CHANGING DOWNTOWN TO UPTOWN

[thelakelander]

Its fixed transit in general.  Austin is already reaping the economic development benefits of their 32 mile commuter rail line and it won't even be operational until later this year.  Charlotte is also enjoying tons of economic development that has been attracted to certain areas of town, primarily because of their new light rail line.

In this aspect, fixed rail transit is no different from spending money to construct new roads in the suburbs.  Both spur economic development.  However, rail is cheaper, safer for the environment, takes up less land and encourages dense, compact and walkable growth.  Roads and highways do the exact opposite.  So it really boils down to what type of city do we want.  Do we want an environment where residents have options like San Diego, Portland and Boston or do we want to be the next Orlando, Phoenix and Raleigh, places where we spend our free time stuck in traffic jams in sprawled areas that look like Anyplace USA?