Rail Link (NSRL) project
The NSRL project would close the only gap in the east coast's intercity
rail system. A connection between North Station and South Station in
Boston would allow Amtrak's successful Northeast Corridor (NEC) Acela high
speed rail service to extend through Boston to benefit people in Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont and Canada. It would also significantly boost ridership
on the two commuter rail systems servicing metro Boston by connecting the
lines, which currently terminate at North Station and South Station
respectively.
15. Bus Route Improvements, Tempe, AZ
Using a dedicated one-half of one percent local sales tax approved by Tempe
citizens, the city is investing in several bus route improvements in order
to make the system more efficient, safe, and convenient. The project will
extend the hours of several routes and increase the number of buses on
others. Free bus routes that connect residential areas with business areas
and major activity centers are in the process of being added to the city's
transportation program. Alternative-fuel buses have been purchased, and
better bus shelters have been added to the system to encourage ridership
and improve the transit experience.
16. Blue Ball Improvement Project, Delaware River to Brandywine River,
Delaware
As part of the state's "Livable Delaware" initiative, walking and biking
trails will be added to the transportation choices available to residents
of northern Delaware. A storm water management system will protect water
quality for area citizens and improvements will be made to existing roads.
A trail system that separates vehicles and pedestrians will provide walkers
and bikers access to neighboring communities and parks.
17. Inner Purple Line, Washington, D.C.
The inner purple line would give DC commuters easier access to the city's
inner suburbs while directing growth to existing communities. It would
help those transitioning from welfare to work by providing better
opportunities to reach suburban jobs. The line would connect existing
metro stops and add new stations at regional employment, retail, business,
and college centers. The purple line would eliminate the need to widen the
Capitol Beltway, a project which would induce travel and encourage auto
dependence.
18. Park East Elevated Freeway Removal, Milwaukee, WI
The city of Milwaukee does not need the elevated Park East Freeway, and
citizen activists prevented the project from reaching completion. By
tearing down the freeway and redeveloping the land underneath it, Milwaukee
will generate hundreds of millions of dollars of investment. The mayor and
town council recognized that they cannot build their way out of traffic
congestion.
Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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