By Walt Brewer, Lockport, New York

We need fewer "activist groups" and more roads in San Diego. The idea of not sustaining the needs of our population for roads is failure of responsibility. Many San Diegans use cars and trucks to do their jobs-- they don't sit at offices or play with laptops while sipping lattes. SANDAG should get off the dime and do what the group was intended to do-- and not play footsies with "activist groups."

Posted by BlkJK | reply to this comment
May 13, 2008 5:54 am

I’m not sure what the point of your piece is? Are you aware that the demographics of the east coast are vastly different than that of much of the country west of the Mississippi? Most, if not most, of the cities east of the Mississippi were developed using the European model, meaning the city or town was built from the center out with enclaves for various segments of the city, e.g., business, manufacturing, commerce, etc. Cities west of the Mississippi were developed in a much more haphazard fashion that is now called sprawl. Well, there is not much that can be done about that except to attempt to develop transit that can accommodate that issue. So I must assume that you are not in favor of us who live in the country thus avoiding the high crime, environmentally disastrous, totally congested cities? Quite interesting, especially coming from someone who lives on the east coast, maybe you just don’t have a clue as to what you are talking about!

Posted by Howiek | reply to this comment
May 13, 2008 8:07 am

Mr. Brewer--apparently you are not familiar with our rush-hour traffic situation, in San Diego county. As an small business owner with employees, in company trucks, on company payroll dealing with rush-hour commuters, it's obvious to me that we need alternative transportation to get these commuters--one to a car-- off the road. We've been building and expanding highways as long as I can remember (I'm in my late 50's), and the rush-hour traffic only gets worse and more time consuming. Meanwhile the number of vehicles on the roads and thus greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase.

Posted by Steve K | reply to this comment
May 13, 2008 9:14 am

Steve K: And what is your point here? Please explain how we are to go about getting these cars and trucks off the road? It’s a wonderful idea, but how do you propose to do that? Sounds like you would like to get all those nasty commuters off the road so your trucks can get to their jobs faster—what about all those commuters who are just trying to get to work—single passenger vehicle and all. The solution is actually pretty easy but it won’t come cheap and we all know how extravagant San Diego is with their liberal stance on taxes and all! Can’t even figure out how to fund a county fire department and you think we will ever get cars off the road—easy on the RedBull in the mornings!

Posted by Howiek | reply to this comment
May 13, 2008 10:37 am

More roads or less roads; the argument goes on. What I want addressed is "what specific changes in the RTP" will be made to accommodate this agreement? The press and SANDAG have been silent. There is only so much money and we have been led to believe it was all budgeted. Or do they keep a slush fund to address special interest groups? jr

Posted by jr | reply to this comment
May 13, 2008 10:57 am

Let's spend more money on mass transit, less on roads. Let's get commuters out of the traffic jams by getting them efficient alternates. My point is expanding existing freeways and building new ones hasn't helped the traffic or climate situations.

Posted by Steve K | reply to this comment
May 13, 2008 12:33 pm

Instead of shelling out money for expensive mass transit boondoggles, why not give businesses tax credits for allowing employees to stay at home and telecommute? Also, three decades ago there was a proposal to run a train down the median of I-5 which would help alleviate traffic. "Activist groups" shot that one down too. Enough drivel. Build the roads.

Posted by BlkJK | reply to this comment
May 13, 2008 2:21 pm

Telecommuting does indeed offer a great way to decongest. However, in a news summary I read citing recent research, not having face time with the boss and the poorly implemented breakdown of the home/job divide (telecommuters pulled away by family demands, or tasked 24/7) have resulted in low adoption of telecommuting.

Posted by Mark Schaeffer | reply to this comment
May 14, 2008 9:36 am

1. Tax hell out of big cars and trucks unless they're business-owned. 2. Encourage use of 4-cylinders, motorcycles, scooters, bikes, etc., economically or with preferred licensing. 3. The trolley needs some freight cars on daytime trains to make cross- city shipments easier and to generate revenue. 4. Urban centers need pedicabs free from PD and taxi harassment. Make that happen yesterday, please. Money for roads should go firstly for maintenance; building should be secondary. 5. Take a deep breath and investigate the three wheeled vehicle called the Tuk Tuk in Thailand. These are used for all kinds of urban transport elsewhere in the world; it's tine we had them too. And the city should buy gasoline for resale to the public and work to lever that market with its buying power.

Posted by JR | reply to this comment
May 14, 2008 9:48 am

For those who believe still more mass transit will reduce congestion and the greenhouse gases it creates; been there done that!. Read the numbers again. 20 years,1/3 San Diego's total transportation budget for mass transit. Its ride share less than 2%. Growth alone in road travel has been 20 TIMES the total carried by mass transit. Congestion cost increased by a factor of 10. Thus funds that have not gone to roads instead, aided by a few who have prevented land use for roads are responsible for the stop and go waste of fuel, and emissions. Other facts please if you don't believe and point by point describe a better solution. Nothing wrong with country living. Just help the whole region in a positive way instead of threats to impose unworkable "solutions".

Posted by Walt | reply to this comment
May 15, 2008 7:11 pm

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