Ask Denver how they did it. (Pittsburgh, Allentown: sales, maintenance, sales tax)

[krogerDisco]

They've got a rail line from the airport to downtown Denver.

https://www.denver.org/about-denver/.../airport-rail/

So even in these times, it can be done. For one, it's $9 one-way. Worth it compared to other costs of travel, although they can take you to the place's door.

[Geeo]

Yes, it can be done. Around 2010, the people of the Denver regional transit district voted to increase their sales tax to raise the more than $4 billion needed for the transit system. And now they have a pretty good system of bus, light rail and commuter rail.

[rowhomecity]

I have to say I am really impressed with Denver's investment in public transit this past decade. Most of Denver is very auto oriented, outside of Downtown Denver their are very few walkable areas. But to see them make these investments is just amazing.


Here are the problems with Pennsylvania.

1) We are an OLD state.

2) Our infrastructure is VERY OLD. Where Colorado is a relatively new state so its infrastructure is much less old. When you have SO MUCH old infrastructure like PA, a good percentage of your budget goes towards just maintenance.


3) We have ALOT of infrastructure. Pittsburgh alone has more bridges than any city in the world. And while we have 2 large cities, overall the state is large and has a sizeable population throughout. This means that we have ALOT OF ROADS to service these rural areas. PA has more miles of roads than NY and New England combined. That is why a project like I - 576 makes me puke in disgust. Spending $550 million on a 13 mile road, that is 100% not needed. Think that money could of went to a rail connection from the airport to Downtown.

4) I think alot of the funding for that Denver project came during the Obama era, which was giving money to big transit projects. That funding is all but gone now.

5) Pennsylvania is actually ranked #5/#6 in transit funding in the USA. Again our issue is that our transit systems are so old, that maintaining the systems is SOOO expensive.

With that it 100% would be in the state's best interest to creatively fund some transit investments in 1) Pittsburgh 2) SEPA (southeast PA) 3) Harrisburg 4) Allentown. With that let's pray Wolf stays in office next year. Or I guarantee the Republicans will absolutely gut state funding for transit to 'solve the budget'.

[svband76]

Just look at the wasteful Mon-Fayette Expressway and now Southern Beltway and it makes me sick the amount of money thrown away on 1950's logic.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by rowhomecity

I have to say I am really impressed with Denver's investment in public transit this past decade. Most of Denver is very auto oriented, outside of Downtown Denver their are very few walkable areas. But to see them make these investments is just amazing.


Here are the problems with Pennsylvania.

1) We are an OLD state.

2) Our infrastructure is VERY OLD. Where Colorado is a relatively new state so its infrastructure is much less old. When you have SO MUCH old infrastructure like PA, a good percentage of your budget goes towards just maintenance.


3) We have ALOT of infrastructure. Pittsburgh alone has more bridges than any city in the world. And while we have 2 large cities, overall the state is large and has a sizeable population throughout. This means that we have ALOT OF ROADS to service these rural areas. PA has more miles of roads than NY and New England combined. That is why a project like I - 576 makes me puke in disgust. Spending $550 million on a 13 mile road, that is 100% not needed. Think that money could of went to a rail connection from the airport to Downtown.

4) I think alot of the funding for that Denver project came during the Obama era, which was giving money to big transit projects. That funding is all but gone now.

5) Pennsylvania is actually ranked #5/#6 in transit funding in the USA. Again our issue is that our transit systems are so old, that maintaining the systems is SOOO expensive.

With that it 100% would be in the state's best interest to creatively fund some transit investments in 1) Pittsburgh 2) SEPA (southeast PA) 3) Harrisburg 4) Allentown. With that let's pray Wolf stays in office next year. Or I guarantee the Republicans will absolutely gut state funding for transit to 'solve the budget'.

The bold is untrue. In Denver, as in most of Colorado and most western states, virtually every area has sidewalks. Virtually all of the city is walkable, and most of the suburbs are as well.

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by rowhomecity

With that let's pray Wolf stays in office next year. Or I guarantee the Republicans will absolutely gut state funding for transit to 'solve the budget'.

Much of the transportation budget already goes to SEPTA, as does a lot of the new gasoline tax which PA is now the highest in the nation at $.58 per gallon. HIGHEST. All supposedly for road, and bridges but instead SEPTA gets a lot of it. Wolf is a JOKE.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

The bold is untrue. In Denver, as in most of Colorado and most western states, virtually every area has sidewalks. Virtually all of the city is walkable, and most of the suburbs are as well.

I have no idea if Denver is walkable or not, but having sidewalks isn't sufficient to demonstrate walkability.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

I have no idea if Denver is walkable or not, but having sidewalks isn't sufficient to demonstrate walkability.

It's certainly a criteria. One reads about sidewalks or lack thereof on this forum a lot:

Originally Posted by gladhands

Are there sidewalks?

Just how does one define "walkable" anyway?

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

Just how does one define "walkable" anyway?

It has to do with having things close enough together that you can do normal activities such as commuting or shopping by foot.

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

It has to do with having things close enough together that you can do normal activities such as commuting or shopping by foot.

Denver is "walkable", and has a good downtown commercial district.

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