Friday, July 16, 2010

State wants passenger trains to Toledo and Pittsburgh, too

State wants passenger trains to Toledo and Pittsburgh, too
Engineering firm will study new routes
Thursday, July 15, 2010  04:21 PM
By Matt Leingang

ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS -- Toledo and Pittsburgh are among the next cities that Ohio wants to connect as part of its developing passenger rail project, state transportation officials said today.

The state has signed a $7.8 million contract with an engineering firm to study new routes that would branch off from Ohio's marquee federal stimulus project -- a $400 million rail system with 79 mph trains connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati beginning in 2012.

The contract with AECOM, a Los Angeles-based company that has worked on California's planned high-speed rail system, will determine routes for a future 110 mph service on four corridors: Detroit-Toledo-Cleveland, Cleveland-Pittsburgh, Toledo-Columbus and Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati.

READ MORE AT:
 
 
Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org
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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Federal $$ OK'd for WestShore Corridor Alternatives Analysis

GREAT NEWS!! This is the first step in the federal transportation planning process for a project to become eligible for federal construction funds. This announcement is courtesy of the:
 
LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE &
WESTSHORE COMMUTER RAIL TASK FORCE
 
Federal Grant Approved for Phase I Alternatives Analysis!!!
 
The Federal Transit Administration has approved a federal grant of $343,000, bringing the total to $428,750 to pay for Phase I of the WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Alternatives Analysis Phase I!! 
 
Here's how the funding breaks down, especially for the local funding partners....

NOACA                        $ 34,600
Lake Erie Shores & Islands     10,000
GCRTA                           5,000
City of Avon                    5,000
Lorain Port Authority           5,000
Downtown Cleveland Alliance     5,000
West Shore Rail Task Force      3,800
                               ______
Subtotal                     $ 68,400
In-Kind Contribution         $ 17,350  (non-Federal amount of projected staff hours)
                               ______

Total Local Contribution     $ 85,750 (20% of total)

Total Federal Contribution  $ 343,000 (80% of total)

Total For Phase 1
 of Alternatives Analysis:   $428,750

 
Since shortly after its establishment in 1996, the Lorain County Community Alliance (LCCA) has been actively involved in seeking to identify and implement cost effective regional transportation investments that will speed travel and improve multi-county access and mobility within the WestShore Corridor. This Transportation Project is centered at the City of Lorain in Lorain County, Ohio and extends west to Sandusky, Ohio in Erie County and east to Cleveland, Ohio in Cuyahoga County.
 
Alternatives Analysis Phase I will study a range of alternatives including:  no build, TSM, road improvements, express bus, bus and rail rapid transit and commuter rail.
 
Thank you to Congresswoman Betty Sutton, Federal Transit Administration, Lorain County Commissioners, Lorain County Community Alliance, WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force, NOACA, Lake Erie Shores & Islands, City of Avon, Lorain Port Authority, Cleveland Alliance, RTA, All Aboard Ohio!, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, and the many individuals and organizations who continue to move this project forward! Check FACEBOOK for the complete list of supporters and current updates. 
 
Follow along on FACEBOOK and Twitter and participate in discussion on this exciting project. FACEBOOK at WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force and Twitter at Twitter.com/WCRTF
 
 
Coming soon….. WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Website: www.ridewestshore.com
 
Feel free to contact Dr. Hintz or myself if you have any questions.
 
**Next Alliance Meeting is Friday, August 6, 9:00 a.m. @ the Lorain County Administration Building
 226 Middle Ave. Elyria.
 Topic is "STORMWATER UPDATE"
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Virginia Haynes
Co-Chair,
WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force
Administrative Coordinator
Lorain County Community Alliance
226 Middle Ave. Room 515
Elyria, Ohio 44090
440-328-2362
vhaynes@loraincounty.us
www.lccommunityalliance.com
 
"Partnerships for the Future"
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Rail service revitalizes towns with stops, Maine expert says

Rail service revitalizes towns with stops, Maine expert says
By Jessica Holbrook, Staff Writer
9:04 PM Wednesday, July 14, 2010

A passenger rail line through the Northeast U.S. has revitalized towns and created jobs, but relies on state funding to keep rolling, a rail service expert told a Springfield audience Wednesday, July 14.

That summary was the message for Springfield city officials at a forum Wednesday held to drum up support for a passenger rail system in Ohio.

Patricia Quinn, director of the Downeaster rail service — a passenger rail line between Boston and Portland, Maine — said the train system has benefited her region.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-news/rail-service-revitalizes-towns-with-stops-maine-expert-says-811918.html
 
Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org
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What's so conservative about federal highways?

What's so conservative about federal highways?
By William S. Lind
 
Conservatives do not like public transportation—or so libertarians and Republican officeholders tell us. If that means we must spend hours stuck in congested traffic, so be it. Under no circumstances would conservatives ever ride public transit.
 
Except that we are riding it, in growing numbers. Studies of passengers on rail-transit systems across the country indicate many conservatives are on board. Chicago's excellent METRA commuter trains offer one example. A recent survey revealed that in the six-county area METRA serves, 11 percent of commuters with incomes of $75,000 or more commuted by train. In Lake County, the mean earnings of rail commuters were more than $76,000. (The figure for bus riders was less than $14,000.) Not surprisingly, the area METRA serves regularly sends Republicans to Congress.
 
So why are conservatives using the public transportation we are told they oppose? Because being stuck in traffic isn't fun, even if you are driving a BMW. On a commuter train or Light Rail line, you whiz past all those cars going no-where at 50 or 60 miles per hour—reading, working on your laptop, or relaxing, instead of staring at some other guy's bumper.
 
READ MORE AT:
 
 
Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org
Posted by at

What's so conservative about federal highways?

What's so conservative about federal highways?
By William S. Lind
 
Conservatives do not like public transportation—or so libertarians and Republican officeholders tell us. If that means we must spend hours stuck in congested traffic, so be it. Under no circumstances would conservatives ever ride public transit.
 
Except that we are riding it, in growing numbers. Studies of passengers on rail-transit systems across the country indicate many conservatives are on board. Chicago's excellent METRA commuter trains offer one example. A recent survey revealed that in the six-county area METRA serves, 11 percent of commuters with incomes of $75,000 or more commuted by train. In Lake County, the mean earnings of rail commuters were more than $76,000. (The figure for bus riders was less than $14,000.) Not surprisingly, the area METRA serves regularly sends Republicans to Congress.
 
So why are conservatives using the public transportation we are told they oppose? Because being stuck in traffic isn't fun, even if you are driving a BMW. On a commuter train or Light Rail line, you whiz past all those cars going no-where at 50 or 60 miles per hour—reading, working on your laptop, or relaxing, instead of staring at some other guy's bumper.
 
READ MORE AT:
 
 
Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org
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See you at the Pizza Crawl August 3rd from 6-9pm

Everyone –information about 5th by Northwest First Annual National Night Out Pizza Crawl is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 3 ~ check it out at www.fifthbynorthwest.org or on Facebook under “Fifth by Northwest”! Sounds like it is going to be BIG!! We are finalizing details and will have the whole packet of information ready for distribution soon – but wanted to provide you with a “sneak peek” as to all of the great activities that are going to be kicking off starting at 6pm @ Kroger’s side - parking lot and going from there to Sprano’s, etc.! We will have the fire department, possibly a dunking booth, police officials, and much more there on hand to make it a fun opportunity to walk our neighborhood! More to come! So, bring your bikes, wear your walking shoes – and be prepared to walk the ‘hood! The 5th X NW neighborhood – that is!

 

Fifth by Northwest National Night Out August 3rd!

0 comments

Posted by admin on Jun 30, 2010 in Crime and Safety, News And Events | 0 comments

Fifth by Northwest National Night Out August 3rd!

On Tuesday, August 3rd, neighborhoods throughout Columbus are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “27th Annual National Night Out” (NNO) crime and drug prevention event. The Fifth by Northwest Area Commission will be sponsoring the National Night Out for our area. It is also sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and will involve over 14,624 communities from all 50 states, US territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, over 36.7 million people are expected to participate. NNO 2010 is being supported in part by TARGET, a national corporate sponsor.

Our goal for the evening’s activities throughout Fifth by Northwest is get our residents out and about, walking and biking, meeting each other and unifying against crime.

We want to offer you the opportunity to be involved in the National Night Out in two simple ways.

  • Display a poster in your office, store or restaurant so residents, customers and colleagues are aware of the evenings festivities. If you have a Facebook page, Twitter or Linked In account, be sure to post our info there.
  • Be present! Residents will be walking around Fifth by Northwest the evening of August 3 from 6-9PM. Will YOU be there, too? What can you to show our residents that you are a part of this community and unified with them against crime in a creative, unique way? Are you a dog groomer or vet? Maybe you can offer pet photos. Are you a landscaper? Give a demonstration on how to properly trim hedges so burglars can’t hide there. Maybe you just want to offer free hot dogs or balloons or play games. Great! Let us know what you want to offer at your location during the National Night Out, and we’ll be sure to include it on our map of activities. Keep in mind that the National Night Out is a family-FRIENDLY, but not necessarily family-FOCUSED event, so feel free to be creative with your participation.

There will be planned events and block parties all throughout Fifth by Northwest. There will even be a PIZZA CRAWL highlighting the 10+ locally owned pizza establishments in Fifth by Northwest! All of this activity designed to get our neighbors out and about, meeting each other and unifying against crime. We hope you’ll join us.

If you are interested in becoming a part of our 2010 National Night Out, (and we certainly hope you are), please reply to nno@fifthbynorthwest.org at your earliest convenience. Of course, we will include details of your participation on our promotions for your kindness.

http://www.fifthbynorthwest.org/wp-content/plugins/simple-forum/styles/icons/ash/bloglink.pngJoin the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

 

 

 

Hi everyone,

 

The Pizza Crawl promotions are posted on the website and the Facebook account, and has been scheduled to tweet (Twitter has been terrible the past few days). The complete National Night Out promotional packet is not available yet because I have a few things to add to that post and flyer before I’m comfortable adding it. I hope to finish those things Thursday and post it on Thursday, then send you back and email when it has been done.

 

Getting there!

 

Quick question – does anyone have a connection with a dunk booth operator, and / or a mobile karoke operator who might come out at no cost?

 

Angie Meeker

www.angiemeekerdesigns.com

Twitter/angiemeeker

614.353.0633

 

Becky Obester

Financial Associate

TS Finance

614-217-1399

614-516-8577 (Mobile)

 

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

US is borrowing to subsidize driving

And neither of these two articles below discusses the oil subsidy that's hidden in the defense budget.  The Department of Defense has estimated that if the cost of keeping the 6th Fleet in the Persian Gulf were collected from users of motor fuel (as it should be), gasoline in the U.S. would sell for about $8 a gallon.  Those sailors are not keeping the sea lanes open to make sure Americans get an adequate supply of figs and dates. 
  
  
 
Tax truth: We need to raise the levy on gasoline
Thursday, July 8, 2010
SUMMER DRIVING season is upon us. This year, the annual migration of vacationers coincides with rising concerns over the federal debt and a nasty oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. What better time to revisit the enduring, maddening, illogical contrast between how little Americans actually pay to drive -- and how fiercely they resist even modest gasoline tax increases that would go a long way in addressing the nation's environmental and fiscal crises?
By any measure, driving in the United States is cheap. The price of a gallon of regular gasoline averaged about $2.70 during June. That's up almost a dollar since the depths of the Great Recession in December 2008. But the price has been steady for about a year, and adjusted for inflation it is 66 cents per gallon less than it was in 1980. Gas prices have had their ups (the $4-a-gallon spike in mid-2008) and downs (the consistently low prices of the late 1980s and 1990s). Overall, though, driving today is substantially cheaper, in real terms, than it was about a generation ago. In fact, it's cheaper than it was at the end of World War I. Government forecasts suggest prices may rise slightly over the next year.
READ MORE AT:
______________
 
Gas taxes give us a break at the pump
By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY 7/2/2010
 
When drivers hit the road in large numbers for the Fourth of July holiday, they will have something extra to celebrate — the lowest gasoline taxes since the early days of the automobile.
Holiday drivers will pay less than ever at the pump for upkeep of the nation's roads — just $19 in gas taxes for every 1,000 miles driven, a USA TODAY analysis finds. That's a new low in inflation-adjusted dollars, half what drivers paid in 1975.
...The nation's roads are increasingly financed by other taxes and borrowing. The federal stimulus plan set aside $26.7 billion for roads, most of which will be spent by year's end.
 
 
Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org
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