No New Downtown Surface Parking

[cynical]

Downtown Portland has a parking challenge that is eased by the free rail trolley service that operates there. Once you're in the area, getting around is easy. The light rail service between downtown and outlying areas helps as well.

[nathanm]

TA, I totally agree with you on that last post. It's ridiculous that it's not seen as government interference when it enforces sprawl, but when it comes to merely even allowing urban development it's the dirty hippie liberals trying to force everybody into a 9th floor walkup studio apartment.

Just wondering your all's opinion. Do you think Tulsa should focus on a regional rail plan (think Dallas DART) or a local rail (urban trams/streetcars).

Personally, I'd like to see the trolley first, followed by some commuter rail and intercity rail. Having a circulator downtown with a line running down Peoria to 41st or so would provide an excellent link between DT, Cherry Street, and Brookside. With that in place, you can easily expand the system to the east and hopefully get some of the midtown folks who work downtown used to the idea of commuting other than in their car. If it's all about me, I want the old line to the fairgrounds put back in.

[Red Arrow]

I agree with circulator trolley first.  It could connect with parking away from the prime downtown real estate.  An Interurban service with no way to get around at the destination will probably fail.

[jacobi]

But we could just add an assessment on surface parking because it really does cost downtown.

(sorry I'm just now catching up on this thread)

Amen!  And we should use those assement funds to pay for the trolly service!

[Red Arrow]

This is along the lines of what I've heard about adding highway lanes. It rarely actually reduces congestion.

It generally moves congestion closer to the destination.  If the dispersal of traffic at the destination is insufficient, traffic will back up as before.