Story Assignment: Editorial (Tip - Reference the Harrower text on editorials)
400 Words, TNR, 12 PF, 1" M
Headline
(no deck)
Byline
(no dateline)
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* * * Must reference two (2) sources (research) * * *
Assignment: Write an editorial on the Boise Trolley (proposed downtown rail loop)- take a position for or against and argue passionately. Do your research (examples below) - and write with conviction.
http://www.newwest.net/city/article/boise_trolley_faqs_our_future_as_americas_most_livable_city/C108/L108/
http://www.compassidaho.org/documents/comm/articles/streetcar.pdf
DUE DATE: WEEK 8, March 11th, by 11:59 P.M., e-mail, and post.
We need more than a streetcar
ReplyDeleteBy Lindsey Hileman
There is no doubt that Boise’s public transportation system is ineffective in its current state. But it’s not just the city of Boise that is in need of a public transportation makeover, it’s the entire Treasure Valley or what is known as the Boise metropolitan area. A streetcar looping three miles through downtown is not the answer and it will surely be a waste of almost $60 million.
According to 2010 census bureau data, Boise’s population of 205,671 is only about 35 percent of the total population of the Boise metropolitan area at 585,207. It can be assumed that since Boise is the epicenter, that many if not most of the other 379,536 people travel to Boise on a regular basis for work or play. It is doubtful that once these people have already driven all the way in from whichever suburb they came from, that they will see a value in parking their car and riding a streetcar that will only take them in a three-mile loop. Before we start moving people in a circle around a small area of downtown, we need a better way to get those people in from the outskirts.
A transit system resembling BART (Bay Area Transit System) that brings millions from surrounding cities into San Francisco everyday could do wonders for the Treasure Valley. This would be a cleaner way for thousands to commute work each day and reduce the need for the never-ending widening of I-84 to accommodate the growing number of commuters. Once a line is built, there will less need for continued widening because train cars can be added easily.
Downtown Boise businesses are not the ones in desperate need of an increase in property value; it’s the residential areas surrounding Boise such as Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell that need the boost. Since the real estate bubble burst these areas have been slow to recover and it’s no wonder. With home prices at their lowest in almost 10 years right in the heart of Boise accompanied by high fuel prices, why would anyone want to buy a home 20 to 30 miles away from all the action? Having a clean, inexpensive way to get from surrounding areas into Boise would likely inspire people to start moving back out to these surrounding areas.
Though the current streetcar plans have a much lower up-front costs than a larger metro transit system, the economic benefits of a larger system would be exponential.
Lindsey Hileman is a Boise State student majoring in English with a minor in communication. She can be reached at LindseyHileman@u.boisestate.edu.
Fix What’s Broken First!
ReplyDeleteBy Marijane Weitensteiner
A streetcar circling parts of downtown Boise would be a big mistake and waste of the $60 million dollars that it is going to cost. By looking at both the New West Boise Trolley FAQ article and the Idaho Business Review article it is easy to see where the money is coming from and the thought process of why the trolley is trying to be built, but this is not the right way of going about this process. If they really want to use the $60 million dollars effectively they should look at fixing the transportation system that is already in place such as the Treasure Valley Ride Line Bus system that covers not only Downtown Boise but Meridian, Caldwell and Nampa areas as well. Yet this bus system doesn’t effectively cover these areas and the schedule of the same system makes it hard to catch connecting buses in the hours between 10am, when the morning rush hour ends, and 3pm, when the evening rush hour begins. While the buses that serve the whole Treasure Valley operate in three to four hour increments, not exactly the best way to connect the whole Treasure Valley especially when the bus routes are continually being cut or changed according the Treasure Valley Ride Line website.
The current transportation system is not as effective as it could be especially if the government would use the $60 million dollars to improve the bus system and maybe use the train tracks that have not been used for years to improve the transit system and connect not only Downtown Boise but all of the Treasure Valley and maybe even beyond. If the government would take this into consideration then maybe they could not only use the $60 million dollars effectively but could end up making money and revitalize Downtown Boise. With a better transit system people and tourists would be more likely to use it to get from one place to another. In the current state of things not even the trolley program being developed for just Downtown Boise would be an effective solution to this problem, especially if it costs more to ride the trolley instead of the bus. If the local/state government wants to revitalize Downtown Boise they need to find a different way than just placing a circling train set in the middle of Downtown Boise for people to use.
Marijane Weitensteiner is a student at Boise State University and can be reached at marijaneweitensteiner@u.boisestate.edu.
Intra City Circulation
ReplyDeleteBy Megan Reece
The idea of Boise’s newly proposed downtown trolley system sounds a bit like a child’s wish for a train set under the tree on Christmas day. City planners say the new multi-model system will improve transportation for 40,000 city employees, and make downtown businesses more accessible to local buyers.
A multi- modal center will be built for the downtown circulator. City planners hope non supporters of the Trolley project will then begin to acknowledge Boise’s need for the new streetcar. There is talk, at this point, of adding a high capacity corridor along I-84. This light rail system would transport commuters from as far as Caldwell into the multi-modal center in downtown Boise.
City Council member Elaine Clegg said money for the project would come from both federal and city sources; then property owners within three blocks would be taxed by the Local Improvement District (LID). Idaho law 50-2601 stipulates the right of Idaho municipalities to create LIDS, and Business Improved Districts (BIDS). The project, going from south to Main Street, and east on first, would cost fifty-five million dollars.
How traffic would flow, the way street lights would run, establishing water and geothermal lines beneath downtown Boise streets are issues facing city planners. It’s estimated that the project will take six months to a year to complete. This would include a three mile figure eight route, running west down Idaho street from first to seventeenth, then east down Bannock to tenth, south to main street, and end on east first. Many potential bus riders would use the Valley Regional Transit (VRT) system if there was a streetcar in downtown Boise, but fear the route would change, or the stops would be moved. Due to the rising prices of gasoline, people are becoming more interested in mass transit.
For a city as big, or as little as Boise- is a trolley, railcar, or mode of mass transit the right decision to make right now? A 2005 downtown mobility study showed that it is not the right decision for Boise at this time. Valley Regional Transit (VRT), and Community Planning Association of Southwestern Idaho (COMPASS), suggested the city try out a ‘rubber wheeled’ circulator before committing to a streetcar project. Despite this assessment, city planners look forward to implementing the streetcar, as it would improve the environment by substituting for cars on the road, create jobs, and grow the economy.
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), billions of dollars became available through Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER), a discretionary grants program. Boise City did apply for a piece of the 1.5 billion dollar grant signed into action by President Obama in early 2009. In February of 2010, they were denied their chunk of the pie. Instead fifty- one larger cities like Chicago, and Portland received grant money to improve their local rail ways.
Although it is sad to see the cities big dream of a more urban form of transportation dismissed; perhaps a quick sense of reality has set in; that the city must be bigger, and have a need for big transit before city planners take their efforts away from unfinished freeway construction to focus on trains under the Christmas tree- so to speak.
Megan Reece can be reached at http://bsu273.blogspot.com/2011/02/week-7-story-assignment-editorial-on.html
Boise Trolley; A much needed change or a waste of money?
ReplyDeleteBy Shantel Darrah
BSU Student
There was a recent proposal for downtown Boise to have a trolley system. With a trolley system downtown it is believed that Boiseans and tourists would make it easier to get around downtown since a car wouldn’t be needed.
But are the benefits of a trolley system downtown worth $60 million?
The Downtown Policy Advisory Committee decided to pursue the idea of the Trolley having a “figure-eight” route of about 3 miles and would take about 3 years to complete. The trolley would be similar to Portland’s streetcar system.
City Counsel woman Elaine Clegg said the funding for the Trolley would partially come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Obama signed early 2009 and partially from a levy tax on businesses along to route under the Local Improvement District.
With the proposal, the Trolley system in question is using Portland streetcar as an example of how it would help improve the local economy downtown Boise. What the proposal doesn’t recognize however is the population difference between Boise and Portland.
According to the City Data, the population in Ada County in 2009 was 205,707 while the population in Portland Oregon in the same year was 566.141. With the population more than double in Portland, it’s no wonder why the streetcar would benefit them as much.
Also, Tri-Met the transportation system in Portland. paid for two-thirds of the cost for the streetcar in Portland because it also helped people get better access to use the Max in Portland.
With this in mind, the hope for the “downtown circular” dwindles slightly. Boise does not have other means of public transportation that thrive as much as the Max in Portland to attract more users toward the Trolley. Boise also does not have the population to support such a system, especially with most of the 205,707 people living on the outskirts of Boise.
The bus system in Boise is not adequate to bring people from the outer lying areas into downtown to use that Trolley that would allow them to completely forgo using their car to get downtown.
In order for this system to work, Boise needs to first improve the public transportation it already has. And perhaps look into a light rail system that would bring people from Meridian, Nampa, and even Caldwell that would lessen the traffic in I-84
Shantel Darrah can be reached at 426-1000 or at shanteldarrah@u.boisestate.edu
Is a Trolley Car System in Boise Necessary?
ReplyDeleteBy: JOE ROSS
The city of Boise is looking into putting in a fixed route streetcar system in the downtown area. Experts feel that the trolley car system can bring new energy to the downtown life.
The trolley car project will cost the city $55 million according to the Idaho Business Review.
The project needs more consideration until the trolley system will be built in the downtown area. 2012 is the expected opening of the trolley cars. The trolley would run west down Idaho St. from 1st to 17th, then east down Bannock to 10th, south to Main St. and east to 1st.
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has applied $40 million to the trolley car project and is in full support of the project according to KBOI2 News.
The project is intriguing to say the least, but lies many questions. There is alot of money being invested in to the trolley project, there is a total of $60 million being put in to the whole process. It lies the question is $60 million worth a project like this? $60 Million could go to highway projects, improved public bus transportation, or downtown parking.
There are positives that are clear in the trolley car project. The project will allow for public access during late night hours. This could avoid people from driving under the influence of alcohol. People would have a more affordable job to get back near the University and surrounding area. The cost of using the trollies would be cheaper than the use of taxis. Trolley cars will require a conductor to operate the cars, which will create jobs for people. The use of the trolley cars can reduce work traffic and reduce the overall traffic volume in downtown Boise.
A project like this will have many pro's and con's. This project's positives outweighs the negatives. The trolley cars can create a unique feature to the downtown scene, create jobs, and create a new buzz. It will be interesting to see if the project gets finalized and passed. As of right now the project is still in the air, but it will most likely happen than not.
Joe Ross can be reached at 208 426 9175
joeross@u.boisestate.edu
Boise Streetcar; Good for Everyone
ReplyDeleteBy: James Snyder
In a city like Boise with a less than stellar public transportation, new options are becoming a necessity.
The city is faced with the issue of whether installing a streetcar in downtown Boise, which would eventually travel as far as Nampa and Caldwell, would be a benefit for the community. Without a doubt, the system would decrease congestion, cut down on emissions, and prove economically advantageous to those citizens needing to travel for work or personal business.
In 1908, the city had a downtown trolley system that was quite well received by the public, but due to the steady rise of the automobile interest dwindled. Today, in a much more environmentally concerned society, the interest could be the same as it once was.
The proposed three-mile route would travel in a figure-eight shape starting east on Idaho St. between 1st and 17th St., then travel east down Bannock to 10th St., finally south to Main St. and then east to 1st St.
The downtown area is a hot bed of local and corporate businesses all of which require business from the public in order to prosper. According to some local transportation planners, the permanence of a streetcar stop increases the property value all along the transportation route, thus generating capital in a depressed economy.
Within the limits of downtown alone there are over 40,000 jobs, all of which have employees taking lunch breaks daily and running errands. With a streetcar in place, these individuals would be able to leave their cars, thus conserving fuel and cutting down on dangerous emissions.
Senator Krapo, in a move to try to create a larger transportation system, seeks the start up of the Amtrak Pioneer Line, which will bring individuals to the train depot where they can then catch the streetcar to any part of downtown. Instead of having to deal with peak hour traffic, those needing to commute can catch the daily train, cutting down on congestion. The current bus system in place is not able to reach out to the surrounding cities.
The city of Boise has great potential for a transportation infrastructure that travels throughout the majority of the region. By starting with the downtown, the beginning of a much-needed shift towards a more efficient city has begun.
James Snyder is a student reporter at Boise State and can be reach at (208) 426-1000, or dukesnyder1@u.boisestate.edu