Comments on: fast busses are not street cars http://cjwn.net/news/2008/02/20/even-fast-busses-are-not-really-street-cars/ News and events for the Carver, Jackson Ward, Gilpin, and Newtowne West neighborhoods of Richmond, Virginia. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:50:40 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Scott Burger http://cjwn.net/news/2008/02/20/even-fast-busses-are-not-really-street-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-622 Scott Burger Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:44:01 +0000 http://cjwn.net/news/2008/02/20/even-fast-busses-are-not-really-street-cars/#comment-622 In a nutshell, fast busses are cheaper than streetcars. Its understandable, given the more pressing priorities faced by the City- street and sewer maintenance, schools. (VCU should be contributing to the City's streetcar efforts!!!!)However, its also true that much of economic benefit that comes with the commitment of fixed rail may be missed. What is most important is that the routing is designed for the overall benefit of Richmond citizens. Far many years, all we kept getting was proposals for 'historic trolley replicas' that were designed mainly for tourists using the Convention Center. What a waste! I support BRT, but as many say- the devil is in the details. In a nutshell, fast busses are cheaper than streetcars. Its understandable, given the more pressing priorities faced by the City- street and sewer maintenance, schools. (VCU should be contributing to the City’s streetcar efforts!!!!)However, its also true that much of economic benefit that comes with the commitment of fixed rail may be missed.

What is most important is that the routing is designed for the overall benefit of Richmond citizens. Far many years, all we kept getting was proposals for ‘historic trolley replicas’ that were designed mainly for tourists using the Convention Center. What a waste!

I support BRT, but as many say- the devil is in the details.

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