Joined: Tue 18 Oct 2005 08:49 Posts: 56062
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Se doreste introducerea transportului ecologic cu troleibuze in anul 2013, in localitatea Spokane (Washington), cu culoare separate doar pt. vehiculele electrice (TrolleyBus Rapid Transit). On promises of economic development, Spokane moves forward with $36 million Electric Trolleybus
The Spokane Transit Authority board Wednesday night unanimously approved moving forward with plans for a three-mile long Electric Trolleybus line in downtown Spokane
The Electric Trolleybus line would cost taxpayers $36 million dollars, some of which would have to be paid for by a sales tax increase in Spokane.
Washington Policy Center expressed four concerns with the electric trolleybus (shown above); (1) the cost, (2) the ridership, (3) the coolness factor and (4) the fact there is a better option.
Cost. The Electric Trolleybus will cost $15 per vehicle revenue mile to operate, and up to $9 million per mile to build. STA officials expect the total cost to build the system would be $36 million.
The Enhanced Bus option, on the other hand, would cost $7 per vehicle revenue mile to operate and approximately $4 million per mile to build for a total cost of $12 to $14 million. When it comes right down to it, the Electric Trolleybus will cost more than twice as much as the Enhanced Bus option. The research does not indicate it will result in twice the benefit. In fact, there is zero analysis to even show ridership would be higher if STA did nothing.
In addition, there is little evidence that economic development would arise from the presence of an Electric Trolleybus. There are many instances around the country where economic development was promised, but not realized. One example is Portland, where the Portland streetcar was supposed to spur $8.5 billion worth of economic development. That hasn't happened. What we've seen, though, is that transit officials in Portland have credited every construction project at Portland State University to the streetcar line, as if there would have been no construction at the university without it. Transit officials also credit the streetcar with an $11 million dollar underground parking garage at a church. Perhaps this actually was because of the streetcar. The system removed on-street parking usually used by the congregation, and the church had no other choice.
In most cases, subsidies usually cause the new development, not transit.
Ridership. WPC believes public policy makers should know how many people will use this type of system before any decision is made on a mode. Right now, STA officials say 1,600 people per day use bus service along the proposed route. But they don't know how many people would use the new system. Because the system costs twice as much, it is not unreasonable for taxpayers to expect that the new trolleybus would transport twice as money people.
There is currently no evidence to suggest an Electric Trolleybus will increase ridership along the proposed route. Without an increase in ridership, valid questions arise about a need for such system.
WPC believes it is not smart public policy to base decisions on what some people might determine to be cool. Spending decisions should be based on objective public need and performance.
A better option. WPC believes STA officials and the City of Spokane would better serve citizens by building an Enhanced Bus system.
Contrary to popular belief, the Enhanced Bus system is not your typical bus. These systems have street stations like other lines, where customers pre-pay for their tickets. They have dedicated lanes and create less impact on the environment, less disruption to neighborhoods and functions at significantly lower cost, in this case, than an Electric Trolleybus.
These systems have been very successful in Everett and Eugene, areas that replicate Spokane's density.
The Enhanced Bus (shown in other cities above) option would serve just as many customers, at less than half the cost, and would provide increased service to downtown Spokane. WPC believes and the research shows the Electric Trolley bus will do nothing more than add to the cost of transit in Spokane.
But now that the STA board has decided to move forward with the Electric Trolleybus, it will be interesting to see how they explain to the citizens of Spokane how the line will not only move people from point A to point B more efficiently, but also increase ridership. There is currently no evidence or research to suggest it would do either.http://www.washingtonpolicy.org
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