tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post901164946919193612..comments2023-10-08T04:12:46.273-05:00Comments on The Political Environment: Amtrak, Streetcar Benefits Denied To WI, Affirmed ElsewhereJames Rowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-78082681575483937672014-04-22T10:19:52.275-05:002014-04-22T10:19:52.275-05:00Anonymous: More people than retires ride public tr...Anonymous: More people than retires ride public transit... that doesn't even make sense. <br /><br />Also, Milwaukee proper and metro are both larger than Tuscon proper and metro. <br /><br /> Jeradnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-80399473043985367332014-04-22T08:49:06.849-05:002014-04-22T08:49:06.849-05:00Milwaukee could have a street car but the problem ...Milwaukee could have a street car but the problem is that the downtown streets have too much traffic on them. The buses can sort of get out of the way but the street car has to run where the rail is.<br /><br />Milwaukee might benefit from a street car under the following conditions:<br /><br />- Wisconsin Avenue is closed to all vehicles except street cars<br />- the CNW right of way is reclaimed back from a trail and is used to run a street car up to UWM<br />- The street car runs down Canal Street to Miller Park<br /><br />You could make an argument for running to the airport but the Amtrak Hiawatha will take you from the airport to downtown for $7.50 (cheaper than a cab!).<br /><br />As for the higher-speed rail from Chicago-Milwaukee-Minneapolis, it could happen with track upgrades. Chicago and North Western and Milwaukee Road both did that route in about 6-1/2 hours. Note, however, they did not stop in Madison. The Burlington bypassed Milwaukee and Madison entirely.<br /><br />Passenger rail is becoming more and more popular each year. Even in the "old days", passenger rail was not profitable, and we should not expect it to be, but it is an alternative that is growing ever more popular, and our proximity to Chicago means that it is a viable alternative to driving or flying for certain destinations.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01101997877132441862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-12393158817940349532014-04-21T15:47:49.521-05:002014-04-21T15:47:49.521-05:00Sorry James, It's. just not practical for a co...<i>Sorry James, It's. just not practical for a cold small city.<br /></i><br />which explains why Milwaukee never had a streetcar system in the past.<br /><br />Oh, wait, it did have one.zombie rotten mcdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10601960953323752278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-29152641737654582552014-04-21T14:47:13.924-05:002014-04-21T14:47:13.924-05:00Hey Anonymous, update your talkingoints. Californi...Hey Anonymous, update your talkingoints. California is not broke...sonoma badgernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-75190504100937482752014-04-21T13:44:55.723-05:002014-04-21T13:44:55.723-05:00We spent a couple of months in Tucson this winter ...We spent a couple of months in Tucson this winter and were very excited to see the streetcars and their 'test drives' in the city. Beautiful machines garnered lots of interest as they slid quietly down the street. Of course, Milwaukee should offer such transportation. Hey Anonymous, not to get into it too deeply, but governments fund corporate welfare all the time. Streetcars might actually help all of us little guys!Betsynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-71366690754621588152014-04-21T13:01:58.592-05:002014-04-21T13:01:58.592-05:00But Cincy and KC are moving ahead, as is Norfolk a...But Cincy and KC are moving ahead, as is Norfolk and Charlotte. Light rail here is stopped by politics, not weather or population.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-54193388318756419712014-04-21T12:46:31.819-05:002014-04-21T12:46:31.819-05:00Milwaukee is not in California, and not nearly as ...Milwaukee is not in California, and not nearly as broke.<br />Milwaukee is not in Arizona, where people retire or snowbird to.<br />Milwaukee could not support this government funded corporate welfare.<br />Sorry James, It's. just not practical for a cold small city.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com