I want to believe there’s a special place in Hell for city planners who build light rail and bus systems that don’t include a way for people to get from downtown to the airport.
I envision a portal out of hell within sight of their punishments but separated by impassable obstacles. Various demons offer to take them there, always demanding more money than they have on hand.
These cities should serve as a crushing rebuke to people who don’t think that city governments are all that corrupt.
Majorca | 06-Aug-08 at 2:08 am | Permalink
I take it you’ve just had a bad experience – where?
M's Fan in CO Exile | 07-Aug-08 at 12:07 pm | Permalink
Does this reference Denver? Just so you know, the airport lightrail leg is part of Fastracks – a light rail expansion that was voted on and approved in the last big election. The line going to the airport is supposed to be done in 2012. Of course, RTD is already preparing us for the inevitable return to the well for more money than was approved – citing rising fuel and material costs. The location of the airport was undoubtedly chosen in the midst of serious corruption issues, favoring land developers and the government officials responsible for the decisions. I can’t speak to corruption issues on Fasttracks, but Denver just won best Transportation District in the country for 2008.
All things considered, I wish Seattle was where Denver is in terms of public transportation.
By the way, there are pretty cheap shuttles and an RTD bus ( the bus is $11 per person at most, I believe) going from the airport downtown. http://www.rtd-denver.com/skyRide. Of course there are only designated areas at which to be dropped off, but a couple of the routes will get you to the light rail and where you want to go.
King Rat | 20-Aug-08 at 6:30 pm | Permalink
Eh, I’m personally of the opinion that having rail transit from an airport to wherever should not be the highest priority when adding that mode of transport. First thing to do is cover the routes that will get the most commuters off the roads.
Evan | 26-Aug-08 at 12:23 pm | Permalink
Vancouver, BC is just building the airport link now (for the looming Olympics). They built the light rail for the World’s Fair in 1986, and they added a seemingly pointless loop to it in 2000, but only now are they extending it to the airport.
Calgary does the same thing, though in that case it’s a matter of the city council being in the pocket of the taxi commission.