http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/ The Latest in Retail, Entertainment, and Development in Raleigh Mon, 24 Aug 2015 02:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3

http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/comment-page-1/#comment-14022 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:11:38 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/#comment-14022 I really appreciate all of you reading through this very long entry. Some of these questions in the poll made me scratch my head. However to read WRAL’s headline and story, one would think that the area is dying for a transit system and is ready and willing to implement a large tax to pay for it. This is not really what the answers reflect, however, and I’m still waiting for a poll that shows what the public truly thinks about high-occupancy rail transit.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/comment-page-1/#comment-14019 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:38:17 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/#comment-14019 Dana, I couldn’t agree more. Most of these questions are useless and/or leading. But what else would we expect from an organization that has such a clear pro-rail (rather than simply anti-congestion) agenda?

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/comment-page-1/#comment-14018 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:11:30 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/#comment-14018 Dana,

Let me say up front, in case anyone wonders, and/or gives a damn, that I am big supporter of light rail and better transportation initiatives. I think we need them, and I want to see major improvements over the next 10 years, or sooner, if possible.

Here is my take on the questions you stated:

Q1 – Vague, at best.
Q2 – You said it. Obviously, people do not place traffic and public transportation high in their priority list – nothing wrong with that.
Q3 – You are right on the money, Dana.
Q4 – Useless question, IMO.
Q5 thru Q7 – Very good questions, I think.
Q8 thru Q11 – Standard questions, regardless of the answers.
Q12 thru Q18 – Yes, someone has to pay for it :LOL:
Q19 – A better definition of “regional” would be nice, but I think they want to focus on the “group effort vs. individual effort” argument, regardless of the number of municipalities involved. Good question, as many times in the past I heard that Raleigh should move forward as a city and ignore TTA’s effort, if the latter are too slow and not effective. Our needs as a city may differ from those of the region (Triangle).
Q20 – Fair question.
Q21 – Yeah, 90& of the people know TTA :LOL: Hopefully, those behind the poll will not be fooled by this. Probably 90% of the Triangle residents never heard of TTA.

This survey is just another survey, IMO. Nothing revealing, but nevertheless a first step for getting the pulse. Unfortunately, most people don’t care, or simply cannot attend, therefore we cannot draw safe conclusions by preaching to the choir.

While I am a supporter of light rail and better mass transit options, I would caution officials about the risks. Public transit is not there to make money. Riders have great expectations and the costs of operating a reliable public transit network are huge. We MUST serve large numbers, or else we stand to fail early in the game. Let’s study the corridors that have potential and encourage good urban redevelopment/infills near the envisioned stations. So far, we have failed miserably and many Triangle residents hesitate to throw their support. Don’t wait for light rail to get higher densities. Let’s put the latter in place before we demand public funding.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Dana. While you may be a little harsh, you are right on the money. Public transit enthusiasts should listen both sides of the story, not allow themselves to become too emotional on this issue. We need responsible officials, who know how to manage public funding and don’t serve ideological agendas. Engage private entities and restore faith in the public sector. Then get out and provide solutions. Easier said than done, I assume…

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/comment-page-1/#comment-14012 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:58:30 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/#comment-14012 Lots of questions but here are a few thoughts….

Q3- Yes a slight margin. But presidents have been picked by far less.

Q5- Here’s my main disagreement with you: No, I don’t “wonder about” those who picked “more destinations” or “convenience”. You assume everyone has a car. Many poor people do not. Many many seniors do not. Many disabled people do not. Many people living in downtown/urban areas or on college campuses don’t have cars either. And I dare say, if this poll was extended to people under 18, that number would be much higher still. So what I *do* wonder is that the number of folks picking those two options should be even higher! If you combine the two (since they are similar), you do get a fifth of the respondents. I personally would have expected closer to a quarter or more.

Q7- On this one, I totally agree with you. Having people able to only pick one answer makes the RDU option show up ridiculously low. Who wouldn’t want a rail line to go there? Wouldn’t make any sense. (Similarly, one of the more popular R Line stops I’ve noticed during weekdays is the one closest to the Greyhound Station. Transit begets transit. Go fig.)

Q9 – I’m guessing some of those who voted no more bus lines are doing so cuz they’d rather see the funds go to rail…or perhaps to make other existing lines fareless. Just a guess.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/comment-page-1/#comment-13998 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:58:24 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/#comment-13998 Well, of course I have rail on the brain. That’s all this whole survey is really about. Cities don’t float trial balloons like this survey in order to roll out a larger bus-only system. I like your other points, though!

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/comment-page-1/#comment-13996 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:50:30 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/03/26/faulty-transit-poll-fails-to-direct-region/#comment-13996 I think you make a lot of good points about the survey design, but unfortunately some of your assessments are quite flawed in my opinion. For example, you seem to intimate that the only public transportation improvement would be light rail. That’s far from the truth. If you read the STAC report or the long-range transportation plans, you will see that expanded bus service would precede any rail service.

So those who answered “Ability to travel to more destinations” might be thinking about expanded bus service more than train service. If you don’t own a car or can’t drive because of age or disability and you live in, say, Fuquay-Varina and need access to services in Raleigh, the ability to travel to more destinations might really be the biggest benefit of an expanded public transportation (which doesn’t just mean trains).

You compare passenger trips to overall population. And even if that comparison meant anything (which is doesn’t), you’re still just looking at rail, not expanded bus service. It’s funny that you mention the bias you think RTA has toward rail, but they don’t seem to be the only ones with rail on the brain!

I think the truly important question is #3. That’s the proposal before the State Legislature right now and even you don’t quibble with the wording of the question. The takeaway to me is that, despite a terrible economy and before any kind of education/campaigning has begun, a higher percentage of those surveyed support a half-cent sales tax as oppose it. Touting that as positive is not out of place.

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