[TriLUG] OT: your RTP commute? my office is relocating to

[tomed at bellsouth.net]

On a nationwide level, I believe he did. It was the decision to roll
back the New Starts program for the entire nation that ended up
killing federal funding for the TTA. This was the deciding factor as
to federal funding. The Triangle rail project had already qualified
under the old standards.

Whether or not the new standards were more realistic, it's odd that a
project that had already finished environmental impact, property
acquisition, and engineering was not grandfathered. This policy was
nationwide, not just TTA. Some projects were grandfathered, and
qualified under the old standards, due to strong political
support. Our senators declined to go to bat to get the Triangle
project grandfathered.

Before New Starts was "tightened" up, the Bush administration went on
a PR blitz to get the localities applying for funding under New Starts
to drop rail altogether, and take a rubber/asphalt approach to public
transportation, arguing that rubber/asphalt is more cost effective and
requires less capital investment. I'm sceptical as to the
administration's motives, but they are so secretive and tightly
disciplined it's hard to know what they really want. Any other
administration, there would have been leaks, resignations, etc. I
believe that there was a direct cause-effect between the failure of
the PR blitz and the subsequent adjustment of New Starts standards,
but that's just because the one happened after the other.

Anyway, my statement as to Bush and TTA was oversimplified and
trollesque, please pardon.

Tom Ed

At Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:30:28 -0500,
Andrew C. Oliver wrote:
> 
> Really?  George W get's personally involved in local transportation
> projects?  I guess it takes his mind of Iraq...
> 
> I thought it was that we have two senators who did not support the
> project, the did not file the paperwork in time for preferred federal
> status and waning public enthusiasm....combined with federal
> skepticism that the cost would serve enough people (seeing the train
> misses some of the most obvious stops)...
> 
> http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A37141
> http://www.newsobserver.com/243/story/534406.html
> 
> I'm no bush-fan but umm I highly doubt that he had a lot to do with
> this.
> 
> -Andy
> 
> Tom Ed White wrote:
> > Hey! As a regular TTA user, I say, don't blame the TTA for the rail fiasco
> > (although they did make their share of blunders.) The denial of funding
> > can be traced directly to our democratically elected president, George
> > W. Bush.
> >
> > Strangely enough, Charlotte got funding for a similar project, for 
> > totally arbitrary reasons.
> >
> > Tom Ed
> >
> > At Tue, 6 Mar 2007 11:19:59 -0500,
> > David McDowell wrote:
> >   
> >> I currently reside near Gorman/Tryon for those curious with a similar
> >> route.  I'd really hate to relocate.  My condo mortgage is dirt cheap
> >> and I've invested some energy and $$ customizing it, taking away the
> >> plain builder ugly, making it HGTV spectacular!  :)
> >>
> >> I've also looked at Tryon > 64W > 55N, but it seems a bit out of my
> >> way, certainly better than 40.  What's more, if I'm going to head down
> >> around that way, I might as well put 540 and tolls in the forefront of
> >> thought... not a good idea, thus why some of us are spearheading an
> >> attempt to get the public involved.  Carpooling is another potentially
> >> good idea.  It is a shame the TTA couldn't get things straight and get
> >> the regional rail project underway, I'd ride that to this new location
> >> from NCSU daily and love it!!  *sigh*
> >>
> >> I'll definitely be able to join some folks for lunch who I currently
> >> cannot!  :)  I hope the cheesesteak at Randy's Pizza is as good as I
> >> remember 4 years ago.
> >>
> >> thanks everyone,
> >> David
> >> http://www.notollson540.org
> >>
> >> -
> >>
> >>
> >> On 3/6/07, Greg Brown <gwbrown1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>     
> >>> How about carpooling with someone in the area?  Maybe three or four?  Reduce
> >>> your carbon footprint and lessen the traffic disaster on 40.
> >>>
> >>> Greg
> >>>
> >>> On 3/6/07, John Mitchell <john280z at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>       
> >>>> Whoops, I seem to forget RTP goes below I-40.
> >>>> http://www.waywelivednc.com/maps/historical/rtp.htm
> >>>>
> >>>> johnm
> >>>>
> >>>> On 3/6/07, John Mitchell <john280z at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>         
> >>>>> On 3/6/07, Tanner Lovelace <clubjuggler at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>> ilug.org> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It is RTP.  It is the very western edge of RTP right next to Durham.
> >>>>> You can tell it's RTP, though, by the street signs there.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>    I am now confused. Google showes Triangle Dr in Durham South of 54
> >>>>> which is South of I-40. That should be very South of RTP in my book.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>    At least I will have some lunches with David after the move, just
> >>>>> South of 54 on 55.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> john mitchell
> >>>>>
> >>>>>           
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