1115 replies to this topic

[btoy]

I am under the impression that they will not be adding a side by side line but sharing the exsisting lines.

[btoy]

I talked to someone at GDC about this today.  CSX and Norfolk Southern have both agreed in Principle sharing the Norfolk Soutern lines (not get the right away but the exsisting track as well) and weather or not this happens has more todo with if Greer can afford it or not.  If it happens, which I understand it has a pretty good chance, it would be in like 5-7 years.

Another issue being worked out is who would get the land being freed up, and how that would be handled.

[Greenville]

I realize that NYT already mentioned this in another thread, but I thought I would also post the link in this thread:

http://www.greenvill...EWS01/511130317

The article is about light rail in Greenville, potentially within the decade.  Good read!

[gsupstate]

Greenville, on Nov 14 2005, 12:00 AM, said:

I realize that NYT already mentioned this in another thread, but I thought I would also post the link in this thread:

http://www.greenvill...EWS01/511130317

The article is about light rail in Greenville, potentially within the decade.  Good read!

Great article!

[tooluther]

The best part about the highspeed line is that it would provide away for me not to have to make that horrible drive to Greenville from Clemson twice a week for my internship.

But at the same time, being able to get from Greenville to Atlanta and Clt so fast would make the sprawl from those cities creep into the upstate much faster than it already is.

[jarvismj]

You know, I never thought of it that way. The only real way to prevent sprawl is to have a much stricter form of government locally. Otherwise, the state legislature won't do a thing about it. SC politics disgust me.

[upstate29650]

The prospect of light rail here is exciting, indeed.  However, just like the extention of bus service to Mauldin & Simpsonville, I can't help but feel this is another tax grab.

However, I think light rail would have more riders than the aforementioned bus service.  I know I'd ride it.

[monsoon]

So assuming the cost to build this line is about $400M.   What options are there locally for coming up with $200M to cover the local portion?  Would the state kick in any money?

[upstate29650]

monsoon, on Nov 17 2005, 08:21 AM, said:

So assuming the cost to build this line is about $400M.   What options are there locally for coming up with $200M to cover the local portion?  Would the state kick in any money?

The state is cash strapped as it is.  I predict the creation of a local transit tax district (or the expansion of the current one), as well as muni bonds to pay for it.

Again, tax, tax, tax.  If it does come down to this, I also predict local voters will kill it off.

[monsoon]

upstate29650, on Nov 17 2005, 10:22 AM, said:

Again, tax, tax, tax.  If it does come down to this, I also predict local voters will kill it off.

What is different about the people of the upstate than say the people in Charlotte/Mecklenburg 90 miles away where they did vote for a mass transit sales tax?  That tax has made it possible for the city to have started construction of its first light rail line.

[csedwards72]

monsoon, on Nov 17 2005, 11:30 AM, said:

What is different about the people of the upstate than say the people in Charlotte/Mecklenburg 90 miles away where they did vote for a mass transit sales tax?  That tax has made it possible for the city to have started construction of its first light rail line.

In Charlotte, (i) traffic is worse, (ii) business leaders have really pushed for it (the big banks' heads have a lot of influence, and one of them is very pro-downtown development/mass transit, and (iii) there aren't as many anti-tax/pro-libertarian advocates in Charlotte as in G'ville.

[upstate29650]

monsoon, on Nov 17 2005, 10:30 AM, said:

What is different about the people of the upstate than say the people in Charlotte/Mecklenburg 90 miles away where they did vote for a mass transit sales tax?  That tax has made it possible for the city to have started construction of its first light rail line.

Case & Point:  Last week, voters in Pickens County (Greenville suburb), voted against a 1% sales tax increase for schools.

Local voters said no to taxes for schools.  You expect them to vote yes for a transit initiative? (yes, I understand they're in a different county, but mindsets do transcend borders.)

Charlotte's traffic is worse than Grenville's.  I think we can agree on that.  if we're ever to get light rail here, it would take a private company paying a hefty portion of it, and I can't see that happening.

[monsoon]

Charlotte's voter's also just turned down a huge bond issue for schools.  I don't think the two are related.

[gsupstate]

Would depend on if the vote is Greenville City or Greenville County (if city, probably yes, if county, probably no).

[upstate29650]

monsoon, on Nov 17 2005, 10:53 AM, said:

Charlotte's voter's also just turned down a huge bond issue for schools.  I don't think the two are related.

Look at it this way: I don't think most people here think transportation has reached a "critical mass".  That being said, I'd think if given a choice, more people would vote to fund schools over light rail.

Sure, two different issues, but it still speaks to people's views as a whole, which is....we're being taxed too much!

[RestedTraveler]

And we already did vote to fund schools.  We're beginning to see the fruits of our bond issue(s) here as construction on new schools and rennovation of older schools (nearly every school in Greenville County is being replaced or rennovated) is well under progress (and finished, in many cases).

I like the results I'm seeing.  Now if we could just do something about teacher salaries and the quality of teaching in public schools...

[gsupstate]

upstate29650, on Nov 17 2005, 10:44 AM, said:

Case & Point:  Last week, voters in Pickens County (Greenville suburb), voted against a 1% sales tax increase for schools.

Local voters said no to taxes for schools.  You expect them to vote yes for a transit initiative? (yes, I understand they're in a different county, but mindsets do transcend borders.)

There is a vast difference in the way Pickens County would vote and Greenville County (more so if it was Greenville City).  See RT's note above about Greenville County and schools.  Greenville County voted a few years ago to pour large amounts of money into it's school system and it's paying off!  

[Chickenwing]

I live in Greenville County, and I would be in favor of a light rail/mass transit initiative. I am not, however, in favor of more funding for schools.

I would go into how I feel about the school system, but this is about mass transit, so I will save that for another time and another thread.

I wish the uncertainty about the north-south rail line would come to an end. The groups that are trying to buy it to reopen it are making a mistake in trying to have a rail line for industry that is no longer there, and not coming back. The community as a whole would be better served by a 10-15 year plan to use this as a light rail line, while currently using it as a walking trail. This would create a reason to redevelop some of the old industrial areas along the line into new/future TODs. Which I think in turn would make the whole idea of the line more appealing.

[upstate29650]

I don't quite understand the idea of running any light rail north of DT Greenville.  It would make more sense, IMO, to run it east, towards Taylors & Greer.

[RestedTraveler]

Rail Service into the Northern Part of Greenville County has some historical significance, so unless you've been here a long time, it could be difficult to understand this.  I only know of it through reading articles in the two newspapers that serve Travelers Rest.  At one time passenger rail service extended to Marietta, SC (north of Travelers Rest).

Although I can't see passenger service needed in Marietta, I can see a North-South line terminating in Travelers Rest, for sure.  This would benefit residents of this part of the county (which is growing very fast, although not at the same rate as Simpsonville, Mauldin, or Greer).  It would also be of benefit to the students at Furman University.  Additionally, it would benefit the residents of other parts of the county by providing them with an alternate means to visit the foothills without driving.

I still prefer the use of these Rights of Way for Rails-to-Trails though.  However, if by some chance, there is room for both light rail and Trails along these Rights of Way, I think this would definitely be something that would benefit our entire community and enhance our overall health and quality of life.    I could definitely envision people riding light rail from Simpsonville to Travelers Rest and bringing their bikes along and then riding back, too, if you can imagine.

Edited by RestedTraveler, 17 November 2005 - 06:18 PM.