AJC takes a balanced look at rail
What is the cost of commuter rail?:
[T]he seven proposed lines could require $1.5 billion in total start-up costs and $89 million in total annual operating expenses to benefit about 20,000 commuters.The article is fairly balanced and is worth a read, no matter your stance on the issue.
Ten years of operation costs is $890 million, plus the $1.5 billion start-up cost is $2.39 billion. Divide that by 20,000 riders and you're looking at a cost of $119,500 per rider.
The number of riders, given the size of the population in Metro Atlanta (5.3 million people), is pathetic and the operation costs would almost certainly property tax increases in towns (potentially counties) along the line. Given the current debate over property taxes in Georgia, I don't know if that is politically feasible.
There simply isn't enough money to go around. Legislators need to get creative on transportation projects, and I'm not talking about tax increases. I'm talking about either more public-private partnerships or complete privatization of some major roads and highways to alleviate the burden on taxpayers.
Comments
In the minds of the politician who are for the most part being financed by the developers 119,500 per rider is not a lot to pay as it would surely give them 20000 votes to return them to office and given the last election here in HC that is more than double the voters who turned out and in essence told the government "go ahead and do what you want,we don't care"
Legislators only know one thing and that is tax the citizens and if it ain't enough raise their tax.
Don
Posted by: don | August 31, 2008 07:08 PM
Don, they will raise the tax and hide the tax. They will take the whole pie if we let them.
The Doctor
Posted by: The Doctor | August 31, 2008 10:28 PM
The ARC voted this past weeek for the approval of TPB 20 year transit and bike plan that would cost $2.4 Billion a year for 20 years, just to build.
FYI the total current budget of GDOT is $2 Billion a year for Maintenance, operation, new capacity, roads, bridges, and yes transit and even bike paths.
Money is no object. All we need is to find some new revenue sources. HUMMMMMM.
Also the 20,000 riders are really only 10,000 round trip and that is for several rail lines not just the Lovejoy line which is only 1200 riders.
GDOT is currently in talks with Norfolk Southern to update the costs of the Lovejoy line because those numbers being used where made in 2005 and the costs has gone up. Furthermore, they have no additional funds for the extension to Griffin even at 2005 numbers nor do they have any funding source for the Maint. and Oper.
No federal money can be spent until after the show a viable and deicated funding source for the ongoing maint and oper for a 20 year period.
Posted by: Rep Davis | September 1, 2008 01:11 PM
Maybe if we increase the money twenty-fold to $48B, we can get 24,000 cars off of the interstate. Just think, a 10% decrease in traffic for under $50B. What a bargain!
It doesn't really matter what the cost is. Removing 1,200 cars per day does no good at all. Unless somebody can come up with a plan for 20, 30, or 40,000 riders per day on the Lovejoy line, commuter rail is absolutely useless.
On the other hand, if we increased freight use of rail enough to remove some of the trucks, then that would be beneficial.
Posted by: Joe | September 1, 2008 06:00 PM
Did I elect any of the fARCe members,other than Jason Harper?
I guess I thought we elected folks to represent us not think for us.
Just this afternoon I ask my granddaughter what she thought about a rapid rail system and the first thing she said was "how would you pay for it papaw"? of course she is only in the 2nd grade.
Where do these morons trying to run the government come from Millidgeville?
Don Henderson
Posted by: don | September 1, 2008 06:14 PM
Don, my friend they come from right here in greedville. Rep. Davis is right that the numbers are nearly four years old and those numbers will not stand up in todays market. That rail line is bad thinking on a lot of fronts.
The Doctor
Posted by: The Doctor | September 1, 2008 09:20 PM
Doc
One of the things I don't understand about the governmental bodies that give only lip service and seldo