Comments on: Long Range Planning http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/05/31/long-range-planning/ Mass Transit's editor, Fred Jandt, speaks weekly on critical issues facing the public transportation industry. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:44:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Gunnar Henrioulle http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/05/31/long-range-planning/#comment-377 Gunnar Henrioulle Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:20:16 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/05/31/long-range-planning/#comment-377 Tahoe Valley Lines too, has tried to look at the big picture. Local circulation in the Lake Tahe Basin, engineered to accomodate not-too distant rail access from outside the Lake environs. "A Clean Transportation System Capable of Hauling Passengers & Freight"... So said an academy award winning, popularly elected President- in July 1997at the Lake Tahoe environmental Summit. Later, at the UNR Workshop sessions, Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater repeated that very rail- sounding phrase. They both seemed to believe "Parallel Bar Therapy" is needed. Tahoe Valley Lines is thinking ahead to an Electric Interurban System, modernized to use renewable source energy, and linking two capital cities, Sacramento CA, & Carson City NV. via the US 50 Corridor. Handy hydropower enroute; lots of solar & windy too! Readers can investigate a boilerplate mission statement in The Association For The Study Of Peak Oil & Gas, Newsletter 42, article 374. (http/www.peakoil.net) Discuss this approach in your respective locales! EVERY transit/transport official needs to include Peaking Oil & Global Warming ramifications in the planning, and their respective staffs so directed. All Americans need to be included in a robust information outreach that will, in no uncertain terms, make it clear that "Something Extraordinary Is Afoot". Tahoe Valley Lines too, has tried to look at the big picture. Local circulation in the Lake Tahe Basin, engineered to accomodate not-too distant rail access from outside the Lake environs. “A Clean Transportation System Capable of Hauling Passengers & Freight”… So said an academy award winning, popularly elected President- in July 1997at the Lake Tahoe environmental Summit. Later, at the UNR Workshop sessions, Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater repeated that very rail- sounding phrase. They both seemed to believe “Parallel Bar Therapy” is needed.

Tahoe Valley Lines is thinking ahead to an Electric Interurban System, modernized to use renewable source energy, and linking two capital cities, Sacramento CA, & Carson City NV. via the US 50 Corridor. Handy hydropower enroute; lots of solar & windy too! Readers can investigate a boilerplate mission statement in The Association For The Study Of Peak Oil & Gas, Newsletter 42, article 374. (http/www.peakoil.net) Discuss this approach in your respective locales!

EVERY transit/transport official needs to include Peaking Oil & Global Warming ramifications in the planning, and their respective staffs so directed. All Americans need to be included in a robust information outreach that will, in no uncertain terms, make it clear that “Something Extraordinary Is Afoot”.

]]> By: Clay Schofield http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/05/31/long-range-planning/#comment-374 Clay Schofield Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:46:29 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/05/31/long-range-planning/#comment-374 Long range planning can also be in scope; looking past your town line. Big picture transit planning did not exist here on Cape Cod - the towns would figure out what they wanted and tell the RTA to run it. The result was, as a region, things were not well thought out. 5 years ago a "Task Force" of people not usually in the same room together developed a 5 year plan which has started to make a difference. It has helped establish a regional route on the Outer Cape http://www.theflex.org that is starting it's second year and has become an example for other areas of the Cape. The planning also unlocked funding through unconventional sources and continues to provide opportunities that would have been missed. Definitely worthwhile. Long range planning can also be in scope; looking past your town line. Big picture transit planning did not exist here on Cape Cod - the towns would figure out what they wanted and tell the RTA to run it. The result was, as a region, things were not well thought out.

5 years ago a “Task Force” of people not usually in the same room together developed a 5 year plan which has started to make a difference. It has helped establish a regional route on the Outer Cape http://www.theflex.org that is starting it’s second year and has become an example for other areas of the Cape. The planning also unlocked funding through unconventional sources and continues to provide opportunities that would have been missed.

Definitely worthwhile.

]]> By: Norman Mars http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/05/31/long-range-planning/#comment-370 Norman Mars Thu, 31 May 2007 21:12:58 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/05/31/long-range-planning/#comment-370 Amen on the days being cluttered with all sorts of meetings, calls, emails, etc., etc., etc.! But planning is esential if we are to survive. It's hard to take that step back and view the big picture, but it's absolutely necessary. Amen on the days being cluttered with all sorts of meetings, calls, emails, etc., etc., etc.! But planning is esential if we are to survive. It’s hard to take that step back and view the big picture, but it’s absolutely necessary.

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