[Vision2020] transportation opportunity--light rail between Pullman and Moscow

[Jerry Weitz]

At 08:53 PM 5/20/06, Jerry Weitz wrote:
>Years ago there was daily service from Lewiston, through Kendrick, Troy, 
>Moscow,Palouse, Garfield, Oakesdale, Rosalia, Spangle, terminating in 
>Spokane and then back.  It consisted of a single engine/car combination 
>and was called the bug.  The last time I rode the bug was in 
>1965.  Members of my wife's family rode the bug many times.  It did not 
>stop in Colfax.  I am not a expert on the financial/management of the concept.
>
>It is a given that rural rail lines suffer from the lack of profit and are 
>abandoned.  It is also given that fossil fuel dependancy is problematic 
>for our economy.  When I studied in Germany in the mid sixties, the rail 
>was electrified for the most part.  The system was efficient and fast. 
>This concept may be a great way to insure that the present owners can 
>remain profitable and provide a great service for the both Universities 
>and both Cities.  jerry
>
>
>At 11:40 AM 5/20/06, Art Deco wrote:
>>Weitz writes in part of a proposed rail line between Pullman and Moscow:
>>
>>"...can be much faster, cheaper..."
>>
>>While most of us would love to support faster, cheaper public 
>>transportation as an alternative to individual motorized vehicles, we 
>>need facts upon which to base our judgments of such proposals.
>>
>>How much will it take to capitalize and operate such a rail system?
>>
>>What are the all the critical assumptions that underlie such a proposal?
>>
>>How many vehicular trips will be replaced that are not now being replaced 
>>by current public transportation?
>>
>>
>>It is important to discuss this proposal, but we need facts and details.
>>
>>W.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry Weitz" <gweitz at moscow.com>
>>To: "Bill London" <london at moscow.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>>Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 11:38 AM
>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] transportation opportunity--light railbetween 
>>Pullman and Moscow
>>
>>
>>>Good question.  The rail line is in place and can be much faster, 
>>>cheaper, cleaner-greener, more reliable, and have the effect eliminating 
>>>traffic conjestion on the highway. Plus many Universities in close 
>>>proximity are consolidating programs and redirecting the funds (which 
>>>are declining) from the savings into other programs.  Yesterday, for 
>>>example, I was in Salt Lake with Oregon Health Science,  U of Wash, 
>>>NIHealth working on joint research protocols.  Universities will be 
>>>working together more, (really nothing new.)  For example, ny son 
>>>(Rocky) is back in Cambridge Mass. and uses similar transportation.  He 
>>>also was/is the recipient of a dual insititution program 
>>>Fletcher-Tufts-Harvard Law-Harvard Business School.    jerry
>>>
>>>
>>>At 11:47 AM 5/19/06, Bill London wrote:
>>>>J-
>>>>Why would the expense of a light rail system be justified when there is a
>>>>bus system in place now that, with a much smaller investment of public
>>>>money, could fully meet these transportation needs?
>>>>BL
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "Jerry Weitz" <gweitz at moscow.com>
>>>>To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>>>>Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 9:40 PM
>>>>Subject: [Vision2020] transportation opportunity--light rail between 
>>>>Pullman
>>>>and Moscow
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> >    I believe the use of the railroad (light rail) between Moscow and
>>>> > Pullman would provide for efficient and rapid movement of
>>>> > students/staff/faculty between our Universities.  There are a number of
>>>> > collaborative degree programs already and a potential for a lot
>>>> > more.  Could be expanded to folks who work at Schweitzer 
>>>> Engineering > and
>>>> > live in Moscow, etc. And there is a potential of restarting the
>>>> > collaborative voc/tech/pro/tech programs that once existed between 
>>>> MSD > and
>>>> > PHS.  Many other potential implications that could prove to be far
>>>> > reaching.  jerry
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > _____________________________________________________
>>>> >  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>>> >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>>> >                http://www.fsr.net
>>>> >           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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>>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>_____________________________________________________
>>>List services made available by First Step Internet, serving the 
>>>communities of the Palouse since 1994.   http://www.fsr.net 
>>>mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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