Metro is determined to put Westpark rail line down Richmond
This West U Examiner story has more information on Metro's proposed Richmond Ave. rail line:
It looks as if it will be later than the announced date of Nov. 1 for the Metropolitan Transit Authority to announce a final route for its east-west rail line, but it remains almost certain Richmond Avenue will play a large part in whatever's decided.
"I don't want to contradict what my boss has told you, but that (Nov. 1) is just three weeks away," John Sedlack, vice president of Metro said at a meeting of the Richmond Avenue Coalition on Oct. 5. "It (a decision) will take into next year."
Two weeks earlier, Frank Wilson, Metro president, told a similar gathering of mostly Neartown residents the date would stand, despite not having an environmental impact study in place and a preliminary engineering analysis having only recently begun.
Although less emphatic about the route running down Richmond than Wilson, who said on Sept. 9, "You do a project on Richmond or you don�t do a project," Sedlack said little to bolster the hope of merchants along the avenue that the previously favored Westpark Drive option might still be alive.
"We haven't decided where the route will be," Sedlack said. "We believe the most direct route involves Richmond Avenue."
He cited the need to provide a connection from the Main Street line at Wheeler Street to the Greenway Plaza area, because of Greenway�s large workforce. He also mentioned the heavily attended services and events at the new Lakewood Church as a contributing factor.
"The closer you put the system to where people are going, the more people you are going to serve," Sedlack said.
Sedlack's last quote there is amusing. Sure you can build the line where the people are, but as the Main Street Line proves, you can't force people to ride it, even when you cut bus routes to feed riders to it. Metro has yet to figure out this basic principal.
For several of the about 75 people attending the town hall meeting at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1805 W. Alabama Ave., that is too close.
"My business will be sacrificed if light rail goes down Richmond," said Larry Skiles of Image Pro, 2024 Richmond Ave. "I see nothing but apathy from the people planning the light rail."
[snip]
Sedlack said the route would be determined with property seizure as "an action of last resort," saying Metro has used eminent domain as an option fewer than 10 times in the last 20 years. "We'll negotiate and relocate."
Several in attendance expressed concerns about increased traffic congestion, both during and after construction, and the potential creation of a "dead zone" between the line and U.S. 59, because of the inability of motorists to turn left onto or off of Richmond Avenue. Sedlack tried to reassure them.
"We must maintain access for subdivisions," he said. "We can't close complete intersections."
[snip]
Sedlack said stations for a Richmond Avenue line would likely be placed at Montrose Avenue, in the Kirby Drive-Shepherd Drive area, at Greenway Plaza and at Weslayan Street.
Renamed the University Corridor route rather than the Westpark Corridor on a map showing potential routes dated Aug. 24, the route is scheduled to begin service in 2012.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 10/13/05 08:34 PM | Print |
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