Rail service?

We’re back to mass transit - this time with emphasis on the proposed "rail service" proposed for the "northeast corridor."

Considering what we have heard recently, we’re troubled by a lack of specificity about this part of the proposal.  The "Summary Report on Transportation Alternatives in Central Indiana," published about two years ago by the Central Indiana Transit Task Force (CITTF), refers to "passenger service on existing freight rail lines."

This is in addition to the generally widened use of busses, and of "light rail," in other areas.  We understand light rail to be the equivalent of what used to be known as street cars.  The report, and a follow-up press release from a year ago, gives no indication of the kind of equipment to be used on these "existing freight rail lines."

There is no indication as to whether this would be single, self-propelled units or something resembling a train of cars.  We have heard that the vehicles - individually or severally? - will make use of Cummins power units.

We are particularly disturbed by other information which we have heard is under serious consideration.  We certainly would be happy if someone officially connected with CITTF would verify or specifically deny the following concept.

The distance between Noblesville and Union Station is said to be 21 miles.  The proposal is that distance will be covered, by whatever type of vehicle is used, in 21 minutes on a rail system at grade level.  The 21 minutes will include 12 stops.  If each stop, not including losing and regaining speed, is 30 seconds, that is 6 minutes out of the actual travel time.  Our little hand calculator tells us that covering 21 miles in 15 minutes would require an average speed of 84 miles per hour - through a dense urban area with grade crossings at every street.

Quite frankly, we’ve thought of the possibility that someone is spreading this story in order to make the CITTF look ridiculous.  As a matter of fact, we do hope that is the case!

The CITTF report cited is 30 pages.  We saw no specific estimate of the cost of this particular part of the proposed expenditure of $1.3 billion for the entire program.

A table labeled "Figure 8" on page 15 of the report estimates a "9.9% rate of Return on local investment" for the entire recommended proposal - rail, bus, etc.. One more question.  Are these the same people who have supported the "investment" of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars downtown where the "rate of return" has left the municipal budget in a shambles?

Comments

[Jiim Fuquay]

This essay raises a lot of good questions. As a proponent of light rail service for key transportation routes for the entire city I am hoping the planners have their act together. We need to be informed citizens about the details, costs, and rational for any planned transit system. I plan to do some investigating on my own after reading this essay. Keep shining a light on this and related issues. Your efforts are appreciated.

[Gene Poole]

Subsidy = crass transit

[Louis C.]

Light Rail in Indy is a waste of money. My journeys have taken me to cities such as London, Paris, Chicago and DC all have great rail systems. They do have one piece Indy lacks now a bus system that connects with the Rail System. It makes no sense to have a Rail System that dumps you off and then you have no or a poor bus system to move you further,

We have a terrible Public Transportation System here. There should be a complete look at Public Transportation in Indy. Yes, it would cost more money.

However, I have lived in Indy long enough that I have lost count of the number of times 465, 70 on the East side and the area around Castleton have been re-constructed. Then we have the ongoing and never ending road project on West 465. Public Transportation by comparison has been starved.

[Gene Poole]

Ever wonder if there's "real money" exchanged between cronies in those perpetual public projects?

[Jim Fuquay]

This is in response to Louis C. reply. I think Louis makes a great point about the crappy bus system we have in Indy. I too have been to many US cities with great public transportation systems--Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, and Washington, DC. These cities have "integrated" systems in that the light rail ties into other modes of transportation. That is why Indy/Marian and the surrounding counties need a well-thought out and more comprehensive plan rather than a half-assed one that simply involves on linear route from downtown to the NE. Such a line might be good place to start but the rest of the system would have to fall into place within a reasonable amount of time. The voters need a complete picture before they will be willing to commit the dollars needed.