One of the purposes of Social Action for Transit is to give people a voice who cannot go to a lot of meetings. One of our members will go and then report back. This is our first report.
Chet went to a meeting hosted by the Five Points Business District about the decision of RTD to not build a connection between 30th and Downing and the DIA commuter rail line. We were hoping that the meeting would focus on ways to get this light rail line built, but it was a speech by Phil Washington, the General Director of RTD.
Chet reported the following main points from this speech:
1. RTD had never promised to extend the light rail line north from 30th and Downing
2. RTD has to report each year to DRCOG which oversees what they do. Mr. Washington did not clearly explain what DRCOG is.
3. Current projects will end in 2014/2016.
4. Every year FasTracks can change.
5. The market will dictate what we build next.
Chet commented that we would get a better return on investment if we invested in poorer areas, that we should invest in ten small businesses rather than one big one. He is right.
1 comment:
From even a geometric perspective, not extending the light rail up to the East line is incredibly short-sighted. The business focal point of the CBD is around 17th and California, right where the light rail line exists. Many business travelers coming from the Airport are destined for locations near the focal point of the CBD. While the journey could be completed by staying on the East line train one more stop to Union, then transferring to a shuttle bus, the trip would take somewhat longer and involve out of direction travel. Having them transfer at 38th/Blake to the light rail would provide a quicker ride that brings them closer to their destination. Of course, the question is if upper-class business travelers would transfer to the light rail train through the "bad" neighborhood.
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